• letter names and sounds

    Letter Names and Letter Sounds

    It is important for children to know letter names and letter sounds.

    • Letter-name knowledge is recognizing and naming letters. An example of recognizing letters is when you show a child the letters N, A, and S and ask which letter is S, the child points to the S. An example of naming letters is when a child looks at the letter M and orally names that letter.
    • Letter-sound knowledge is demonstrated when a child can look at a letter in print and tell you the sound it represents. For example, if you point to the letter F and ask, "What sounds does this letter make?" the child will say, "/f/."

     

    There are many ways to support your child's knowledge of letter names and letter sounds. For example, you can look for a specific letter in a book or in a newspaper and then ask your child the sound that letter represents. You can point out letters on signs while in the car. You can sing the alphabet song while getting ready for school or doing chores at home. You can have your child identify specific letters in a magazine and then practice writing the letters.

    Letter-Naming Practice Using a Letter Arc

     
    Key Points About the Video
    • Dad explains the game and does the first one as an example.
    • After his son identifies the letter, Dad makes it a bit harder by asking for a word that begins with that letter.
    • When his son does not find f right away on the letter arc, Dad helps by saying, "E, F,…"

     

    Letter-Sound Practice Using a Letter Arc

     
    Key Points About the Video
    • Dad explains the game and does the first one as an example.
    • After his son identifies the letter sound, Dad asks him to say a word that begins with that letter sound.
    • Dad hugs his son when his son says hug begins with /h/.

     

    Letter-Name and Letter-Sound Practice
    Help your child practice naming letters and saying the sound for each letter.
     
     

    Short-Vowel Practice

     
    Key Points About the Video
    • Mom explains the game and does the first one as an example.
    • Mom reminds her son that it sometimes helps to say each sound in the word to find the middle sound.
    • When her son thinks the middle sound in doll is represented by a, Mom reminds him that a says /ă/ and asks which letter says /ŏ/.

    Short-Vowel Practice (a, e, i, o, u)

    Help your child practice short-vowel sounds.



    Letter-Sound Writing (Humpty Dumpty)

     
    Key Points About the Video
    • This activity can be done with any type of print media—even a newspaper, a magazine, or junk mail!
    • Mom points to a sentence and says, "Check this sentence!" after her son misses circling a target letter.
    • Her son practices writing the uppercase and lowercase letter that he circled.
    • Mom gives her son a high five and tells him how hard he worked!

    Letter-Sound Writing

    Help your child practice letter sounds and writing letters.

    Books to Share

    A list of suggested books that you can read to your child. Point to a letter and ask your child to identify the letter name and the letter sound.

    • Farm Alphabet Book by Jane Miller
    • Kipper's A to Z: An Alphabet Adventure by Nick Inkpen
    • Dr. Seuss' A, B, C by Dr. Seuss
    • Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate
    • Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault