What method involves using boxes drawn on paper to represent sounds in words?

The Elkonin method is designed to enhance phonemic awareness by allowing students to visibly represent the sounds in words through spatial means. In this method, boxes are drawn on paper, with each box corresponding to a distinct sound (or phoneme) in a word. As students pronounce a word, they can place a marker or draw a small symbol in each box to signify the individual sounds they hear.

This multisensory approach is particularly beneficial for early readers and those struggling with decoding because it provides a clear visual representation of sound segmentation and reinforces the concept that words can be broken down into smaller phonetic units. By focusing on the sounds rather than the letters, students develop a stronger understanding of how words are constructed, which aids in reading development and spelling skills.

Though segmentation, phonics, and strategic reading each play vital roles in literacy education, they do not specifically utilize the box-drawing technique to represent sounds, which is unique to the Elkonin method.