Letters and Sounds Practice Activities

Here are some ideas to help your child practice letters and sounds:

1. ALPHABET LINE
Materials Needed: ABC Letter Line (You can make one or purchase one at Dollar Tree)
Letter Cards A-Z Upper and Lower Case

Hang the ABC line at the child's level, or place the ABC line on a table.
Shuffle the ABC Cards and place them face down on the table or floor.
The child turns the card over and uses his/her finger along the ABC line, saying the ABC's to track the letter on the card. When the child tracks the letter, matching it to the letter card, he/she says the name of the letter and sound(s) of the letter 3 times. The child then locates something in his/her environment that begins with that sound. Then another card is selected.

2. FLASH CARDS
Materials Needed: Letter Cards A-Z Upper and Lower Case
You and Me Game
Match upper to lower case.
Play the "You and Me" game... we play this game in class each week.

3. FIND THAT LETTER
Materials Needed: Letter Cards A-Z Upper and Lower Case
Lay a few cards at a time onto the table. Ask your child to find the letter as you say its sound, name, or a word that begins with the sound. ie: "Find the letter whose sound begins like cccat."

4. LETTER MATCH
Materials: 2 Sets of Letter Cards A-Z Upper and Lower Case
Begin with a small number of matching letters. Place the selected cards face down like this:
X X X X
X X X X
X X X X
Play this game like "Concentration" turning cards one at a time over to make matches. As the letters are turned, say the name of the letter and its sound. When a match is made, ask your child to find something in his/her environment that begins (or ends) with that sound.

5. MAKE A LETTER
Use dry beans, dry macaroni, etc. to form a letter. Have your child try to guess what letter is being made. (You and your child can take turns making letters) Do not glue them to a paper. After the letter is made, say its sound and name. Then, pile up the letters and begin again. Remember to use the correct "pencil" direction when building the letters.

6. WRITING LETTERS
It is OPTIMAL that your child write each letter as he/she says the letter sound over and over. (ie: B says b...) Also, please remember to help your child start and end the letter correctly (ie: top to bottom). Use different writing tools; paint, glue, chalk, crayons, pencil, pen, etc.
Write letters with your finger in the sand, or on the carpet.
Write letters on each other's back, guessing what the letter is.