Elkonin Boxes

Elkonin BoxesPresented by Sarah, Jessica and Jany+

Usually seen as a strip divided into a series of boxes.Sometimes the boxes have images above them, but not always.To use this strategy at its simplest form, teachers say a word and students are required to move one object (bingo chips), into each box, in reference to the number of sounds they hear in the word.How to Use Elkonin Boxes+Purpose

Elkonin boxes help with decoding, specifically building phonemic awareness.They are designed to help students identify individual sounds in words. Otherwise known as phoneme segmentation. They also help students understand the alphabetic principle.

+ Further UsesTargeted Skill Phoneme counting:How many (sounds) do you hear in this (word)?Identification of sound positionsWhere do you hear the /g/ in pig (at the beginning middle or end of the word)?Letter-sound associationWhat letter goes with the first sound in this word: book?

+Think Outside the Box!Not all boxes look the same and use the same materials. Using plastic cups, battery powered lights and magnetic letters are just a few unique ideas.

+Also can use cups, race cars, tape on a desk.5Elkonin Boxes in the Classroom

This video shows Elkonin boxes in action!+What does the Research Say?1. There have been many studies that test the effectiveness of word box phonics instruction, on early grades (K-1). Joseph (2000) tested 48 students in grade 1 on word identification and spelling performance. Students were randomly selected to either the word boxes instruction condition, or more traditional phonics instruction (choral reading, writing words on chalkboard). Pretests and post-tests were completed, and results showed that students in the word boxes condition significantly out performed students in a more traditional phonics condition (Joseph, 2000). Word boxes lessons can be a viable phonics approach to teaching children to make connections between phonemic and orthographic features about words (Joseph, 2000).+Research Continued2.Effective phonemic awareness instruction teaches children to notice, think about, and manipulate sounds in spoken language. Phoneme blending and phoneme segmentation are two important components of this instruction. Elkonin, a Russian psychologist, explored students ability to manipulate phonemes by asking them to place counters in boxes (Elkonin, 1973). Additionally, recent research on best practices by the National Reading Panel, indicate that many effective reading programs use this technique. Students who use Elkonin boxes are able to hear sounds in words, segment words and demonstrate an understanding of letter-sound correspondence (Clay, 1993).+Lets Try It!Remember the student should move the token as they say the sound! With a partner you will each take a turn as the teacher and student.Each group will receive a set of boxes and tactile materials to place inside them.In reference to the picture at the top of the boxes, have the teacher say the word to the student (once blended and once stretched out).Have the student stretch the word out themselves as they place the tokens in the boxes to represent the number of phonemes in the word.+Questions: What was affective about this strategy and what was not? What is a possible critique?What age/grade level would this strategy be most effective? Is it limited to a certain level/grade?Is this activity engaging/ fun?How could it be used for ELL learners?9Get Creative!Some target areas may be:Spelling (basic and multi-syllabic words)Letter-sound association

In the same groups, choose some different materials from the front to create your own twist on Elkonin boxes.Challenge yourself to make this tool engaging and effective for a student beyond the basic phoneme segmenting level that we just addressed.You and your partner will then share your spin on Elkonin boxes with the class.+Skills that can be highlighted using elkonin boxes include:Digraphs (sh etc..)Word familiesVowel soundsSyllablesLetter placement

10ReferencesBakken, J. P., Obiakor, F. E., & Rotatori, A. F. (2013). Learning disabilities: Practice concerns and students with ld. Wagon Lange Bingley, West Yorkshire: Emerald Group Publishing Limited.Beller, L. (2006). Elkonin boxes: A multisensory technique for teaching literary skills. TTAC Network News. 3.Joseph, L. M. (2000). Using word boxes as a large group phonics approach in a first gradeclassroom. Reading Horizons, 41(2), 117-127.WETA. (2014). Reading Rockets; Elkonin boxes. Retrieved from http://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/elkonin_boxes

+