Playing with Letter Sounds
Now that your child is comfortable with some letter sounds, he will enjoy playing this game over and over again especially when you introduce a new letter sound.
Playing with Letter Sounds
| Materials: |
| backpack |
| hat |
| an upper case "A" and a lower case "a" written on 2 pieces of paper to attach to the front and back of the hat and the backpack |
| a selection of items with the beginning sound set out for a scavenger hunt. |
- Prior to doing this lesson read some ABC books to your child. It is a good way to introduce your child to new words and it will help your child start to see the patterns in words. There are books for every interest - from construction vehicles to pigs.
- A pre-requisite for this skill is the ability to identify the initial sound of a word and understand the term "first".
- Explain to your child that he will be going on a scavenger hunt or treasure hunt.
- Hold up an apple and ask your child what it is. He will know because of all the things you have been doing with apples.
- Explain to him that apple starts with an "a" and the sound is the short "a". At this point he doesn't need to know the difference between a long "a" or short "a". That will come later.
- Have him repeat the sound to you.
- "What other things start with the "a" sound?"
- If he needs help, look around the room and pick something that definitely doesn't start with /a/ and ask, "What is this? Does it sound like the "a" in apple?" Then repeat the name of the item and the letter sound, stretching it out. You are modeling what he should do to figure out the answer. Don't automatically tell him if it starts with the "a" sound.
- If he doesn't know, go on to another item. Come back to it, if your child wants to.
- Next find something in the room that does start with /a/ but go through the modeling again. Say the name of the item and the short "a" sound with your child. Wait for him to figure out if it is the same sound.
- If he is wrong, say the name of the item again slowly and the short "a" sound drawing it out slowly. If he still doesn't get it, try saying "apple" and the name of the item several times.
- If he still doesn't get it, your child isn't ready for the activity. You'll want to come back to this activity in the future but put it away for now.
- When he is comfortable with playing with the letter sounds, have him look around and see how many other things he can find that starts with the short "a" sound to put in his backpack.
- As he selects an item, say the name of the item out loud with your child then the short "a" sound or "apple" to help him become more comfortable with the process.
- Another good book to reinforce the short "a" sound is: "Cats - The sound of short A". It is an early reader that reinforces the sound of /a/ in apple.
- Having your child play computer games like Reader Rabbit, Kids Phonics or Jumpstart will reinforce the skills in a fun way.
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Assessment
By watching your child, you'll be able to see if he is confused or really knows the letter sounds.
October 18, 2008
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