Rationale:  To teach children how to decode and spell words and how to use a common correspondence that will help in reading and writing many words.  This lesson is designed to teach the digraph sh=/sh/.

Materials:  Elkonin boxes for each child with the letters f, l, l, I, s, h, p, o, e, d, chart with various pictures, sh=/sh/ words, Shoe Man by Steck Vaughn.

Procedures: 1.  Introduce the lesson by asking the children if they know how to make the /sh/ sound.  Model by placing you finger over your mouth as if you are were asking them to be quiet.  Then ask then if they know the two letters that make up the /sh/ sound.  Review letters if needed.
2. Today class we are going to learn the sound s and h make when they are put together.  It is called /sh/ and we use this sound when we want someone to be quiet.  Let's all practice saying the /sh/ sound.  Notice how your mouth moves; it looks like you are puckering your lips.  Now, I want you to listen to these words and tell me which ones have /sh/:  shell or sock, fish or top?
3. Everyone take out your letter boxes and letters.  Only three boxes should be showing.  Now, spell the word fish, ship, shell, and dish.  Let's review these words on the board.  Who wants to come and write fish on the board? Ship? Shell? Dish?  Now let's read these words together.
4. Now, I want you to look at the poster on the board and tell me which picture has the /sh/ sound in it.  When I call you name I want you to put the /sh/ word on the poster that goes with the picture.
5. I want everyone to get in shared reading groups while I pass each group a copy of the book called Shoe Man.  Every time you read a word that has the /sh/ sound, I want you to write it down on a piece of paper.  After you have finished reading the book, count up the /sh/ words.  When every group has finished reading, we will review the /sh/ words used in the book.
6. Ask the children to come up one by one to your desk and read some of the /sh/ words to you from the book.
7. Close the lesson by asking the students to make the /sh/ sound by placing their finger over their lips.

References:  BOOM BOOM BOOM: Learn the Sounds of B and Other Stuff  by Dr. Seuss.  (1995) Dr. Seuss Enterprises.  Random House, N.Y.

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