MA Standards:
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:
Literacy Knowledge/Alphabet Knowledge Recognizes that the letters of the alphabet are a special category of visual graphics that can be individually named.
Literacy Knowledge/Early Writing Copies, traces, or independently writes letters or words.
PreK Learning Guidelines:
English Language Arts/Reading and Literature 7 Develop familiarity with the forms of alphabet letters, awareness of print, and letter forms.
Learn About Letters Together: Air Writing (“Cc”)
© Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Early Education and Care (Jennifer Waddell photographer). All rights reserved.
ELA focus skills: Recognize and form uppercase and lowercase letters
Use the “Air Writing Routine” to help children begin to “write” the letter “Cc.” Tell children they are going to learn how to write the letter “Cc.” Say, First, let’s have everyone point your finger and put your hand up. Pull your hand up a little, then out and around, like the side of a circle, to make the curvy line of the uppercase letter “C.” Now, do the same thing, only smaller, to make a lowercase “c.”
Air Writing Routine
Display the letter “Cc” on a card or chart paper.
- Stand with your back to children so they can imitate you as you “air write” the uppercase and lowercase letters.
- Instruct children to place their hands up high.
- With your pointer or index finger, trace the letter in the air from top to bottom the way you would write the letter.
- Think aloud as you show children the direction to move their finger as they form the letter.
- Comment on the special features of the letter shape.
- Talk with children about the difference between the uppercase and lowercase forms.
Adaptation: For very young children, you may need to hold each child’s hand and make the “Cc” shape in the air with the child several times. Then ask him or her to do it alone.
Educator Tip: Guided and independent letter, sound, and word practice continues to take place in center activities. If desired, you can set up the ABC Center immediately after the direct instruction. Repeat instruction before children work in the literacy center identifying letters.