How to teach kids the alphabet using SLP insight.
Summer is the best time of the year for speech and language therapy! No school means your kid has more time to play, explore, and learn. Don't view summer as a chance for your child to take a break from learning. It is a time where you can jump-start his learning through real-life experiences.
I have some clients who will be entering pre-school and kindergarten next year. So to help them prepare I have created a systematic approach to teaching the letters and sounds in our alphabet. I spent hours researching in what order kids developmentally learn their letters, I collaborated with other pre-k teachers and SLPs to get additional input. Then I sorted the letters into sets with different prominent salient features highlighted for each letter. Each set varies by place, manner and voice so each letter will stand out on it's own.
I believe in the principle of learning through contrasts (we learn that "s" is different from "b" because it looks different when you say it, it sounds different because one is long and one is short, and one uses voicing and the other does not).
You want to introduce new sets at a rate that matches your child's pace, a good goal might be one set per week.
Set 1: Mm, Tt, Oo
Set 2: Ss, Aa, Bb
Set 3: Ff, Cc, Ww
Set 4: Xx, Ll, Pp
Set 5: Rr, Hh, Ee
Set 6: Nn, Ii, Kk
Set 7: Uu, Gg, Dd
Set 8: Yy, Qq, Zz
Set 9: Jj, Vv
Pick 2-3 sounds to focus on each day starting with Set 1. Model both capital and lowercase letters.
Teaching ideas:
hand actions for sounds
sign language or something similar, bounce the short sounds, wave long ones
target sound grab bag
fill a basket with things that begin with two sounds from one set, help sort objects by sound
draw in sand/rice/flour
in a sand box or just a shallow bowl filled with flour draw the letters with fingers, use good letter formation (ask your child’s pre-k teacher for how she is teaching formation)
draw on a chalkboard: wet, dry, try
write letter with a small wet sponge, dry with a small cloth, write with chalk (idea adapted from the Handwriting Without Tears approach)
start blending!
short CV or CVC words: Mom, Tom, Sam, then phrases: I am Sam, when blending cue your child to “keep his motor running” the sounds should keep going not be choppy
play receptive language games:
print out cards for the letters in your set, turn over and play memory, mix the sounds up, have the child find the sound that you name, etc.
use laminated papers or dry erase boards:
write a mix of the target sounds for your set, have the child erase one specific sound
*be sure to teach your child that vowels have two sounds, focus on the short sound for each vowel but always mention that vowels have two sounds.
I have some clients who will be entering pre-school and kindergarten next year. So to help them prepare I have created a systematic approach to teaching the letters and sounds in our alphabet. I spent hours researching in what order kids developmentally learn their letters, I collaborated with other pre-k teachers and SLPs to get additional input. Then I sorted the letters into sets with different prominent salient features highlighted for each letter. Each set varies by place, manner and voice so each letter will stand out on it's own.
I believe in the principle of learning through contrasts (we learn that "s" is different from "b" because it looks different when you say it, it sounds different because one is long and one is short, and one uses voicing and the other does not).
You want to introduce new sets at a rate that matches your child's pace, a good goal might be one set per week.
Set 1: Mm, Tt, Oo
Set 2: Ss, Aa, Bb
Set 3: Ff, Cc, Ww
Set 4: Xx, Ll, Pp
Set 5: Rr, Hh, Ee
Set 6: Nn, Ii, Kk
Set 7: Uu, Gg, Dd
Set 8: Yy, Qq, Zz
Set 9: Jj, Vv
Pick 2-3 sounds to focus on each day starting with Set 1. Model both capital and lowercase letters.
Teaching ideas:
hand actions for sounds
sign language or something similar, bounce the short sounds, wave long ones
target sound grab bag
fill a basket with things that begin with two sounds from one set, help sort objects by sound
draw in sand/rice/flour
in a sand box or just a shallow bowl filled with flour draw the letters with fingers, use good letter formation (ask your child’s pre-k teacher for how she is teaching formation)
draw on a chalkboard: wet, dry, try
write letter with a small wet sponge, dry with a small cloth, write with chalk (idea adapted from the Handwriting Without Tears approach)
start blending!
short CV or CVC words: Mom, Tom, Sam, then phrases: I am Sam, when blending cue your child to “keep his motor running” the sounds should keep going not be choppy
play receptive language games:
print out cards for the letters in your set, turn over and play memory, mix the sounds up, have the child find the sound that you name, etc.
use laminated papers or dry erase boards:
write a mix of the target sounds for your set, have the child erase one specific sound
*be sure to teach your child that vowels have two sounds, focus on the short sound for each vowel but always mention that vowels have two sounds.
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