Letter Recognition and Formation

During our school day, we provide many opportunities for the Cardinals to identify letters in the most meaningful and fun way. From the beginning of the school year, we introduce letters using each child’s name. We talk about our names as we are getting to know each other, we read the day’s schedule and put emphasis on letters and sounds, we do lots and lots of literacy activities and we read many, many alphabet books such as Stephen Johnson’s Alphabet City or Bobbie Combs ABC A Family Alphabet Book.  

 

Along with teaching letters and sounds in integration, we have also decided to focus on one letter each week. Because it is more meaningful to introduce letters as they become meaningful to the children, we choose to start with the letter B as that is the beginning letter of our current theme of study, Birds.

 

During our Literacy Workshops, the Cardinals practiced making the letter B with slates, wet sponge pieces, and chalk. Using the Handwriting Without Tears method, the children were encouraged to start at the top, make a big line down, jump to the top, little curve to the middle, and little curve to the bottom. Then, with a damp tiny sponge, the letter was traced and then again with a small piece of paper towel to dry. Afterwards, the Cardinals were asked to try it again. This is what HWT calls the Wet-Dry-Try method which is a sensory strategy to teach the strokes for capital letters.  

In another station, the Cardinals worked on their letter B page. From a variety of pictures and clipart, the Cardinals cut out all the objects that start with the letter B and glue them to their paper.

And, because much talk about eating baked goods (e.g., pumpkin pie, cookies) for Thanksgiving was heard, there was a station for journal writing. The Cardinals were encouraged to finish the statement, “For Thanksgiving, I like to eat...”

Hmmmm, what letter should we focus on next?