Transcript

These are our sound bins. Within each bin are objects that correspond to the sound that the letter makes. For example, this is the /h/ bin, and inside are assorted objects that make a /h/ sound, such as hat, horn, and helicopter. 

We utilize these bins for various of purposes. One of the things we do with them is when we have a sound of the week I will actually take out the objects from a bin, one by one, and then students will infer what that sound is going to be for that week. 

Another thing that we do is we sort objects by the sound that they make, so we sort of integrate math. While reading we utilize the sound bins as a resource, so when a student is uncertain about the beginning sound that a word makes, they might be referred to the sound tubs so that they can find a corresponding tub that makes the initial beginning sound that the word that they're trying to find to figure out. 

I also utilize the sound bins as a grouping strategy. Students are given different objects from different sound bins and then they have to go around the classroom making their sound. For example you might have some students going around the room going /b/ /b/ /b/ /b/ /b/ and they're trying to find another student who's making a /b/ /b/ /b/ /b/ sound. It actually gets rather funny watching the students collaborate in this way and celebrate when they've actually found someone who's making the same sound as them. When students are uncertain of the beginning sound that their object makes then they go to the Lend a Helping Hand Chair where I will assist them and then they can go out and try to find their partners. 

When putting together your sound bins its very important to pay attention to the vowels because they make more than one sound. You're going to want to use the short sound that the vowel makes to place into your bins, so that students aren't confused by the sounds. For example, this is the /ă/ bin and inside I have an alligator and an ant. But I wouldn't put an ape in because it has an /ā/ sound and not an /ă/ sound.