1. The build-a-text approach
What is the build – a – text approach?
As the name suggests, this is an approach that helps reinforce a
newly learnt sight word, in a meaningful text, that is built by the
children themselves. The process of building a text is as important
final product that merges. This approach introduces the concept
that
a) Words put together make sentences.
b) Sentences are meaningful unit of language.
c) The spoken word can be represented in the written form. Continued…..
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2. The key element of building-a-text.
Some important considerations.
• Choose only one word to build-a-text.
• The word must be from the list of sight words that the children
can already read with some amount of proficiency i.e. it has been
introduced through the sight word approach.
• The word chosen should lend itself to building-a-text i.e. it should
be meaningful to the children and functional too.
• If the word can be used in the initial position as well as the
medial and final position, it should be written the upper and lower
case on the cover of the text e.g.
This / this
Continued…..
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3. • The word should be used in the initial, medical and final (if possible)
position in the text too. E.g.
- This a big yellow car.
- My sister made this cake.
- I like this.
• Word that are not often read in the initial position should not be
written in the upper case on the cover E.g. lollipop, car, etc
• Words should be used in only one form, number or tense through the
entire text. E.g. love or loves; car or cars; see or saw.
Continued…..
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4. • The word should be highlighted in the same manner throughout
the book –
• Using the same colour marker.
• Using the same style of understanding
• Using a different (but easily legible font) for the word all
through.
• Using any other form of highlights that remains for all the
sentences in the book.
• There should be only one sentence on each page contributed by
one child. It should be written from left to right and not from top to
bottom. This is
This is a big, yellow
a big,
car.   yellow car. Continued…..
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5. • The pictures should be brought by the children after they have been
briefed about why they need to do. In this way the sentence about the
picture can be elicited from children and this ensures meaningfulness of
the activity.
• Preferably the Marion Richardson script, the Print script or any other
legible computer font should be used to write the book.
• Commas, fullstops and question marks should be used wherever
necessary.
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6. • The pictures should be brought by the children after they have been
briefed about why they need to do. In this way the sentence about the
picture can be elicited from children and this ensures meaningfulness of
the activity.
• Preferably the Marion Richardson script, the Print script or any other
legible computer font should be used to write the book.
• Commas, fullstops and question marks should be used wherever
necessary.
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