Having Some Success! Need Ideas

[Thriftylady]

I posted about my preschooler who seems not to be learning well. I still think he has some issues, but I have had some success with him! He will be 5 next month, so I am thrilled to be seeing success.

He now knows all the letters in his name. He only knows the capitols, but hey it is preschool learning right? We made great progress with this over the last week or so by doing some sensory letters. I cut letters out of clear contact paper, and gave him small pieces of tissue paper to make suncatchers of the letters in his name. We did one letter each day. He also can now name them on our letter flash cards! He didn't do so well today with all of them picking them out of the letter magnets. But small strokes I guess.

So now I need some help. I need to come up with more hands on sensory ways to help him with more letters. I did pick up some little bags of colored sand at dollar tree and I am trying to figure a way to use that. Maybe cut out paper letters and let him spread glue and put sand on them? I don't know. Do all of you have any great sensory ideas to do letters?

[Annalee]

I posted about my preschooler who seems not to be learning well. I still think he has some issues, but I have had some success with him! He will be 5 next month, so I am thrilled to be seeing success.

He now knows all the letters in his name. He only knows the capitols, but hey it is preschool learning right? We made great progress with this over the last week or so by doing some sensory letters. I cut letters out of clear contact paper, and gave him small pieces of tissue paper to make suncatchers of the letters in his name. We did one letter each day. He also can now name them on our letter flash cards! He didn't do so well today with all of them picking them out of the letter magnets. But small strokes I guess.

So now I need some help. I need to come up with more hands on sensory ways to help him with more letters. I did pick up some little bags of colored sand at dollar tree and I am trying to figure a way to use that. Maybe cut out paper letters and let him spread glue and put sand on them? I don't know. Do all of you have any great sensory ideas to do letters?

My special needs nephew has the handwriting without tears materials. I traced the letters off and cut them out of foam and wood. You could cut them out of sand paper or any other texture if need be. Just some ideas for the little fellow. I run copies of my nephew's book and put them in a notebook in protectors and the kids make their letters with their materials. Hope this helps!

[Thriftylady]

Never heard of handwriting without tears. Off to look it up.

[Annalee]

Never heard of handwriting without tears. Off to look it up.

https://www.hwtears.com/hwt

[Blackcat31]

A - Pull down twice from the point to the top. Add a seat to view the apple crop.

a - First make a round apple to eat, then a slide for an ant when he's finished his treat!

B - Big old B has a tall straight back and two big bellies 'cause he just ate a snack!

b - Draw a straight back just like me. Don't forget to add a belly for b.

Cc - Cars can cruise down curvy c. Stop near the ground- that's it you see!

D - Down to the ground, then take a break. Half a circle is what you'll make.

d - First you make a dime to spend. Go way up high then down to the end.

E - Pull straight down for capital E. Then add some shelves 1, 2, 3.

e - A little line start off e. Add a plate for an egg- here's breakfast for me!

F - Big F is a tall flower for you. E has three lines, F has two.

f - This flower grows tall and hangs a little. Add a line right in the middle.

G - Big round circle but don't go too far. Add a garage to park your car!

g - A garden starts with a little seed. The roots grow down that's all you need!

H- Make two lines, high to low. Connect the lines so they can say hello!

h - First start high then take a jump. Little h has a little hump.

I - Big I starts with one side of a door. All it needs is a roof and a floor.

i - Little i goes down, it's an ice cream treat. Add a sprinkle on top and it's ready to eat.

J - Jumping jack J jumps up and down and then curls up. Jack needs a hat 'cause he likes to dress up!

j - Little j is so thin and lean. Jump way down, then add a jellybean!

Kk - K and k have three lines as you can see: a tall straight back and a sideways v.

L - Pull down a line and add a lap. Lie down, lazy! It's time for a nap!

l - Little l looks like a number one. Just draw a line and you are done!

M - Go down, hit the ground, then draw a V. Down to the ground again big M is two mountains for me.

m - Go down, hit the ground then get ready for bumps. Little m is easy to write, just add two humps.

N - Stick a nail in the ground and slant another one right. Add a third pointing up and say “nighty-night”!

n - Go down, hit the ground and your almost done. Little m has two humps, n has only one!

Oo - Oh yum! An orange to eat! Nice and round, it's a healthy treat.

P - Pull down your pencil, then pick it up off the ground. Add a half a penny, nice and round.

p - Pop on down and then up, you see. Finish it off with a little pea!

Q - Big Q is a round quarter to spend. Add a line when you're at the end.

q - A fancy queen with a little pearl. Give q's hair a special curl.

R - First draw a line and then a rainbow. Add a ramp and you're ready to go!

r - Go straight down, then race on back. r has an arm, like a little rack.

Ss - Silly S and s, those slippery snakes. Twisty, turny, ready to shake!

T - Big T is a big tall tree. Add a fort at the top so you can see.

T - Little t is a little tree. Add a fort in the middle for you and me!

U - Big U is just like a cup. Start by going down and then curve up.

U - Curve down and up, then down once more. Little u is a cup that's ready to pour.

V v - Slant down first then up like so. This upside-down volcano is ready to blow!

W w - W and w have two pointy waves. Swim in the water if you're brave!

X x - A criss and a cross and in case you forgot, where is the treasure? X marks the spot!

Y - Capital Y has a V in the air. The pole at the bottom holds it there.

Y - Slant down right, down to the ground. Slant down left and take it underground.

Z z - Zigzag Z and z are easy, you see. Just zig a zag - 1, 2, 3!

[Annalee]

A - Pull down twice from the point to the top. Add a seat to view the apple crop.

a - First make a round apple to eat, then a slide for an ant when he's finished his treat!

B - Big old B has a tall straight back and two big bellies 'cause he just ate a snack!

b - Draw a straight back just like me. Don't forget to add a belly for b.

Cc - Cars can cruise down curvy c. Stop near the ground- that's it you see!

D - Down to the ground, then take a break. Half a circle is what you'll make.

d - First you make a dime to spend. Go way up high then down to the end.

E - Pull straight down for capital E. Then add some shelves 1, 2, 3.

e - A little line start off e. Add a plate for an egg- here's breakfast for me!

F - Big F is a tall flower for you. E has three lines, F has two.

f - This flower grows tall and hangs a little. Add a line right in the middle.

G - Big round circle but don't go too far. Add a garage to park your car!

g - A garden starts with a little seed. The roots grow down that's all you need!

H- Make two lines, high to low. Connect the lines so they can say hello!

h - First start high then take a jump. Little h has a little hump.

I - Big I starts with one side of a door. All it needs is a roof and a floor.

i - Little i goes down, it's an ice cream treat. Add a sprinkle on top and it's ready to eat.

J - Jumping jack J jumps up and down and then curls up. Jack needs a hat 'cause he likes to dress up!

j - Little j is so thin and lean. Jump way down, then add a jellybean!

Kk - K and k have three lines as you can see: a tall straight back and a sideways v.

L - Pull down a line and add a lap. Lie down, lazy! It's time for a nap!

l - Little l looks like a number one. Just draw a line and you are done!

M - Go down, hit the ground, then draw a V. Down to the ground again big M is two mountains for me.

m - Go down, hit the ground then get ready for bumps. Little m is easy to write, just add two humps.

N - Stick a nail in the ground and slant another one right. Add a third pointing up and say “nighty-night”!

n - Go down, hit the ground and your almost done. Little m has two humps, n has only one!

Oo - Oh yum! An orange to eat! Nice and round, it's a healthy treat.

P - Pull down your pencil, then pick it up off the ground. Add a half a penny, nice and round.

p - Pop on down and then up, you see. Finish it off with a little pea!

Q - Big Q is a round quarter to spend. Add a line when you're at the end.

q - A fancy queen with a little pearl. Give q's hair a special curl.

R - First draw a line and then a rainbow. Add a ramp and you're ready to go!

r - Go straight down, then race on back. r has an arm, like a little rack.

Ss - Silly S and s, those slippery snakes. Twisty, turny, ready to shake!

T - Big T is a big tall tree. Add a fort at the top so you can see.

T - Little t is a little tree. Add a fort in the middle for you and me!

U - Big U is just like a cup. Start by going down and then curve up.

U - Curve down and up, then down once more. Little u is a cup that's ready to pour.

V v - Slant down first then up like so. This upside-down volcano is ready to blow!

W w - W and w have two pointy waves. Swim in the water if you're brave!

X x - A criss and a cross and in case you forgot, where is the treasure? X marks the spot!

Y - Capital Y has a V in the air. The pole at the bottom holds it there.

Y - Slant down right, down to the ground. Slant down left and take it underground.

Z z - Zigzag Z and z are easy, you see. Just zig a zag - 1, 2, 3!

May I save this? I love it!

[Blackcat31]

May I save this? I love it!

Absolutely! I copied/pasted from somewhere years ago and its been useful over the years!

[Annalee]

Absolutely! I copied/pasted from somewhere years ago and its been useful over the years!

Thanks!

[Unregistered]

Heidi songs are another option to try.

http://www.heidisongs.com/collections/all/products/letters-and-sounds-animated-dvd

Some of the songs are on youtube too.

[Alwaysgreener]

Dollar tree has zyro foam that you can shape like play doh. They also carry poster board letters, you punch them out of the sheets and use the letters to trace.

[Thriftylady]

Dollar tree has zyro foam that you can shape like play doh. They also carry poster board letters, you punch them out of the sheets and use the letters to trace.

Never heard of that foam. What section is it in?

[finsup]

Handwriting without tears is a wonderful program. I used it while teaching kindergarten and the kids loved it! Have you tried filling a Ziploc bag with paint and letting him make the letters either with his finger or a q tip on that? It feels pretty cool I just tape it down to the table for kids to practice with.

[Thriftylady]

Handwriting without tears is a wonderful program. I used it while teaching kindergarten and the kids loved it! Have you tried filling a Ziploc bag with paint and letting him make the letters either with his finger or a q tip on that? It feels pretty cool I just tape it down to the table for kids to practice with.

Good idea!

Now I have a complaint. I was looking at WM and dollar tree for some sight word cards now that he has his name somewhat down he wants to see other words! But all the cards with words on them use lowercase and we are still trying to master the uppercase. Guess I will have to try to find some printable ones or something.

[Blackcat31]

Good idea!

Now I have a complaint. I was looking at WM and dollar tree for some sight word cards now that he has his name somewhat down he wants to see other words! But all the cards with words on them use lowercase and we are still trying to master the uppercase. Guess I will have to try to find some printable ones or something.

"Teach lowercase letters first. We have been taught, societally, that teaching the uppercase letters first to the child is proper. We have justified it by saying it is easier for a child to form an uppercase letter than it is to form a lowercase letter. This is just not so. Some capital letters (E for instance), take more strokes than its lowercase counterpart. Each time a young writer has to pick up a pencil to locate another point on the letter for formation, the child loses his or her place. There are more pencil pick-ups with uppercase letters than lowercase letters. The reasons for teaching lowercase letters first are these:

a) Books are mainly written with lowercase letters. When Mom is reading The Napping House, by Don and Audrey Woods, with her child snuggled in her lap, the letters are in lowercase form. If the child has been taught his capital letters first, the child is denied the opportunity of participating in the text. If the child, though, that has been taught the sounds and shapes of the lowercase letters, then the child can recognize the letters while mom and dad are reading. The opportunity to participate gives him/her the confidence to explore text in other areas.

b) First and second grade teachers have to spend much of their time breaking the children's habit of writing with capital letters. Teach them correctly the first time around!

c) Each time a young writer has to pick up the pencil to locate another point on the letter for formation, the child loses his or her place. There are more pencil-pickups with uppercase letters than lowercase letters.

d) Teaching both lowercase and uppercase (two totally different forms multiplied by 26) is overwhelming to the child. It is desired that a child not only exit kindergarten with a full understanding of the sounds and shapes of the alphabet, but have capital letter and letter name mastery as well. Our premise is, "Build the essential foundation of sound/shape first, then add the ancillary concepts, such as capital letters and letter names."

(https://www.zoo-phonics.com/about_brain.html)

The link above had the whole article. It has TONS of useful and helpful tips, tricks and ideas for teaching children literacy skills.

Zoo Phonics is super simple and really fun too! I think "Daycare" uses Zoo Phonics in her program and has raved about it before!

[Blackcat31]

I also HIGHLY suggest signing up for this gal's blog.

I have used more from her than any other teaching source for building reading and literacy skills.

She has a no non-sense SUPER fun approach to learning letters (both formation and sound) and beginning sight words too!

She also offers some really great printables.
The really really good ones are only available via an e-mail subscription to her blog.

http://thisreadingmama.com/