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Use the Word "bed" to Determine
the Direction of the Letters
"b" and "d"

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Learning to read is thrilling for children and deciphering the meaning of all the symbols that we call letters is like giving them messages in code and asking them to find the hidden meaning. They want to understand, but the symbols are meaningless until they learn how to look at them.

So far in their young lives children have learned about object permanence – this is where an object remains the same no matter which way it is looked at. A truck is still a truck if it is upside down or right side up. A bird is a bird when it's flying in the air, perched in a tree or taking a dip in water.

For the alphabet, we are asking them to change the way they look at symbols. Now a line with a circle is a "b", "p", "d", "q", "g", and an "a" or a line with a small hump could be an "h", "n", "u", "m" and an "r". These are just a few of the letters that can cause confusion.

When you verbally go through the alphabet with your child, take note of those letters that your child hesitates on or gets wrong. Also when your child is writing, look for the letters that confuse him, the direction of letters may be inconsistent sometimes facing one way or the other.

Learning Styles Covered:

Auditory Learning Style Kinesthetic Learning Style Visual Learning Style





Activities:

If your child gets confused with the direction or shape of some of the letters, here are some activities you can do to help him see the differences in the them.


Bed Trick

picture of bed

If your son is confused by the direction of the letters "b" and "d" and he knows the sounds that "b" and "d" make, then here is a tool he can take with him and use when he is in doubt.

Materials:
pencil and paper
  1. Write out the letters "b" and "d" show him how the letters are very similar. Ask him to tell you how they are different. Encourage him to see they are so similar except one circle is in front of the line and one is behind.
    picture of bed

  2. Now say the word "bed" and ask him what letter sound does it begin with? What does it end with? If he knows the sounds of "b" and "d", then continue.

  3. Now make a fist with your thumbs pointed up and touch knuckles to knuckles. Show your son how to make it with his hands too. See how the thumbs and the shape of the fists looks like a "bed". The line and circle on the left hand looks like the letter "b" and the line and circle on the right hand looks like the letter "d".
    use both hands to make the word bed

  4. Say the word "bed" emphasizing the beginning sound and move your left hand indicating that is the beginning sound of "b" and looks like the letter "b". Then do the same with the right hand emphasizing the ending sound of "d".

  5. Trace the letter "b" on his fist then the letter "d".

    use both hands to make the word bed, b on the right and d on the left
    So now when he can't remember which direction to write the letters "b" or "d", he can just pull out his hands and make his own "bed".




Confusing Container Letters

Materials:
containers
colored paper
popsicle sticks or card stock
cut out letters from magazines


containers with letters that are giving your child trouble
  1. For those letters that are similar and are confusing your child, get a container for each letter. 
    For instance; in print these groupings of letters can look the same when they are flipped:




    Group 1 "w" and "m" 
    Group 2 "n" and "u"
    Group 3 "b", "p", "q" and "d"
                   
    Your child may have a different set of letters that are giving him trouble, use the same set of instructions for the group of letters that are difficult for your child.

  2. Decorate the containers for each grouping in some way so that they match. For example, use the same colored paper to cover the container. 

    3. containers with letters
  3. Write each letter on a separate container. Let your child look at them to discover the differences of the letters.

  4. Label popsicle sticks or use card stock with the letter on the top edge. Or you can cut out letters from magazines so he can practice with a variety of fonts. Be sure to underline the letters because when there is no point of reference it would be hard to sort the letters correctly.

  5. Now have your son sort the letters into their respective containers.



Letters In the Air

For those letters that are giving your child trouble,

  1. Have him make the shapes of the letters in the air with his arm extended and using his whole body. The idea is for him to feel the letters and the direction that they flow.

    2. do the letters in the air together.
  2. Have him say the letters as he is writing them in the air.

  3. Make the letters with him and be sure he is doing them in the right direction. If he is following you, make sure that you are facing the same direction as he is, otherwise you will be giving him the mirror image, which would end up being wrong.

  4. Repeat making the letters many times to help build the synapse or paths in the brain for memory.


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