The first step is to gather a square magnetic tile broken into four sections.

Pick a word family from the list above. I like to begin with -at.

Use a dry erase marker to write -at on each section.

Remind your child that you are using a dry-erase marker, the only marker to wipe away a tile. Show them how the marker says dry erase and what to look for before they try independently. (Not my first rodeo.)

Lead by example. Share what you have written -at on each tile and sound it out together.

Invite your child to look at the magnetic letters you have sorted.

Say, I wonder which letter we should try first.

Place the letter on the magnetic tile next to the word ending.

Say, Let’s sound this out together.

Say, Hmm, can I use this word in a sentence? Let’s try. I use my bat when playing baseball.

Say, We made our first word. Let’s see if we can add it to our list.

Have your child write the word on a list.

Move to the next section of the magnetic tile and repeat until you have four words.