18 GAMES FOR STUDYING LETTERS WITH CHILDREN card index (senior group) on the topic

Content:

• Learning letters: where to start? Is your child ready to learn the alphabet?
• Advice from psychologists

Games for learning the alphabet

The first rule of learning the alphabet: learn letters one at a time!

Don't forget, each letter is made up of visually similar elements. If you try to teach your child several letters at a time, he may become confused. Learn the letters one by one. One lesson - one letter.

The second rule of learning the alphabet: take your time!

Give your child enough time for each letter. Plan 1-2 lessons for each new letter. Organize the lesson in a way that is interesting to your child using games.

Learning letters: where to start?

Photo source – www.freepik.com

Before teaching your child letters, you need to decide: 1) whether he is ready to learn, and 2) what goal you are pursuing. If the reason lies in the parents’ desire for the child to know as much as possible in order to show off to others, it is better to leave this idea. The young student himself must show an interest in knowledge and want to learn the alphabet. You need to concentrate on his desires and abilities.

If parents see that their child is inquisitive and shows interest in new knowledge, this is a signal that they can start learning letters. It is important to remember that any theory must be supported by practice. Having learned the letters, proceed to syllables, and then gradually move on to reading.

The main task of parents is to be patient and convey information in an accessible form, and also not to force the child to study if he does not want to. It is better to conduct classes in the form of a game.

You need to start training only if the child himself wants it, or if he will soon go to school. According to the requirements of educational institutions, when entering school, children must know the basics - letters, numbers. Without these basic skills, studying will be much more difficult.

Is your child ready to learn the alphabet?

To determine how ready the baby is, there are psychological tests. Parents are asked to answer yes or no to the following questions:

Development of cognition

1. Does the child understand such judgments - right/left, much/little, big/small, low/high, near/far, under/above.
2. Can understand simple situations in which it is necessary to divide objects according to classification. For example, identify a group of green and red objects.
3. Is he able to think of the end of a fairy tale or story?
4. Does he consistently fulfill three requests, without reminding his parents?

Basic knowledge

1. Has the child ever been to a post office, a store, or a zoo? How broad his horizons are.
2. Have you visited the library?
3. Did his parents read fairy tales to him, starting from a very early age?

Speech development

1. Is it easy for the child to name the objects that surround him?
2. Is it easy to answer the questions asked?
3. Is he able to tell the purpose of household things - a vacuum cleaner, an iron, a refrigerator.
4. Can he determine the location of objects - on, under, inside, near.
5. How clearly does he pronounce words?
6. Can he conduct a dialogue?

Development of the emotional sphere

1. Is the child having fun with friends and communicating with family?
2. Can he adapt to new changes in his daily routine?
3. Knows how to compete and cooperate with friends.

Communication level

1. Can he share toys and communicate with other children?
2. Knows how to listen to others and not interrupt.

Level of physical development

1. Is the child diligent, is he able or not to sit quietly for a certain period of time?
2. Plays with the ball, jumps, goes down and up the stairs.
3. Gets enough sleep, has a good appetite, and knows how to extinguish emotional outbursts.

Development of visual abilities

1. Can a child distinguish between similar and dissimilar and classify them into separate groups?
2. Distinguishes short words and syllables with similar sounds - forest/weight, cat/year.
3. Able to notice changes - if three pictures were shown at first, and then one was removed.
4. He knows how to spell his name, what at least three letters from the alphabet look like.
5. According to the instructions of an adult, he is able to lay out pictures on the table.
6. Knows the order of reading words - from left to right.
7. Folds the minimum number of puzzles - from 10.

Hearing development

1. Rhymes words.
2. Repeats words and numbers after adults.
3. Understands that words that are similar in pronunciation have different sounds.
4. Retells what he heard.

Interest in reading

1. Enjoys looking at the pictures.
2. Loves to listen to fairy tales.
3. Interested in letters.

Thinking about learning the alphabet in preparation for school? Find out how many words per minute a preschooler and primary school child should read and for what “grade”.

If parents can answer affirmatively to at least 50% of the questions proposed, they can safely offer their child to study the alphabet.

Advice from psychologists

To learn the alphabet with your child, speech therapists and psychologists recommend following these tips:

• do not teach letters strictly in alphabetical order;
• do not learn all the letters mixed together;
• first learn vowels, then consonants;
• name the sound, not the spelling of the letter (incorrect - BE, DE, correct - B, D);
• consolidate what has been learned with practice - show how to write, give the child the opportunity to write with chalk, paints, or with his finger on the cereal.

Basic tips for mastering writing skills

So, times have changed - today a child must master writing skills even before entering school. Where to start?

Before you start writing letters, your child needs to learn the alphabet. Otherwise, he will not understand the meaning of what he is doing.

It’s good when a child not only knows letters, but also knows how to read syllables. This will make learning to write easier.

Manuals that use the identification of an object with the letter with which it begins (“A is a bus,” “B is a drum”) are very helpful in learning the alphabet. This contributes to better assimilation of letters and understanding of their purpose. Take this technique into use - it will save you a lot of time.

The most common problem when learning letters is a lack of understanding of why the letter is called and sounds differently (the letter is “be” and the sound is “b”). Therefore, at the first stage, teachers do not recommend teaching the child the correct name of the letter, but only its sound. When you move on from reading to the basics of writing, it’s worth remembering titles.

In parallel with learning the alphabet, it is important to continue to develop hand motor skills. Add more complex tasks to classic dough modeling and sandbox games:

• cutting out geometric shapes with scissors (circle, square, triangle);
• games with construction sets according to age (the older the child, the smaller the details);
• drawing with fingers (paints or on sand, cereals, foggy glass, etc.), paints, pencils
• or felt-tip pens, while simultaneously practicing the correct grip;
• laying out letters from peas, beads, seeds.

When you are ready to move directly to writing, it is important to properly organize the study space: a comfortable table and chair in accordance with the child’s height (both legs should be on the floor and bent at an angle of 90 degrees), good lighting.

Particular attention should be paid to the child’s seat at the table, posture, location of the workbook and both hands on it. Make sure that the child’s shoulders are at the same level, and the distance from the eyes to the table is 30-35 cm.

Determine the duration of the lessons - no longer than 15 minutes, perhaps even less - it all depends on the individual characteristics of the child.

Tip: use a timer or an hourglass - they perfectly discipline the child and give a sense of time.

The main principle of classes is not to put pressure on the child, turning classes into a game as much as possible. Don’t forget to praise for success and perseverance - motivation should be high. It is much more important to develop a child’s interest in learning and only then the necessary skills:

• orientation in the notebook;
• correct grip of the handle (tweezers);
• drawing by dots and cells;
• drawing continuous straight and wavy lines;
• coloring objects without going beyond the outline;
• writing elements and block letters.

These skills need to be focused on at the very beginning of learning to write.

Orientation on a sheet of paper

This skill is designed to give the child an understanding of the arrangement of letters or other elements on a sheet. It is still difficult for a preschooler to understand how many letters can fit in a line, what slope they should have, and how to write a small or large letter. All this is developed with simple exercises:

• draw a dot at the top or bottom of the sheet;
• draw a large and a small square, understand which is which;
• find differences between two pictures;
• circle a certain number of cells in a notebook, skip two and circle another series of cells;
• shade geometric shapes without going beyond the outline;
• copy (draw) simple geometric shapes.

How to hold a pen correctly

It’s better to teach your child how to hold a pen correctly when writing from the very beginning—it won’t be easy to relearn it later.

Advice: start practicing your first writing skills not with a fountain pen, but with a simple pencil. Children tend to get upset over mistakes. When they make mistakes, they often lose interest in the activity. The pencil can be erased with an eraser, and the mistake can be easily corrected.

At first, it is best to use thick triangular pencils so that the child can comfortably practice tweezer grip. As an alternative, you can purchase special training attachments that will facilitate this process - these are silicone attachments with recesses for fingers, designed to develop the correct gripping skill. But don't use them for too long - it's better to move on to traditional pencils and pens as soon as possible.

Show your child how you hold a pencil and help him repeat the grip. To develop beautiful handwriting in the future, some teachers recommend immediately teaching the child to tilt the tip of a pencil or pen to the right (if the child is right-handed) or to the left (for left-handers).

Methods for studying vowels/consonants

To teach your baby letters, you need to be patient. You should not demand too much, otherwise he will lose interest in knowledge.

First, talk about each vowel letter separately. For example, the letter A. Name it, show how it looks in writing, how to write it. Next, name the words in which it is present. Show pictures that depict objects, people and animals whose names contain the letter A. Next, invite the child to independently remember words that also contain this letter. You can consolidate the theory with practice - while walking, pay attention to store signs, together with your child, try to find a letter that is already familiar to him.

After the previous sound has been learned, you can proceed to the next one. To captivate the baby, it is recommended to purchase cards with letters, a board, cubes, bright pictures and books.

⠀

When vowels have been studied and reinforced in practice, you can begin to master consonants. First, introduce the child to the sound, then show him the letters. Learn the sound D, not the letter DE . Otherwise, he will experience disorientation in the process of combining syllables into words. The method of studying consonants does not differ from the method of vowels. It is important to practice as often as possible, to remember together words that contain the learned letter. Sequence of actions, repetition of learned material, patience - this is what will help parents.

How to learn the alphabet - adapt to the child’s age

3-4 years

To quickly teach a 3-4 year old child, you need to start with simple letters (those that are most often used in speech). After this, gradually move on to complex and rarer ones. This way he will remember the words better and faster.

You only need to learn one letter per lesson. You shouldn’t conduct “lessons” every day - it’s better to do it at intervals of two to three days.

Secure the result using cards, cut out letters from paper or fabric, sculpt from plasticine or dough. Each time before a new sound, repeat the material covered. At 3 years old, a child will be interested in listening to and learning a funny song or rhyme with the alphabet.

At this age, there is no need to force or rush the child. School is not soon yet, quick preparation for it is not required. Conduct classes only at the request of the baby.

It is important to consider the following points when teaching three-year-olds:

• do not expect your child to learn the alphabet quickly (be patient and devote time to studying regularly);
• do not exercise for more than 7 minutes a day;
• learn letters in pairs - A-Z, U-Y;
• do not proceed to study consonants without vowels;
• Remember that at this age imaginative thinking plays a big role, so you need to purchase bright books, toys and pictures.

It’s easier to conduct classes with a four-year-old. At this age, children have more developed processes of perception and analysis of abstract information. You can add puzzles, magnetic letters, cubes to the pictures, attract fairy tales, rhymes, stickers, posters. For better memorization, name the letters and write them immediately, encourage the child to draw them with a pen, pencil, or chalk.

Try an interesting and quite effective technique: forming letters from simple improvised means - buttons, sticks, sand.

You can learn the alphabet with a four-year-old child through the following games:

• cut out letters from paper, and then choose at random and name them;
• show pictures of animals, things, etc., and ask what letter the depicted object begins with;
• learn rhymes and songs with the studied sounds.

5-6 years

5-6 years is the most optimal age for teaching a child the alphabet, and as a result, reading. He must speak and pronounce sounds correctly. If you have difficulties with this, you should visit a speech therapist. At this age, activities cease to be purely playful in nature. The child needs to be told why he needs to know the alphabet. For example, say that now he will be able to read books on his own.

Advice to parents. Five-year-olds can be offered special educational books and notebooks. For example, you should take a closer look at game books with puzzles, mazes, crosswords and other interesting tasks.

⠀

Parents of preschoolers can purchase copybooks in which children will perform various educational tasks. A good option is “First words. Recipes for preschoolers. With tasks. 5-6 years” – publication authored by S.V. Petrenko. This manual is not overloaded with exercises; the words are given in enlarged form. Plus, after completing the task, the child is asked to independently evaluate his work (circle the sun with the appropriate rating) - this will allow the child to feel what it is like to be a schoolchild.

For training, you can use the methods of 4-year-olds (section above). But increase the study time (make the process longer), study every other day and be more persistent. You can also use educational cards and pictures. Assemble letters from puzzles and cut-out parts, sculpt and draw. At this age, a child will be interested in playing with a ball - throw him a ball and say any word, and let him throw the ball back and say the first letter of this word.

After learning vowels and consonants, show your five-year-old how to form syllables.

⠀

The educational material includes cards with syllables that make up words. Before you begin directly teaching your child to add syllables, it is recommended to select several games and exercises with letters. The adult shows the child two cards with letters: a vowel and a consonant, where one letter follows the other, while the parent or teacher pronounces how a syllable is formed from them. For example, the letter L runs towards the letter A, resulting in the syllable “l-l-l-a-a-a”.

An example of a game that helps a child learn syllables

To play you will need scissors, paper and pencils.

The point: the child is asked to draw a car or a house with a window. Make cuts along the side edges of the window. Prepare a paper tape, place the vowels on it: A, O, E, Y, U, I, E, Z (keep in mind that the width of the tape should fit into the cuts on the window). Then glue a transparent pocket - it will be located directly in front of the window (a piece of polyethylene is suitable for this purpose). In this pocket, place the consonant letter L, N, M one by one (choose the simplest letters), then insert a ribbon with moving vowels into the window, stretch it out, showing the child how to form syllables.

7 years

Preschoolers are taught letters using elements of classical classes - books, primers, alphabet, and copybooks. The child needs to be taught not only to pronounce sounds, but also to represent letters in writing. The purpose of the lessons is not only the alphabet, but also learning to organize your own time. The child learns to do homework according to a schedule, at the same time, devoting at least half an hour to completing the work.

After the child has learned the consonants, you can try to form syllables. For this purpose, you can use cubes, puzzles, or draw syllables on the board.

An electronic primer will be a useful acquisition. With its help, the activity turns into an exciting game. When choosing an alphabet book, make sure that the robot pronounces sounds, not letters. In addition, use special workbooks, and also ask your child to talk as much as possible - talk about the past day, retell fairy tales.

The future student will be interested in theoretical lessons in the form of educational cartoons. You can cut out letters and glue them in the form of appliqués.

When sending a child to first grade, a parent worries not only about the level of preparation of his child, but also about the health, safety, and adaptation of the young student to new conditions. To worry less about your child and respond to all problems in a timely manner, buy your student a children’s smart watch or install the “Where are my children” application from the AppStore and GooglePlay. This way you can always know where your child is, what route he is taking, and what is happening around him!

How to quickly learn the alphabet - the best proven methods

Photo source – www.freepik.com

It is impossible to force a child to learn the alphabet. This activity should bring him pleasure. We invite you to familiarize yourself with proven ways to get your child interested in learning letters.

Game techniques

Children learn material more easily through playful presentation. They will enjoy activities in the form of a game. What can you offer:

• to sculpt;
• paint;
• cut out letters;
• collect cut cards.

A useful learning option is sculpting. The process involves several sensory organs and develops fine motor skills. Prepare several small pieces of plasticine, twist them into long “worms” and fold them into letters, while simultaneously pronouncing the sounds with your child.

Coloring pages can be made in the form of pictures with letters. It is better to choose large sketches to make it easier for the child to color.

Paper cutting is also great for developing fine motor skills. But you shouldn’t ask your child to cut out the letters right away. It is better to cut the parts from them and then put them together in the form of a puzzle.

Positive emotions are of no small importance in the learning process. A good option is to bake cookies in the form of letters, put together letters from vegetables or fruits, and draw them on the surface of the pancake with condensed milk or jam.

Classical training

The basic option for learning the alphabet is to use educational cards. With the help of this didactic material, associations are consolidated and visual memory develops. If the child is tired, it is better to stop the lesson and start learning later, when he is in a good mood.

The classical teaching method involves the following options:

• learn basic vowels - A, O, U, I;
• proceed to the remaining vowels;
• after studying vowels, study simple consonants - L, M, N, B, P, G;
• go to sibilant consonants.

It is recommended to conduct lessons not only at home at the table, but also in nature, during walks.

Author's methods

There are many proprietary methods with which you can teach your child the alphabet. You don't need to combine them all. Stop at the most optimal option for you.

Polyakov's technique

The basis of the technique is the multiple pronunciation of groups of sounds with their replacement. The technique consists of five lessons:

1. In the first lesson, pairs of letters A-Z are studied; O-Y.
2. On the second, a pair of letters U-Y is added.
3. In the third lesson, the letters A-Z are removed, but the pair I-Y is added.
4. The fourth lesson involves adding the pair E-E, but excluding the pair O-E.
5. In the fifth lesson - repetition and consolidation of the material.

The duration of the lesson is no more than 10 minutes. The interval between classes is two days. On other days, it is recommended to simply repeat the material covered.

This technique uses cards with letters.

Zaitsev cubes

With the help of cubes, you can start learning from the age of two. The process will become an exciting game.

Main principles of classes:

• provide information systematically;
• use visual images to visually perceive information;
• present material from the specific to the general.

The purpose of the technique is to teach not syllables, but warehouses - the consonance of consonants and vowels, consonants with a soft sound, vowels in the form of syllables.

Application of Doman cards

The technique helps to start early learning (it can be used by children from six months old). It is an image of objects on cards and words-inscriptions. Most often, in the form of themed sets.

All cards are arranged sequentially - from simple to complex. First come simple words, then phrases and sentences.

How and from what can we make letters?

We choose the material to create our product:

• It could be ordinary cardboard. Don’t think that the letter will look too simple - neat and well-chosen decor will turn it into a real miracle.
• Foam plastic: the best basis for making three-dimensional words and elements. The material is lightweight and easy to work with.
• Paper napkins. There is a whole school of art of creating patterned napkins. Most often they make up compositions on holiday tables. But who stops us from using napkins to create letters?
• Wooden letters. This option is suitable for those who love and know how to work with wood, have sufficient experience and the necessary tools. Making a letter will take the time and effort of a craftsman, but the result will exceed all expectations - it will be a work of art.
• Salt dough letters. In order to equip a child for a school exhibition, you just need to knead the dough using a well-known technology and start decorating it. Beautiful, comfortable, practical.

In cases where you are going to decorate a holiday for guests or congratulate the birthday person in an original way, the presented methods may not be suitable. Why? We didn't take the font into account. The letter is ready, decorated, but there is no expected effect. To prevent such a situation, let's look at what fonts are used to create natural three-dimensional letters:

• Serif fonts: in the corners of such products, craftsmen cut out “anchors” that add contrast to the letter.
• Sans serif fonts: Use sans-serif edges and hard corners. It is better to use when working with foam plastic, since the foam itself will create a volume effect.
• Handwritten fonts: the most difficult level of skill. It can be made by working with wood or cardboard, but you can’t do without a template.

Choosing an ABC book

To learn the alphabet, a child needs to be interested. To do this, it is important to choose the right primer:

• before purchasing, carefully examine the pages to see if everything is clear to you;
• choose hardcover editions with thick sheets and bright, large images;
• It’s good if copybooks and block letters are combined.

A brief overview of modern primers

1. In first place, according to generally accepted opinion, is “Primer” by N.S. Zhukova. This manual is unique in that all the tasks in it are selected with an emphasis on speech therapy. First, the child is introduced to the sound, then to the word, and only then is the syllable introduced. The textbook does not have an entertaining component, as the author believes that this will distract the child from the learning process.
2. In second place is “My Primer: a book for teaching preschoolers to read,” authored by N.V. Beggar. The essence of the author’s methodology is the unique order of learning letters. Acquaintance with letters takes place taking into account the age-related characteristics of the child’s speech apparatus, from simple sounds to more complex ones.
3. Also worthy of attention is the Primer; a guide to teaching children to read” E.I. Sokolova. The author has extensive teaching experience; she has developed her own method of selecting words, which helps to increase the effectiveness of further teaching independent reading.

Alphabet exercises. Alphabet assignments.

Exercises to practice writing letters of the English alphabet.

I suggest you print out the copybooks of the English alphabet. Click on the picture under the desired letter - the copybook will open in its original size. Then, in order to print the copybook, just right-click on it and select print.