One of my adorable granddaughters has experienced some challenges with learning letter names. When my daughter mentioned that it seemed to be easier for her to learn the sounds they stand for, I suggested she might benefit from a multi-sensory approach. This method of instruction links the name of the letter, the sound the letter stands for, and its formation.

I sent her links to relevant blog posts and made her a set of my letter-sound key word picture cards. At that time, my granddaughter was attending preschool. She was also receiving resource services. My daughter was squeezing in reinforcement at home.

And then… the pandemic happened. Her preschool was closed. Special services were paused. Kindergarten was looming large. Mom and Dad were working from home with two active preschool-age children.

Here’s what I heard. “Mom, you send me stuff, lots of stuff. But I’m not a teacher. I need someone to tell me exactly what to do with it each day.”

So, I set out to write lesson plans focused on the letter-sound connection. I intended to do this using resources I already had on hand. Well, of course, I ended up creating more!

New Resources

Here are two of those resources to help you out with teaching those letter-sound connections. And yes, one is a freebie!

Because this has been a difficult task for my granddaughter, I stuck with the same set of key word pictures I have used in my other resources for consistency. When she sees a letter, I want her to be able to recall that picture and the corresponding sound, not to be mentally searching for some word, any word that will work. For her, that process seems to help her to recall the letter name.

While these resources were created to provide that repetitive practice for overlearning a skill that some children need, they can also be used as a fun addition to morning work or literacy centers for any child.

Letter Sound Play Dough Mats

This is a set of simple, easy to prepare letter-sound play dough mats, perfect for preschool or kindergarten. Each half-page mat has a lowercase letter and a key word picture representing the initial consonant (except final x /ks/) or short vowel sound.

Please note that the play dough letters do not represent correct letter formation.

Simply print on card stock and laminate. Cut each page in half. Then, add play dough, homemade or store-bought.

Be sure that children who need the extra practice say the letter name, the picture, and the corresponding sound (a, apple, /a/) as they are working on a mat to reinforce that letter-sound connection.

Click on the highlighted words, Letter Sound Play Dough Mats, to purchase these mats in my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

Letter Sound Key Word Memory Match

This free memory match game is a great partner or small group activity for preschoolers and kindergarteners learning to identify letters and to associate those letters with their corresponding sounds.

Choices to Make

• Color or black/ white
• One-sided or two-sided cards
• For two-sided cards, a shark or flamingo theme, just because I couldn’t decide
• White or colored card stock

Get It Prepared

Print your cards. Use card stock to reduce or eliminate any see-through and laminate for durability.

There are three pages of letter cards and three pages of key word picture cards. Cut out the cards.

Play the Game

Select pairs of letter and key word picture cards for practice. I suggest using 6 to 12 pairs but it is up to you! Stick with pairs you have already taught.

Place the mixed-up letter cards face down in an array (i.e. 3 X 3 or 3 X 4). Then, place the mixed-up key word picture cards face down in another array.

Flip over one card from each array. Do they match?

If no, turn them back over in the same spots. If yes, say the letter name, the picture, and the corresponding sound (a, apple, /a/). Keep your match.

Take turns. Play until all the cards have been matched. Who has the most matches?

Download your free copy of Flamingo Letter Sound Memory Match or Shark Letter Sound Memory Match by clicking on the highlighted words. These resources are exactly the same except for the card backs.

Looking For More Resources to Make the Letter-Sound Connection…

My daughter is pleased that she can prepare a week’s worth of lessons in ten minutes now! My sweet granddaughter is actively engaged in learning. The lesson plans and activities I put together included the ideas and resources below.

Blog Posts to Check Out

• Effectively Introduce Letters and Sounds the Multi-Sensory Way
• How to Effectively Review Letters and Sounds the Multi-Sensory Way
• Spin Your Way to Successful Letter Recognition
• Stack the Deck for Successful Learning

Products and a Freebie in My TpT Store

• Letter Sound Picture Cards (Freebie)
• Lowercase Letter Recognition Game Boards
• Beginning Sound Game Boards
• Stack the Deck A Flashcard Activity For Lowercase Letters
• Letter Sound Play Dough Mats

I loved helping my daughter. How can I help you?

The photo in the title image is by DegImages.

The post 2 Helpful Ways to Make the Letter Sound Connection appeared first on Just Ask Judy.

You’ll find a variety of jelly bean activities designed to supplement math and literacy instruction for your preschoolers, kindergarteners, first, and second-graders. Most children will need at least some adult direction to complete them.

Why You Should Try These Jelly Bean Activities

• All these resources are free!
• There is a black/ white version to print on paper for each activity.
• The preparation is minimal. Just print. You will need to cut some pages in half.
• Most of the materials needed are basic school supplies and household items.
• Jelly beans can add engagement and motivation to an ordinary activity.
• National Jelly Bean Day is on April 22nd!

You will need actual jelly beans for some of the activities. One activity also requires dice.

All grade levels given are general guidelines. Some activities have color options. Some can be laminated for reuse.

Go ahead and browse below to find the jelly bean activities most suitable for your children!

Jelly Bean Graph (PreK-2nd)

You will need:

• one copy of the graph for each participant
• one copy of the graph questions and a pencil for each first or second grader
• crayons
• jelly beans in 6 colors (I used Starburst.)

Prepare a baggie or plastic egg with 6 predetermined colors and amounts of jelly beans (maximum of 10) or scoop a scant ¼ cup out of the bag.

Sort your jelly beans by color. Place on the graph and/ or count each color. Color the jelly beans on the graph to match your colors. Color the bar graph. Consider coloring optional for preschoolers.

First and second graders can read and answer the graph questions. With younger children, use them as a guide for oral questions. Kindergarteners can also write a sentence that tells information about their graph.

This activity is included in the Jelly Bean Activities for Math and Literacy packet, a free download in my TpT store.

Roll & Count Jelly Bean Activity (PreK-K)

You will need:

• one half-page mat for each participant
• 1, 2, or 3 dice
• jelly beans
• crayons and a pencil

Roll 1, 2, or 3 dice, depending on your child’s skill level (numbers to 6, to 12, or to 18). Count all the pips. Put the same number of jelly beans on your jar mat. Draw and color the same number of jelly beans in the jar. Write the number. For younger children, an adult can write the number for them to trace.

Roll & Add Jelly Bean Activity (K-1st)

There are 2 versions, one for two dice (addends) and one for three dice (addends).

You will need:

• one half-page mat for each participant
• 2 or 3 dice
• jelly beans
• crayons and a pencil

Roll the dice. Look at each die. Put the same number of jelly beans in 2 or 3 groups on your mat. You can use a different color for each number. Draw and color the same number of jelly beans in the jar. Write the addition equation.

Find these two free activities in the Jelly Bean Activities for Math and Literacy packet in my TpT store.

Treasure Reports

Treasures are any small manipulative such as erasers, beads, buttons, acrylic gems/ fillers, cereal, or small candy (like jelly beans, of course!).

Counting these collections helps to develop number sense and place value concepts. There are activities for the quantities 1-10, 11-19, 11-99, and 101-999. The directions are on each recording sheet.

You will need:

• jelly beans
• recording sheet for each participant
• containers, scoops (measuring spoons and cups), organizers to group tens and hundreds
• pencils

Numbers 1-10 (PreK-K)

Prepare bags/ condiment cups with selected numbers of jelly beans beforehand or have children scoop jelly beans from a container.

Numbers 11-19 (K-early 1st)

Your children need to understand the concept of teen numbers as 10 plus some more. This can be prior knowledge or you can introduce the concept by modeling first with this activity.

Prepare bags/ condiment cups with selected numbers of jelly beans beforehand or have children scoop them from a container.

Numbers 11-99 (1st-2nd)

Each child or pair of children needs a prepared bag with 11 to 99 jelly beans or a container filled with jelly beans and a scoop. They may use ten frames, ten-rod mats, small cups, cupcake liners, etc. to group their jelly beans by tens. Find free printable templates for ten frames and ten-rod mats in my TpT store. Enter treasure reports in the search bar. You can also use the jelly bean jar organizer mats included in this resource.

There are five different recording sheets:

1. grouping and counting by 1’s and 10’s
2. grouping and counting by 1’s and 10’s, base ten
3. grouping and counting by 1’s and 10’s, base ten, expanded form
4. grouping and counting by 1’s and 10’s, base ten, expanded form, rounding
5. grouping and counting by 1’s and 10’s, base ten, expanded form, rounding, counting by tens off a decade

Choose the one(s) that best fits the instructional needs of your children. They can also simply record their pictures of tens and ones on a whiteboard or a blank piece of paper.

To draw a picture to represent their groups of ten, children can draw circles, squares, or rectangles and write a 10 on each. Ones can be dots or drawn to represent the jelly beans.

Numbers 100-999 (2nd-early 3rd)

Print the jelly bean jar organizing mats, up to 10 depending on your quantity of jelly beans. You can also draw 10 circles on plain sheets of paper or set 10 small cups on plain sheets of paper to use as organizing mats.

You will need 101 to 999 jelly beans. Likely, you can just use the entire bag. Check the back for the number of servings and serving size. My bag of Starburst Jellybeans has about 14 servings with about 20 pieces each so I can plan on there being approximately 280 jelly beans in it. (Actual count: 339 jelly beans!)

Put only 10 jelly beans in a cup or on a circle or a jar and 100 items on a mat. Extra ones can be placed on the side.

Complete the recording sheet. Students can draw rectangles and write 100 on each to represent their groups of one hundred. Tens can be circles with a 10. Ones can be dots drawn to represent jelly beans.

Find out more about treasure reports in this post with a Valentine’s Day theme or this one with a watermelon theme.

Click the highlighted words, Jelly Bean Treasure Reports, to download your free copy.

Jelly Bean Observations (PreK-2nd)

You will need:

• one copy of the jelly bean observation table for each participant
• jelly beans
• pencil

Brainstorm adjectives (describing words) to tell how your jelly beans look, sound, smell, feel, and taste. For sound, shake them in a bag or drop a few on a hard surface. The strongest smell is when you open the bag. Try putting some in a baggie, bowl, or cup to smell.

Younger children can dictate their words for an adult to write. Write your adjectives on the jelly beans.

Older children can complete the companion descriptive writing activity.

Fun Facts About Jelly Beans (1st-2nd)

Learn some fun facts about jelly beans!

This is not a leveled reading passage. Some first and second graders will be able to read it. Many will not.

Read it to your child, share the reading, or have your child read it to you. What was the most interesting fact you learned?

Then, complete the companion fact and opinion writing activity.

You can find the observation and fun facts activities in the Jelly Bean Activities for Math and Literacy packet, a freebie in my TpT store.

Jelly Bean Jar Letter and Number Searches (PreK-K)

Provide practice in matching and identifying letters and numbers (0-10) with these jelly bean jar searches.

There are 3 sets of letter searches: uppercase to uppercase (all 26 letters), lowercase to lowercase (all 26 letters), and uppercase to lowercase (16 letters). The last set only includes letter pairs that are visually different (i.e. Bb but not Cc).

You will need:

• selected pages
• crayons or dot markers to color or jelly beans to cover

Choose the pages you want your child to do. Consider the letters in their name, ones that follow a sequence of instruction, or ones they need a little extra practice with.

Print the pages you selected. Then, cut each page in half.

Children can use crayons or dot markers to color the jelly beans with letters/ numbers that match the one on the jar lid. They can also just cover the matching letters/ numbers with jelly beans.

Encourage them to name the letter/ number out loud several times while they are completing the task. The number jars show the quantity with jelly beans in a ten frame. Children can count them to self-check their number identification.

Click the highlighted words, Jelly Bean Jar Letter and Number Searches, to download your free copy.

Search & Sort Jelly Bean Words (K-2nd)

This resource does not include a comprehensive set of words.

It includes:

• 5 pages with short vowel word families, one page for each vowel, sort by word families (K-1st)
• 3 pages with CVC short vowels, sort by vowels (K-1st)
• 4 pages mixed short vowel (VC) and silent e (VCe) patterns, one vowel per page, sort by vowel patterns (1st-2nd)
• 4 pages long vowel patterns, VCe and VV plus –igh, one long vowel sound per page, sort by vowel patterns (1st-2nd)

V= vowel C= consonant

Select the set which best meets your child’s needs. Complete one per day or one per week. Your child can also pick 6 words and draw pictures to illustrate their meanings or pick 6 and write a sentence with each.

Which set should you use? Think about the words you know they can read in their take-home books. Do they have a spelling list from school? I also have a free decoding assessment for one-syllable words in my TpT store that might be helpful.

You will need:

• selected pages
• crayons for coloring or jelly beans for covering
• pencil

Use the code to color the jelly bean words. Write the words in a sort. Don’t forget to read the words!

Check out the Jelly Bean Activities for Math and Literacy resource in my TpT store which includes this activity.

I hope you found a jelly bean activity or two for your child (or students) to enjoy! Let me know what else you need in the comments below.

Looking For More Resources…

Most of my blog posts include links to free resources. Use the search bar in the top right corner to take a look around. In addition, my TpT store includes a section of free resources.

Here are a few more jelly bean resources for learning available for purchase in my TpT store.

• Addition Facts to 20 – Jelly Bean Addition Fact Strategy Sort (1st-2nd)
• Make 10 Addition Fact Strategy Game With Spring Themes (K-2nd)
• Graphing With Data Collection Activity Spring Themes (1st-3rd)

The jelly bean photo in the title image is by Southern Light.

The post How to Have Fun With Free Jelly Bean Activities appeared first on Just Ask Judy.

If the answer is yes, then go ahead and try out these two sets of game boards. Use them to support your preschool, kindergarten, or struggling students as they learn to recognize letters.

Place these partner games in a literacy station after your whole group introductory lessons. Or use them as an intervention activity for students who struggle with learning. Supplement your curriculum or provide individualized instruction.

Each game board is in the shape of the target letter. The goal is to recognize and name the target letter when it is presented with two other distracter letters. It is not necessary to recognize the distracter letters. The response is simply b or not b!

Built-In Features of the Lowercase Letter Game Boards

These features have been incorporated to increase the odds of successful learning.

• focus is on one letter
• repetitive practice
• opportunities to reinforce multi-sensory instruction
• keyword pictures consistent with my other resources

Find the same keyword pictures in my  Letter Sound Cards With Key Word Pictures and Blend to Read resources.

Get It Ready

Prepare or gather the following materials.

Black/ White Game Boards

• one copy of a game board for each pair of students
• one pencil and one paper clip for each pair of students
• a crayon or dot marker for each student, different in color from their partner

Choose your letter(s) and print the game boards on paper.

Color Game Boards

• one copy of a game board for each pair of students
• one corresponding spinner for each pair of students or a blank die
• purchased spinner hands; a pencil and a paper clip; or a brad and a paper clip for each spinner
• two game markers (purchased or from commercial games) or two different small counters or
• 12 to 16 (3/4 inch or smaller) counters for each player using the f, h, k, t, x, or y game boards

Choose your letters and print the game boards on card stock and laminate for durability.

Print the separate corresponding color or black/ white spinners. Use card stock and laminate for durability. Cut. Add spinner hands or a brad, if using.

If you prefer, write letters (4 target and 2 distracters) on the sides of a blank die.

For the counters, think buttons, gems, mini-erasers, or coins. Be sure each partner has a different color or kind.

Get ‘Em Engaged

Black/ White Lowercase Letter Game Boards

Play with a partner.

Spin. Did you land on the target letter?

If yes, name the letter out loud. Color or mark any space on the board.

Make it multi-sensory. Trace the letter with a finger or crayon. Name the letter. Say the keyword picture and then the initial sound (x is final). Now color a space.

If no, say nothing or not b. You lose your turn.

Take turns. Play until all the spaces are colored. Who colored the most spaces?

Color Game Boards

Most of the game boards have a start and a finish point. Move your game marker around the board one space at a time.

The boards for f, h, k, t, x, and y do not have a start and a finish point. Cover any space with a counter.

Play with a partner.

Spin (or roll). Did you land on the target letter?

If yes, name the letter out loud.

You can also write the target letter in the air or on any surface. Then say the letter, keyword picture, and its corresponding initial sound.

If no, say nothing or not b. You lose your turn.

Take turns. Play until one player reaches the finish space or all the spaces are covered. Who finished first or who covered the most spaces?

Are you ready to try these games with your students? Click the highlighted words to download a free sample of Lowercase Letter Game Boards with the letters a, b, c, and d. Or head over to my TpT store to check out the complete set of Lowercase Letter Game Boards.

Looking For More Letter Recognition Resources…

Click on the links below to discover additional ideas and resources.

• How to Effectively Introduce Letters and Sounds the Multi-Sensory Way
• How to Stack the Deck for Successful Learning
• Letter Sound Cards With Key Word Pictures Free Resource in My TpT Store
• Stack the Deck Resources in My TpT Store

The post How to Spin Your Way to Successful Letter Recognition appeared first on Just Ask Judy.

At some point during my teaching career, I read about this technique somewhere online! All you need for this activity is flashcards.

Use this activity with any basic skill. Try it with letter, numeral, name, or word identification.

Implement this activity as part of your whole class introductory lessons. Or use it as an intervention activity to provide repetitive practice with individual or small groups of students who struggle with learning.

Identify the skill you want your students to practice. For example, put together a set of flashcards with a number of single “foil” lowercase letters (i.e. a, p, s, m, v, c) and multiple copies of a single letter you are introducing or is difficult for one or more of your students (i.e. 6 or more copies of the letter g).

What Does Stack the Deck Look Like?

Here’s a free set of Stack the Deck flashcards with high-frequency words beginning readers typically encounter in emergent level text.

To get started, I chose 16 words. I made a single set of flashcards with those 16 words. Then, I created a page with multiple flashcards for each of those words.

Get It Ready

Print out the single set of 16 cards. Choose one word to introduce or practice. Then, print one or two copies of that page which will give you 8 to 16 cards with that single word. Use card stock and laminate for durability. Cut out the cards.

There is no special ratio of “foil” cards to “target” cards. Just consider the size of your group, their attention spans, and how much repetition is beneficial.

Shuffle the deck of flashcards.

Get ‘Em Engaged

Be sure to go over your target word.

Show your students one card at a time. If the word you show is not the target word, your students stay quiet and still. If the word you show is the target word, your students read the word.

They can also spell it first. For example, say l-o-o-k, look. In addition, they can pair physical motions with letters or words. If you need ideas to get started, check out these free Sight Word Action Cards from This Reading Mama.

By increasing the number of exposures to your target word and adding a kinesthetic component, you increase the odds for successful learning!

More Ideas for Stack the Deck

Of course, you can make your own flashcards for this simple, yet fun activity. Do it the old-fashioned way with index cards and a marker. Or if you’d rather, create a set to print using a table in Word or Powerpoint.

Recently, I created a deck of name cards for a grandchild to practice recognizing her name. To create your own deck, use purchased name tags and a marker or find free editable ones online.

If you prefer ready-made flashcards, I have several Stack the Deck sets and bundles available in my TpT store for purchase. They just received a cosmetic make-over!

• Lowercase Letter Recognition
• Uppercase Letter Recognition
• Lower and Uppercase Letter Recognition Bundle
• Number Recognition 0-20
• Letter and Number Recognition Bundle

Click on the highlighted words to download your free copy of Stack the Deck Beginning High-Frequency Words.

What are some ways you can use this activity to increase the odds for successful learning? Comment below to share.

Before You Go…

Be sure to read these blog posts for more ideas and resources for teaching high-frequency words.

Title image photo is by Inspirationfeed.

The post How to Stack the Deck for Successful Learning appeared first on Just Ask Judy.

So, here are some stocking themed resources, including a freebie, to help you do just that in preschool and kindergarten.

December Stocking Number Cards

I crafted two sets of free Christmas stocking numeral cards, 1 to 10 and 11 to 20. These are perfect for reinforcing numeral recognition, number sense, and numeral formation. I made 4 recording sheets to accompany the cards.

Your students can fill in the ten frames 1-10, fill in double ten frames 11-20, draw tally marks, or trace the numerals 1-10. Enjoy these activities during small group instruction, as independent centers, or as morning work.

Get it Prepared

This is an easy to prepare activity. Choose your set of numeral cards; 1-10 or 11-20, color or black/ gray/ white. Print the cards on cardstock for durability, laminate, and cut. Pick a recording sheet to copy.

Get ’em Engaged

You can use these December stocking number cards in three different ways.

Simply use the cards with a recording sheet.

For the first option, choose a recording sheet. Provide small groups of students with the recording sheet and a set of numeral cards to share. Just pick a card and follow the directions on the recording sheet.

Play an In the Bag or In the Stocking game.

To play this game, you will need a seasonal bag or stocking. Depending on the size of the group, you may want to use two or three sets of cards. You can also combine the 1-10 and 11-20 cards, if appropriate for your learners. Include the Yum! Yum! A Treat! (take an extra turn) and the Oh, no! Coal! (lose a turn or put all your cards back in) cards for a little extra fun.

Decide if the game will have a time limit and if students need to name a numeral correctly the first time to keep it. Students can also trace and name the ones they miss.

Place the cards in your bag or stocking. Draw a card without peeking. Name the numeral. Collect or keep the ones you name correctly. The game is over when the timer goes off or the last card is drawn. Who has the most, least, or an equal number of cards?

Pair the cards with a writing tray to practice numeral formation.

Try dyed rice or salt in a writing tray. Or make it simple by adding red and green sprinkles or sequins to white rice. Just pick a card, name the numeral, and write it in the tray. While a seasonal unsharpened pencil or candy cane adds an engaging element, writing with your finger will provide sensory feedback.

Use your imagination! Let us know in the comments below how you used these stocking number cards.

Spin-a-Stocking, A Game for Letters and Beginning Sounds

Try this coordinating Christmas stocking themed game! It’s a great way to practice or review letter recognition and/or the association of initial consonant and short vowel sounds with letters during December in preschool or kindergarten.

Choose from any combination of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, and 2 sets of pictures representing beginning sounds to play. The pictures for the letter x are in the final position representing the /ks/ sound.

Sort your word cards by stocking color and design into 4 stacks. Take turns to spin, name the letter (or sound and letter), and collect the cards!

Click on the highlighted words, Spin-a-Stocking Letters and Sounds, to purchase this resource from my TpT store.

Count to Recognize Christmas Number Mats 0 to 10

Looking for more stocking themed resources? This set of easy to prepare Christmas themed full-page number mats, 0-10, for preschool and kindergarten math, includes ones with stockings.

They are designed to develop skills in counting, numeral recognition, and numeral formation. These are, intentionally, very basic mats. The 3 sets of mats have a numeral along with a corresponding number of items to count; stockings, ornaments on a wreath, and lights on a Christmas tree.

The numerals have green, yellow, and red dots along with arrows to guide correct formation. They are perfect for finger tracing, using dry erase markers, or play dough. Both counting the items and naming the numeral while engaged in forming it help to develop recognition.

You can purchase these Christmas Count to Recognize Number Mats 0-10 in my TpT store.

And don’t forget to download your free Christmas Stocking Number Card Activities!

Title stocking photo is by LiliGraphie. 

The post How to Easily Stuff a Little Learning into December appeared first on Just Ask Judy.

As you return to your classroom in this new calendar year for a new semester of teaching and learning, your students will exhibit an equally wide variety of achievement levels and readiness to take on new tasks. Some of your littles will undoubtedly still need a daily review of letters and sounds.

For the sensory writing tray, I tried white rice with glitter. Seriously, glitter is incredibly messy used like this and I wouldn’t recommend using it in a writing tray unless you want to see sparkles everywhere for weeks to come. On the other hand, white rice with sequins and snow sprinkles made a nice mix. I love the idea from Kindergarten is Crazy for using plastic school supply boxes; easy to contain, stack, and store, and so practical for use with small groups.

As with the gingerbread men, these winter hats can be used in a plethora of ways, limited only by your imagination, including an It’s in the Bag activity. For students who have learned a limited set of letters or numbers, you can make multiple copies of those. Students take turns to pick a card (without peeking, of course) and respond. If the response is correct (or if you are providing corrective feedback), they keep the card. You can add the hedgehog cards for a little excitement (The Hat written and illustrated by Jan Brett). Pick a hedgehog card- lose a turn, put one or all of your cards back in the bag- you decide. Since I couldn’t find a winter-themed decorative gift bag (out with Christmas and in with Valentine’s Day), I included a page with hats and snowflakes to decorate a kraft bag.

How will you use these winter hat letter and number cards? Let me know if additional seasonal sets would be beneficial.

This free roam the room small group activity, available in my Teachers Pay Teachers store,  gets your kids up and moving while reviewing initial sounds.

For learners ready for numbers beyond 20, check out my newest open-ended resource, Mittens on the Line Ordering Numbers 0-120, which is perfect for kindergarten, first, and, second grade. Click to find more winter resources in my store.

Free Wintery Resources and Ideas for Letters, Sounds, and Numbers

You can also find a sprinkling of additional winter hat and mitten resources on my Winter Wonders Pinterest board.

The post Wonderful Wintery Ways to Review Letters and Sounds appeared first on Just Ask Judy.

Some children learn letters and their sounds easily with exposure to alphabet books, environmental print, and sound play. Other children require explicit instruction. This post is for teachers working with children who benefit from explicit instruction.

Early in my teaching career, I was introduced to Orton-Gillingham methods through my cooperating teacher, a mentor teacher, and professional development. Over time, I drew from a number of resources. Although the specifics varied across the years, a mainstay in my instructional approach was the multi-sensory introduction of letters and sounds. This approach links the name of the letter, the sound the letter stands for, and its formation.

The Sequence of Letters and Sounds

Letter/ Sound Picture Cards

You will need a set of letter/ sound picture cards. Each card should have a letter and a key picture representing the sound the letter stands for. The pictures need to represent single initial consonant sounds, initial short vowel sounds, and final x with the /ks/ sound; in other words no frogs, owls, or xylophones. I am sharing a set of letter/ sound picture cards which you can download for free from my Teachers Pay Teachers store. These cards present lowercase letters only as this is potentially less confusing. Lowercase letters also have a higher utility for reading and spelling than uppercase letters.

Multi-Sensory Introduction of Letters and Sounds

Activity 1

Lastly, have your student write the letter, arm swing size, next to your model. This activity can be adapted for groups by writing the letter multiple times on your board(s). Some students can skywrite while others trace and write on the board.

Be sure to read this post by The Inspired Treehouse, which explains why kids should have opportunities to work on a vertical surface.

Activity 2

Start by reviewing the recently introduced letter/ sound picture card. Name the letter, the key picture, and the sound the letter represents. Use 12 x 18-inch unlined newsprint in a hot dog/ horizontal position for this activity. Fold a baseline along the bottom. Allow more depth for “tail” letters. Write the letter large with a marker. You might want to use a chisel tip for bolder lines, giving a wider margin of error. Have your student trace the letter while naming it, the keyword, and it’s sound. Repeat this multiple times. Have your student write the letter next to your model (the number of times will depend on space).

Activity 3

Review the recently introduced letter/ sound picture card. Use a chalk liner (or marker liner) to make handwriting lines on the board. I use blue, red, and green lines. You can double the size, at this point, using the top and bottom slots of two chalk liners. I like the sky line, plane line, grass line and worm line terms from the Fundations Teachers Manual Levels K-1, along with their Letter Formation Guide. Click on the highlighted words to download these pictures cues for writing lines that I use on the chalkboard. Write the letter on the lines while verbalizing its formation. Repeat this 3 to 5 times. Your student traces the letter while (you guessed it) naming it, the keyword and the sound. He/ she writes the letter on the line using any remaining space.

I use one activity each day. The amount of repetition needed to learn a letter and its corresponding sound varies from child to child. These activities can be repeated. I also use 9 x 12-inch manila paper with a model letter written with a marker, as large as the paper. Your students can rainbow trace with crayons using the same procedures.

There are many ways to review and practice the links between the letter name, its formation, and the sound it stands for- too many to list here! Be sure to check out my other blog posts for teaching letters and sounds!

Click the highlighted words to download your free copy of the Letter Sound Picture Cards from my TpT store. While you’re there, check out my other resources for teaching letters and sounds!

Photo in title image by Speech-Language Pirates.

The post How to Effectively Introduce Letters and Sounds the Multi-Sensory Way appeared first on Just Ask Judy.