- multiple copies of magnetic letters or small single letter cards: “b,” “c,” “d,” “e,” “f,” “g,” “h,” “i,” “l,” “m,” “n,” “o,” “p,” “s,” “u,” and “w”
- paper
- word cards: build, house, home, pig, wolf, chin
MA Standards:
English Language Arts/Foundational Skills/RF.PK.MA.2.c Identify the initial sound of a spoken word and, with guidance and support, generate several other words that have the same initial sound.
English Language Arts/Foundational Skills/RF.PK.MA.1.d Recognize and name some uppercase letters of the alphabet and the lowercase letters in one’s own name.
Head Start Outcomes:
Language Development/Receptive Language Attends to language during conversations, songs, stories, or other learning experiences.
Literacy Knowledge/Alphabet Knowledge Identifies letters and associates correct sounds with letters.
PreK Learning Guidelines:
English Language Arts/Reading and Literature 7 Develop familiarity with the forms of alphabet letters, awareness of print, and letter forms.
English Language Arts/Reading and Literature 8 Listen to, identify, and manipulate language sounds to develop auditory discrimination and phonemic awareness.
Learn About Letters Together: Letters Make Words
© Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Early Education and Care (Jennifer Waddell photographer). All rights reserved.
ELA Focus Skills: Letter Recognition, Vocabulary, Word Recognition
Review with children some of the words they have seen or heard during the week. Hold up each word card and say the word aloud. Have children repeat it. Spread the word cards out on a table or the floor or stand them in a chart holder. Spread the magnetic letters on a table or on the floor. Then model how to use the letters to match/spell one of the words.
- Pick a word card and say, I think I will make the word pig.
- Point to the first letter of the word and have children identify it.
- Say, I need the letter “Pp.” I’ll look for it in this pile of letters. Look for and hold up a “Pp.”
- Say, This is a letter “Pp.” I’ll put it here for my word. Place the “Pp” on the paper.
- Continue until you have found all the letters of the word pig.
- Line up the letters on the paper to spell the word pig. Look at the word card to check to see if you are correct, checking letter for letter. Guide children to understand your actions by touching letters, nodding your head, and looking pleased.
- Read the word aloud and proudly say, I made the word pig!
Invite children to work in pairs to make words. Give help as needed.
Educator Tip: Guided and independent letter, sound, and word practice continues to take place in center activities. If desired, you can set up the literacy center immediately after the direct instruction and repeat instruction before children work in the literacy center identifying letters.