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Fun with Letters for Parents and Children
One of the Every Child Ready to Read Workshops that you can present to a group of parents who are accompanied by their children is Fun with Letters for Parents and Children.
Here is a brief look at the workshop.
For the workshop you will be using the following books: alphabet books; musical CD’s with songs about letter names and sounds; letter puzzles (I recommend those made
by Melissa and Doug); and magnetic or foam letters (Lakeshore Learning has some nice magnetic letters, both giant magnetic upper and lower case letters.)
In this workshop (as every other workshop), you will explain the five simple practices: Talking; Singing, Reading, Writing, and Playing. Then you sing an easy song that
will include the names of the children that are in attendance. Example (Sung to Bingo): There is a child that I know best, and Rocky is his name oh. R-o-c-k-y, R-o-c-k-y, R-o-c-k-y, And Rocky is his name oh.
This workshop emphasizes not only learning the names of the 26 letters, but also learning which names go with which letter shapes, both uppercase
and lowercase.
Talking
For this practice, you explain what environmental print is and have children identify certain letters. You can even play the “I Spy” game and have children find objects that begin with a certain letter in the room.
Singing
Next, sing the alphabet song. Remember to sing the letters “L,M,N,O,P” a little slower, so they think it is not just one letter. Another way to sing the alphabet song that will less confusing to young children when you get to above letters is to sing the song
to the tune of “Mary Had A Little Lamb.” Try it! While singing the song, display your magnetic or foam letters at the same time.
Reading
Present some SIMPLE alphabet books that are not confusing to children who are just learning their letters. One of the alphabet Golden Books has just been re-released and it would be a good choice. Either way, choose a book that shows one letter per page and
that depicts one object per page. Golden Book: My ABC Book by Art Seiden. ISBN: 978-0-448-48215-6.
Writing
Encourage parents to start with uppercase letters first, and then proceed to lowercase letters. The parent should start by using their child’s first name. Explain that they can print their child’s name in large letters, and have their child trace over them.
You can also explain how families can make a simple alphabet book, or if time permits, have the families make an alphabet book during the workshop. Here are other examples you can share: using chalk to write letters on a chalkboard or sidewalk; making letters
out of cardboard, putting the letter under a piece of paper, and coloring over the letter with caryons, watching the letter appear; writing letters in shaving cream; having the child help handwrite a letter to a friend or relative.
Playing
For Play, the manual recommends playing the Letter Day Game. Here is how it is suggested you have the parents play this game with their children.
Tell your child that today is the letter ____ day. For example, the “mmm” sound. Tell your child that you both are going to look for things
that begin with “mmm.” The child has to think of or find words that have the same sound on his or her own. Again, use picture books, things around the house, or things you and your child can see anywhere. Praise your child’s success. Give him or her a little
help if needed. For example, if your child is having a hard time, you might say “Well, here’s a bird. Bird starts with the ‘buh’ sound.” “What else can you think of that starts with the ‘buh’ sound?”
For more information and materials, go to
www.michigan.gov/youthlibraryservices in the Every Child Ready to Read section.
--- Sue
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