Build-ups and conversions

Build-ups and conversion are board-work exercises. The purpose of the build-up format is to show students how specific changes in the letters of a word change its pronunciation.

Build-ups and conversions focus on those elements that are difficult for a poor reader: vowels, endings and consonant blends.

Turn to page 16 in Decoding B2 Teacher’s Guide. Practise teaching lesson 8, exercise 1 and exercise 2. Practise individual turns after exercise 2.

The process is:

• Write a word or group of words on the board.
• Students read what has been written.
• Change part of each word, either by adding letters or changing a part of the word.
• Students read the words.
• The original list may be written on the board ahead of time, but it is important that the changed part is erased and changed with students watching. The changed list is not done ahead of time. Each word is changed, and students read the new word. This ensures students pay attention to the change in the word.
• Repeat steps in the exercise, giving students an individual turn to read all the words in the column.