How to Teach Homophones to English Learners

Homophones can be confusing for English-language learners.

Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings. Sometimes they're spelled the same, like "wind" the noun and "wind" the verb, and sometimes not, like "to," "two" and "too". Homophones can be quite confusing to English-language learners. However, when taught properly, homophones are an easy concept to grasp, especially when attached to something meaningful.

Instructions

1. Create cards with homophones on them using card stock. Write a different homophone on each card, such as "wear" and "where," and "bee" and "be." Use magic markers to illustrate each with a picture that closely resembles the action or object. "Wear" could be illustrated with an outfit, and "where" by someone looking for someone else.

2. Explain to students what a homophone is. Use examples of words commonly used like "here" with "hear" and "where" with "wear" or "there" with "their." Use a statement and a picture to demonstrate each, like an ear for "hear" and somebody pointing for "here."

3. Read a book that uses homophones to students in small groups. Books could include "How Much Can a Bear Bear?" by Brian Cleary or one of the Amelia Bedelia series by Peggy Parish like "Amelia Bedelia's First Day of School" or the "Whacky World of Amelia Bedelia."

4. Pair students up and give each her own homophone card. Use only those with different spellings. For example, one student may get "herd" the noun as in " a herd of sheep," and the other "heard" the verb as in "I heard a noise."

5. Instruct students to write their word in a sentence and then draw the sentence out. For example, "none" would be used in the sentence "It has none in it" with the picture of an empty box. The word "nun" could state "A nun works in a church" with a picture of a nun in a church.

6. Have each person in each pair demonstrate his homophone for all students by sharing the sentence and his drawing.

7. Allow students to practice their new skills in using and understanding homophones on the Harper Collins Children's Kids interactive site. (See References.)

References

• Harper Collins Children's Kids
• BBC Skillswise
• Teaching Diverse Learners