[KTeacher]

I have about 3 students who do not know their letters and they also can not tell the difference between a number and a letter (and sometimes even through shapes in their). We do flash cards(numbers, letters, and sight words) every morning and I try to do them 2 other times through out the day. Any suggestions on how I can help these students recognize their letters/????

[Ms. K]

Maybe you could try teaching them using tactile methods. They could make the letter with playdough or with sand or salt. Do you have a sand tray? If not, you can use an old pie plate.

One thing I have been doing is tracing the outline of the letter and then they paint with glue inside the outline and then cover it with colored sand. They can then run their fingers over the letter (after it dries) and repeat the sound.

[hescollin]

Learn to identify the upper case or the Capital letter first. Than learn to identify the lower case letter.
ART
Finger Paint capital R’s and lower case r’s

Kool-Aid Finger Paint
2 cups flour
2 packs RED unsweetened Kool-Aid
½ cup salt
3 cups boiling water
3 Tablespoons cooking oil And mix wet into dry.
Or
Uncooked finger paint recipe
½ cup liquid starch
½ cup soap powder
5/8 cup water
Red food coloring
Beat together until the consistency of whipped potatoes.
Or
Edible Finger Paint
Pudding Paint
Instant Vanilla Pudding
Red food coloring
Mix pudding according to directions on the box.
Add food coloring for desired color.
Finger paint on paper plates.

GAME
Hide red construction paper R’s that are visible. Students chant I’m looking for a rrrrrrrrrr. When the student finds one rrrrrrrrr, they take it and return to their seat. If the last student can’t find a rrrrrrrrr, play hot and cold –say cold as student walks away from rrrrrrrrr and hot as they move closer. Decorate the R’s with red rice. To make red rice, simply put ½ teaspoon of water in a plastic bag and a few drops of red food coloring, add rice, seal tightly, and shake until rice is colored.

DECORATION
Use upholstery thread or fish line, attach one end to the ceiling and hang down long enough for the teacher to reach, but out of the students reach. (one for each student) Tie a large paper clip to the end. Attach the R to the paper clip. You can also use the line to display holiday artwork, like pumpkins, Santa, Leprechauns and etc.


LETTER
1. Say the name of the letter and find a picture or object that starts with a R

2. Draw a rabbit. Make a capital R, on top of the circle make two long pointed ears. Color them pink. In the circle make 2 black eyes, pink nose and red mouth.

3. Draw a flower. Make a lower case r, on top of the straight-line draw a flower (tulip, daisy or any kind of flower) the arc is the leaf.

[PattiMSKteacher]

Also we have the clear plastic name tags, stick one letter in there written on an index card, and have them wear it all day, any where they go we know to ask, "What letter is that?" , and then we wait for their reply...start with the letters in their name.

[Nic]

I teach a title 1 K class so most of my kids had difficulty recognizing any letters except for a few in their names. I started using the Zoophonics flash cards. I hold it up, do the hand signals and we all say for example "Robbie Rabbit, R, /r/r/r/r/r." For some reason the cute animals really caught their attention. Now most of them know at least the letters we've taught and can say the letter and sound. Some still need to say the animal associated with the letter but that's okay - they'll wean away when they are ready. I know this isn't using zoophonics purely the way it was intended - but it works as a great motivator and attention getter for my kids.

They are more likely to remember the letter if it is associated with a story or a word. Bb . . . ball . . . (/b/ /b/ /b/) have students move their hand up and down as if they are bouncing a ball. Show them the letter Bb with a picture of a ball.

Give them two or three letters. Say the name of a letter and have the students hold up the correct letter. Have the students trace the letter with their fingers.

Think multiple intelligences!!!

[busy bee]

Think multiple intelligences!!! When I read that it made me think of Jolly Phonics, great for children!!!! It gives you a fun way to teach the name, the sound and an action with the letter!! Lovely

I also have a few kids who still dont even know the name of the letters in their name. But I say, since its almost mid November, move on to sounds. They are more imnportant, anyways. I also use zoophonics, and eventually the letter names will come.

It sounds like a few of your kids are "not ready." It's better to build a strong foundation vs. rushing into letter and sound recognition. I suggest incorporating activities all throughout the day. Morning message is a great way to develop a recognition of not only letters but also concepts of print. Keep up the good work... in late December/ Sping you will see the lightbulbs go off.

[KTeacher]

Thank you all for the advice. I retested my students of letter recognition and the on child that did not know one letter the first week of september now knows 20 of them, so I feel like I at least accomplished something. My other 2 students are still having troubles. They don't even know letters in their name. I had them wear a sticker around all day with 2 letters on it and about every half hour I would ask them what it was. By lunch they could tell me the letter and everytime they did I had the whole class chear for them....so hopefully this will help!!!