You simply write letters on plastic cups (I, of course, used Red Solo Cups). I can easily switch any of the sounds out and my student can blend the new word. It works on real words and nonsense words (um... hello DIBELS practice!).
Here's another one I've been doing for my student to give them the letter-sound fluency. I just use Styrofoam cups and a Sharpie marker. You can also add a "silent e" and have them say the long vowel word. It's fun...especially when you let them hold the cups and twist. :)
The teacher pulls out one letter at a time from the slider. The student says the name of the sound and the teacher moves on to the next letter. To make it a little easier, I have them blend the first two sounds together and then add the last sound on. The student says the word at the end. They can check to see if they got the word right by looking at the picture at the end! They LOVE it and it's so simple (the slider is made from a letter-sized envelope).
Want to go beyond CVC blending?
These are my Blend and Digraph Word Sliders
Just added- Vowel Team Word Sliders!
Or you can buy them in a bundled pack for a discount! :)