Final answer:
Before beginning a center focused on practicing CVC words, students should understand phonemic awareness, recognize and write letters, understand the CVC pattern, and be acquainted with short vowel sounds.
Step-by-step explanation:
A teacher preparing students to practice writing CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words should front load several key skills to ensure students have a strong foundation for the activity. To begin, it is essential for the students to have a clear understanding of phonemic awareness, specifically the ability to identify and manipulate individual sounds (phonemes) within words.
Students should be able to recognize and write individual letters, both consonants and vowels, and associate them with their corresponding sounds. They should also be familiar with the concept of a CVC pattern, where a short vowel sound is typically enclosed by consonants, as in the word 'cat'. Highlighting short vowel sounds and practicing blending these sounds within the CVC structure are crucial steps in preparing for the activity.
When practicing with examples, students can underline the CVC pattern, identify the vowel sound and the surrounding consonants, thereby forming basic words. Through ample practice and reinforcement of these skills, students will be better equipped to succeed in creating and understanding CVC words.