How to Set Up Magnetic Letter Boards for Phonics Instruction
Letter boards are a simple, effective tool to support explicit, hands-on phonics instruction. Whether you’re working one-on-one, in a small group, or during independent centers, having a ready-to-go board can make word building seamless and engaging.
Let’s walk through exactly how to create your own.
🧰 Materials You’ll Need
- Magnetic whiteboards (I love the ones with an edge so the letters don’t slide off!)
- Magnetic lowercase letters in two colors (one color for consonants, one for vowels)
- Alphabet guide strip (optional but helpful, link for a free one down below)
- Tape or adhesive (to secure the alphabet strip)
Grab all the materials on Amazon here!
🪄 Step-by-Step Setup
1. Choose Your Magnetic Letters Wisely
Pick a set with clear, child-friendly fonts and consistent sizing. In the photo above, I used blue for consonants and red for vowels—this color-coding helps students visually distinguish between the two types of letters.
2. Adhere Reference Alphabet Strips
Print the *FREE* magnet letter mat below. I laminated mine and attached with magnet tape. This helps students return the letters to the correct place and keep them organized. Trust me, I tried to use them without and it was a headache!
3. Keep Extra Letters Handy
Use a small bin or tray nearby so students can grab additional letters as needed for building words.
4. Model Word Building
In the image above, you can see the word “map” built using the magnetic letters. This board setup makes it easy to model blending, segmenting, and manipulating phonemes with just a quick switch of a letter.
Grab the free MAGNET LETTER MAT
🧠 Tips for Use
- Model how to return letters to the alphabet line when finished to keep everything organized.
- Have students practice switching out beginning, middle, or ending sounds (e.g., change “map” to “mop”).
- Laminate or print a vowel chart nearby to reinforce short and long vowel sounds during practice.
Setting up these magnetic letter boards might take a few minutes initially, but once they’re done, you’ll have a phonics powerhouse at your fingertips! Ready to make your own? Grab all the materials here!
