Pre-Reading and Writing Strategies
Salt Box – Line a small box with black paper and add a thin layer of salt. Your child can write letters in the salt. Shake the box to "clean the slate."
Sandpaper Letters – Cut the letters of your child’s name out of sandpaper. Glue these onto a piece of cardboard. Your child can trace his/her name with his/her finger.
Magnetic Letters – Buy several sets of magnetic letters (upper & lowercase letters.) On the fridge or a cookie sheet, help your child find and group together all of the capital and lowercase B/b, then all of the D/d, etc. Talk about the letter’s name and the sound it makes. Then, find all the letters that make a "mmm" sound (M) or an "ssss" sound (C & S), etc.
Alphabet Books – Cut a piece of paper into fourths, staple them together on the side, and write an alphabet letter on the cover. Your child can cut pictures out of magazines that begin with the letter on the cover and glue them on the following pages. Label the pictures.
Finger Paints – Your child can smear finger paints on a piece of paper. Help him/her write his/her name or various letters with his/her finger. Wipe the slate clean, then try some more.
Playdough – Draw a letter, and have your child roll out pieces of playdough and fit and mold them together to make that letter’s shape. Try lots of letters!
Spaghetti – Do the same as above with cooked spaghetti. Color small batches with food coloring to make it more fun.
Letter Hunt – Look for letters. Pick a letter of the day and see how many everyone in the family can find. Look on street signs, in books, etc. Make it a game!
Body Letters – Help your child make letter shapes with his/her body. Some letters, like L, your child will be able to make with his/her own body. Some, like M, will require two bodies.
Fine Motor Control Practice – Draw curly lines, shapes, mazes, and have your child trace them with a pencil. Then see if s/he can duplicate these shapes/lines/etc. by him/herself.
Word Wall – Put up separate alphabet letters on pieces of paper on the wall. Write new words the child has mastered, cut them out and put them under the alphabet letter that has the same beginning sound.
Computer Software – Look for software that incorporate phonics into reading activities.
Post-its & Pens – Write single letters on small post-its and have your child stick the post-its on items around the house that begin with the same letter.
Magnadoodle – This is great for the car when practicing fine motor skills, writing letters, words, word families, spelling words, etc.
Alphabet Bingo – This game is wonderful for practicing letter names and sounds.
Rhyming Words – Look for rhyming words in books, poetry, writing, etc. Practice making rhyming words with magnetic letters, pens and paper, on the computer, etc.
Poetry – Read lots of poetry to your child. Go back and look for words that start and/or end with the same letter, words that rhyme, capital letters, same endings, etc.
Read! Read! Read! - Read to your child often and discuss what you are reading! Model and encourage as much language as possible.