• 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 sound does this letter make?" The child will say, "/f/."

    The vowels are a, e, i, o, u. Each vowel has a short sound and a long sound. The short sound of each vowel is: a, /ă /; e, /ĕ/; i, /ĭ/; o, /ŏ/; u, /ŭ/. The long sound of each vowel is when the vowel says its name, a, e, i, o, u. The other letters of the alphabet are called consonants. For example, B, C, and D are consonants.

     

    Consonant and Short Vowel Sound Practice Using Junk Mail

     
    Key Points About the Video
    • Mom explains the activity and provides an example for her son by saying the letter name and the letter–sound.
    • Mom and son laugh and have fun with the activity.

     Consonant and Short Vowel Sound Practice

    Help your child practice identifying the sound for specific letters.

     

    Books to Share

    Suggested books to practice letter names and letter sounds. As you share the book, periodically point to a letter and ask your child to say the letter name and the letter sound.

    • LMNO Peas by Keith Baker
    • Click, Clack, Quackity-Quack: An Alphabetic Adventure by Doreen Cronin
    • Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert
    • Alphabeasties and Other Amazing Types by Sharon Werner
    • I Stink! by Kate and Jim McMullen