Scott, Nicole_Kindergarten

Letters, Sounds and Important Words
As we learn our letters, sounds and important words, we will put them on here.  Below, we have many ideas for fun practice games. 

Our first letters and words are to come...but for now it's always a good idea to practice some color words!

LETTERS AND SOUNDS : 

Using letters/sounds/important words, try these games!

Remember – it is always okay to have the flashcards handy.  It is good practice to use and copy these important words from our resources.   

• Reward Them:  Using flash cards in a skill drill fashion, reward your child for each correct word they can identify using pennies or a small snack like M&M’s, goldfish, gummy bears, high fives, hugs, etc.  
• Decorate the Word:  On a sheet of white copy paper, write or type an important word as large possible and let your child decorate the word using glue and glitter, pasta, beans, candy, sequins, beads, cheerios, etc.  This will help them pay special attention to the formation of the letters and the shape of the word.
• I Spy/Mind Reader/Mystery Word:  Using flash cards, set out a number of cards (fewer at first, more later).  Give your child clues as to what word you are thinking of.  “I’m thinking of a word…” or “I spy a word…” or “The mystery word…”  Then give a clue such as it starts with, sounds like/rhymes with, ends with, has four letters, has two syllables, etc.  Later, reverse the roles and let your child give you clues too!
• Go Fishing:  Using a set of flash cards, attach a paperclip to each card.  Then fashion a “fishing pole” out of something long and a string with a magnet.  Have all the “fish” turned over and let your child “fish for a word.”  If they can read the word, they get to keep that fish. See how many fish they catch!
• Chant the Word:  Use movement to help the engage your child’s brain.  Using the attached list of chants and the flash cards, spell out each important word.  Parents, participate too!
• Word Sorts: Using the flash cards, sort the words into groups.  You can sort the words by the beginning letter, number of letters in the word, number of syllables in the word, ending letters, rhyming words, etc.  You can sort them with your child, or one of you can sort them and let the other figure out how they are sorted….see if you can make it tricky!
• Hunting for Treasure:  Like a treasure hunt, pull out the newspaper, a magazine, or even an old favorite children’s book and “hunt” for important words we know. Highlight or circle them if you can.  How many can you find?
• Mix and Fix:  On small squares of paper, write the individual letters to an important word.  Give your child the mixed up letters and have them unscramble them into the important word.  I’ve seen these kept in the plastic Easter eggs so they can pick and egg and sort! 
• Word Search/Crossword Puzzle: At the discovery website, http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/ you can create and print your own puzzles. 
• Build the Word:  Build the important words using magnetic letters, alphabet stamps, play dough, lettered lima beans, cut out magazine letters, etc.
• Write the Word:  Write the important word using a magna doodle, glitter pens, marker with a color or rainbow pattern, type them on the computer in a fun font, or smooth shaving cream on a surface and write with your finger.
• Hopscotch:  Place the flashcards on the ground in a path.  As your child hops from one to the other, they must call out the word.  Where will the path lead?
• WORDO/BINGO: On a piece of paper, write the important words under five columns.  Call out the important words and let your child mark them with a pretzel, a jelly bean, etc.  Fill the board, five in a row, your choice!  Eat the markers when you’ve had a wordo/bingo!
• Car/Restaurant I Spy – Sitting at a stop light or staring at a menu, tell your child, “I spy the important word is” and see if they can find it too. 
• Flashlight Fun:  Tape the flashcards to your child’s wall in their bedroom near their bed.  At night, turn off the lights and using a flashlight, shine on a word and have your child call read it.  Or let your child have the flashlight to find a word you call.  Spooky!
• Go Fish:  Print and cut two sets of flashcards and deal them like cards, “Mom, do you have like?”….”Nope – go fish!”
• Memory:  Print and cut two sets of flashcards and turn them over.  See how many pairs you can get!
• Hangman: Provide the number of blanks and let your child guess the important word.
• Keep Track:  On a paper on the fridge or the bathroom mirror with a dry erase marker, keep track of the “Words I Can Read.”  When your child has mastered an important word, record it and add it to the list.  Celebrate success!

 CHANT IT! 
We do these regularly in class - they LOVE them!

• Lumberjack – With each letter, act as if you’re chopping down a tree.  At the end, instead of shouting TIM-BER! Shout the word!
• Pumping Iron – With each letter, act as if you’re pumping some heavy iron!  Show some muscles at the end and say the word!
• Magic Pencil – Write each letter as you say it with your magic pencil in the air.
• Hula – Hands on your hips, swivel each letter!  At the end, throw your hands in the air and say the word.
• Opera – Stand nice and tall with your chest out and sing each letter opera style!
• Box it – Take your boxing stance and punch each word.
• Yo-Yo – Throw your pretend yo-yo up and down with each letter.
• Funny Voices – Say the letters in a LOUD voice, a quiet voice, a whisper, a squeaky mouse voice, a big monster voice, etc.
• Blast Off – Start crouched near the floor and with each letter get a little bit taller.  Jump in the air and say the word when you’re done.
• Frog Jumps – The opposite of blast off, start standing and with each letter bend to get shorter.  When you’re done, jump in the air and say the word.
• Robot – In a robotic voice and with robot arms, say each letter and the word.
• Birdie Birdie – Like a bird, flap your wings and sing each letter.
• Chicken – Fold your arms under and flap your wings and stick out your head as you say each letter.
• Stuffy Nose – Hold your nose and spell the word.
• Cheer It – Cheer the letters like a cheerleader. “Give me a……What’s that spell?”
• Disco – With each letter point to the floor or ceiling.  Think John Travolta.
• Be the Letter – As you say each letter, try to make it with your body.
• Mexican Hat Dance - With your hands on your hips, alternate your feet in front as you say each letter.
• Military - March each letter and salute when you say the word.
• Clap it – Clap each letter and then clap each syllable when you say the word.
• Explosion – With each letter starting at a whisper, your voice gets louder and louder until BOOM!  You yell the word.
• Exercise – Do a sit up, jumping jack, toe touch, etc with each letter.
• Batter Up – Take your batting position and swing as you say each letter.  Homerun when you say the word!
• Slow-Mo – Hold the sound of each letter for a few seconds – super slow!
• Motorcycle – Pretend you’re holding on to the handlebars and rev it up with each letter.
• Dribble and Shoot – Dribble on each letter and take your shot when you say the word.
• Cowboy – Pretend to throw your lasso with each letter.
• Blowing Kisses – Alternating right and left hands, blow kisses on each letter.  On the word, throw the kiss with both hands!

Also, try www.starfall.com for some fun letter/reading practice!