Friday, March 15, 2013

Letters (beginner learners)

I can't believe this was not my first post!  Before students can learn to read, write, speak, or listen, they have to know the letters of the English alphabet!  Let me share some fun ways to teach the letters of the English alphabet so we can go on to other things!

Grammar:
Upper case- A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Lower case- a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Presentation Ideas:
Flashcards: As you teach the names of the letters tape the flashcard with the letter and picture representing the letter on the board.  Refer back to these when doing the practice activities.  HAVE THEM REPEAT THE NAMES  OF THE LETTERS AFTER THE SPEAKER!
Free ABC Flash Cards Above 

Compare: Write the Spanish and English letters on the board and show how they are similar (in the way the letters are written) and then erase the Spanish letters to teach the English names.  HAVE THE STUDENTS REPEAT THE NAMES (and pronunciations) AFTER THE SPEAKER.  
Video: Show a video teaching the names of the letters.  


Practice Activities:
Singing:

  • Procedure: Students sing the letters of the English alphabet in order.  
  • Modifications: 
    • As students sing, someone points to the letter (best to have a poster with the letters or have them written on the board).  
    • Teach the song without music so that you can start slow, then add music (if using).  
    • Start with the names of the letters (you can use this song The ABC song) then move on to the pronunciation of the letters (you can use this song for names and pronunciation of the letters The Alphabet Song)
Letter Line Up:
  • Procedure: Students can work in small groups or whole class.  The group is given a set of cards where each card has a letter written on it.  Mix up the cards.  Then have students put the cards in alphabetically order.

  • Modifications: 
    •  To help students can sing the alphabet song.
    • Teacher can give hints (ex. The capitol letter A is point at the top and has two "legs" coming from the point).  
Letter Show and Tell: 
  • Procedure: Each week is "sponsored" by a different letter.  Students are encouraged to bring an item from home that starts with the week's letter.
  • Modifications:
    • Students can bring an item from home that starts with the week's letter in English or Spanish. 
  • Students can show an item from around the classroom or school that starts with the week's letter.  

Letter Scavenger Hunt:

  • Procedure: When the students can identify a group of letters or all letters in the English alphabet, they race to find an item in the classroom, whole school, or outside that starts with A, then B, the C, then so on.  
  • Modifications: 
    • Students can work together as a team.  
    • Students can be given hints to find items.
    • Teacher has multiples of the same items hidden so all groups can complete the scavenger hunt.  
    • Have students make the letters out of different materials around the classroom or using their body.

    • Have them spell a simple word with various materials.
    • Upper and lower case letters are written on individual cards/popsicle sticks/post its and students must match the upper and lower case cards.  

Shaving Cream Writing: 
  • Procedure: At the students desk, a small amount of shaving cream is sprayed on their empty desk.  The teacher calls out a letter and students write in the shaving cream.  Teacher walks around and confirms/corrects students.

Copying: 

  • Procedure: Students are given a piece of paper with the alphabet on it to copy over.
  • Modifications: 
    • Put paper in a plastic cover sheet or cover with contact paper, so students can write on it with a white board marker and reuse them.  


Production Activities
Letter connect the dots

  • Procedure: Using a connect the dots, students draw lines starting at A ending at Z in order to create a picture. Click HERE for Connect the Dots
  • Modifications: 
    • Students draw lines from upper case letters to lower case letters 


Alphabetically order: 


  • Procedure: Students write all the letters in alphabetically order.
  • Modifications: 
    • Students write the letters they know
    • Students write the upper and lower case letters (in order)
    • Students write the groups of letters they have learned


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