Editable Back to School Word Building Mats
These editable back to school word building mats are the perfect way to keep literacy and learning fun as you kick off the new school year.
Back to School Word Building Mats
These free back to school word building mats are a fun and engaging way for your students to work on words at the beginning of the school year and throughout the entire year. The great part about it is, they are editable!
With the ability to edit this activity, you can use it in many ways and for all levels of difficulty. This learning activity will be a staple in your literacy centers, word work station, or small groups. These word building mats encourage the students to practice reading, writing, and building the word.
To use, simply type in the words you want to use on the word cards on the fourth page and your word building mats will be ready to use! These can be used to work on CVC words, sight words, spelling words, and more! These are great for students in grades preschool through 2nd grade.
Simple Prep
This activity is so simple to prep. Just type in the words you want to use on the word cards. Print and laminate the word cards and word building mats and slide the mats into write and wipe pockets. You can store the word cards in zip-top baggies for easy storage.
You can also print the alphabet letter tiles if you choose to use them. Some other options are magnetic letters, letter beads, letter tiles, letter snap cubes or any letter manipulative you’d like.
That’s it, they are ready for students to use! Bonus: they are easy to clean and sanitize too! Each student can also have their own mat and letter tiles to eliminate sharing.
To create new word cards, simply change out the words on the word cards. Tip: make a copy on your computer so you can save each list. After a year of using this activity, you’ll save even more time with all of your word cards ready to go!
The variety of word cards will make this an easily differentiated activity for your students. It will also allow you to use it for many different kinds of words. Once they know the routine with these word building mats, it will be effortless for them to complete the activity with more challenging words.
The back to school word building mats come in color AND black and white so you can use it even if you don’t have access to color printing.
Differentiated Word Work
These word building mats can be used for various levels of difficulty and different word work skills. No matter how you use it, your students will love to create and practice reading words that are suited for their level.
These word building mats can be used for:
- Morning work
- Literacy centers
- Word work station
- Small group practice
- Independent skill practice
- Early finisher activities
- Assessments
Different types of words you can include on the word cards are:
- Sight words
- CVC words
- CVCE words
- Color words
- Number words
- Spelling words
Setting up the Word Building Mats
Supplies needed:
- Word building mats
- Word cards
- Letter tiles OR other letter manipulative
- Write and wipe pockets
- Dry-erase markers
- Print and laminate the word building mats and word cards.
- Print the letter tiles (if using).
- Cut the word cards apart.
- Slide the word building mats into write and wipe pockets.
- Store the letter tiles in a zip-top baggie if using.
Using the Word Building Mats
To use the back to school word building mats, students will draw a word card and place it in the top space on the mat where it says “Read it.” Then, they will read the word.
Next, they will build the word using the provided letter tiles or letter manipulative of your choice in the “Build it” box. You can also have your students choose their letter manipulative.
Finally, the students will write the word using dry-erase marker in the corresponding “Write it” space on the mat.
Before moving on to the next word, they will erase and discard the word card into the discard pile.
These back to school word building mats will engage your learners from day one. With all of the different ways to use them, you will have fun challenging them with different words and skills all year long.
Click the button below to get the back to school word building mats so your students can start having fun with words!
Here are some more literacy activities for you!
Paperless Back to School Word Building for Slides and Seesaw
CVC Word Building Activity for Google Slides and Seesaw