That Fun Reading Teacher

Fun early literacy and social-emotional learning tips, resources, and more!

  • Inspiring literacy
  • Storybook Lessons
  • Early Literacy Skills
  • Feelings & Social Skills
  • Writing for Real Purposes

The most important letters to young students – and a fun, free activity!

January 7, 2021 By thatfunreadingteacher Leave a Comment

Please note that this post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Click here to read my disclosure policy.
The most important letters to young students and a fun activity to do with them!

Do you know what letters are most important to young students? Think for a moment. Which letters do most of them remember first? Developmentally, life is all about them! I am talking, of course, about the letters in their name.

This is an activity I did with many of my students while ‘Roaming around the known’ before beginning Reading Recovery lessons. What was put into this flip book was then transferring into their personal alphabet books.

Here is the ‘how-to’ on the preparation and lesson for the ‘Letters in your name’ flipbook:

Preparation:

  • Using 8 ½ x 14 paper, prepare the blank flip books.  If a child has six letters in his name, you will need three sheets of paper to lay one on top of the other, leaving approximately two centimeters, or just under an inch between the bottoms of each piece of paper.  When you fold the three papers in half, you will have six layers (see photo).  Staple these pages together, covering any sharp staple ends safely.  You now have the template for the ‘Letters in your name’ flipbook!  Be sure to adjust for the length of each child’s name.
  • Usually the children associate themselves with the first letter of their name.  Consider whether or not you would like a photo to be used on the front cover so it can be ready for the activity, or provide people shaped tracers or stamps to give some novelty to the project.
  • Have a variety of options available to the children for illustrating the pages in their book.  As noted in The benefits of a personal alphabet book, it is important to find out what the child naturally associates with each letter sound on her own.  Reading Recovery teachers are equipped with a collection similar to the index card box in the photo, which allows for a quickly accessible variety of pictures for every letter.  If what the child suggests is not available, it can simply be drawn.  Many sticker collections can provide great content for these files as well as photocopies and pictures from fliers.  Holiday fliers are particularly useful.  ‘Witch’ and ‘ghost’ are popular alphabet book flier additions, thanks to Party Packagers and their terrific advertisements!
    A Reading Recovery teacher's alpha photo file.

    A Reading Recovery teacher’s alpha photo file.

Materials for the activity: 

  • Upper case and lower case letter stamps (optional, but helpful)
  • Prepared flip books (with child’s name lightly marked in pencil on the back)
  • Glue sticks and coloring materials
  • Small group setting (best done as a center)
  • Scissors if using fliers that have not been cut
  • Pictures for pages of flip books

The Activity:

  1. Introduce the activity by talking about names, how special they are, and reinforce that individuality and uniqueness are positive traits.
  2. Talk about the importance of the first letter of a name.  Make big emphasis on capitalization here.
  3. Show the kids a model of the ‘Letters in your name’ flipbook and ask them if they notice anything different about the first letter.
  4. If you are using stamps, show them the two sets.  Explain how to use them, and about the difference between the upper and lower-case set.
  5. Explain that just like every person is different and special, everyone’s name book will also be different.  Even if two children have the same name, it is important for them to choose a picture that jumps into their own mind right away when they hear a letter sound.
  6. Aim for two or three letters per day with each child.  Say the letter sounds for the kids and ask them what comes into their mind when they hear them.  If nothing, then leave that letter and move on.  It is okay to leave a page blank.  This is the start of a record of the child’s letter learning.
  7. Allow the children to make their pages special with color and décor.
  8. Once the class is finished with this activity, send it home to be shared, but only after the information is transferred into a more permanent alphabet book that the child will continue to work on at school. This alphabet book will be a reference for the entire school year, and perhaps the next one, too.
  9. Have the children ‘read’ their ‘Letters in your name’ flip book to others with pride.  Reading buddies, volunteers, family members etc.
  10. Most importantly have fun!

What are some ways you introduce letter learning to kids?

Related:

 

 

Social emotional lessons I discovered in my go-to Concepts of Print book - brave transitions #sesamestreet #earlylearning #earlyliteracy #socialemotional #teaching #kindergarten #conceptsofprint

Teach with stories! Storybook lesson recommendations, links to Pinterest boards, playlists, freebies and resources! #teaching #readtokids #teacherresources #parenting #ThatFunReadingTeacher

 

Looking for tips, freebies, resources and links to everything kindergarten? Here's where to find them on ThatFunReadingTeacher.com ! #kindergarten #earlylearning #earlyliteracy #playbasedlearning #ThatFunReadingTeacher

 

 

 


 

The most important letters to young students - and a fun, free activity!
Pin615
Share5
Tweet
620 Shares

Join the email list…

and receive the latest blog posts and newsletters - and to receive your FREE subscriber gift - a ten page storybook lesson that can double as posters, based on my popular TpT freebie - The Top 3 Prompts for Beginning Readers!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Welcome!
Canadian mom and literacy teacher sharing great content from years of fabulous on-the-job training, and the best of what I find on the web. Background in teaching kindergarten and primary grades, Reading Recovery and special education

Let’s Connect:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Search this website!

Popular Posts and Pages!

Teaching the difference between letters and words
Motivating young children to write - the do's and don'ts!
The benefits of a Reading Buddies program
What reading levels mean and why kids should not have to worry about them
Fun ways to use boxes in the classroom (and freebies!)
The Dealing-With-Feelings Series
5 simple ways to help kids communicate their feelings
The benefits of a personal alphabet book

Join my email list…

and receive the latest blog posts and newsletters - and to receive your FREE subscriber gift - a ten page storybook lesson that can double as posters, based on my popular TpT freebie - The Top 3 Prompts for Beginning Readers!

Everything Seasonal!

The Dealing with Feelings Series

The Top 3 Reading Prompts

Teaching reading - The top 3 reading prompts for emergent readers | ThatFunReadingTeacher.com

Canadian Education K-3

Canadian education resources and content for primary and kindergarten students!

Kids’ Stuff

Instagram

thatfunreadingteacher

Kindie, Primary, SpecEd., Reading šŸ“– Rec trained teacher šŸ‘©ā€šŸ’¼. Tips, freebies, resources,playlists šŸ–„ for teaching K-3, early literacy, social-emotional

ThatFun ReadingTeacher
Do you know what letters are most important to you Do you know what letters are most important to young students? Which letters do most of them remember first? The answer makes a lot of sense, developmentally. Here's a fun, free, no-print activity to reinforce or teach those first few letters! IG - see 'Everything Kindergarten' link in my profile! http://bit.ly/TopLetters
.
.
.
#kindergarten #earlylearning #iteachk #kindergartenteacher #thatfunreadingteacher
A wise leader once said... . . . #teachersofinstag A wise leader once said...
.
.
.
#teachersofinstagram #mlk #intention #mlkweekend #thatfunreadingteacher
Philosophically speaking, would report card writin Philosophically speaking, would report card writing feel more manageable if we just named the process honestly? What would you call it? ā€˜The term’s hangover’ comes to my mind...
.
.
.
#teacherlife #iteach #iteachtoo #teacherproblems #ThatFunReadingTeacher
Looking for a simple way to assess letter identifi Looking for a simple way to assess letter identification, letter sounds (and associations) and early sight words? Here is a slides version of 'virtual' flash cards, with a single letter / word on the screen at a time, in random order, discounted for 24 hours! For more details, see link in profile!
.
.
.
#onlinelearning #digitalassessment #teachersofinstgram  #virtualkinder #thatfunreadingteacher #tpt
Reading to my own kids, nieces and nephews, and to Reading to my own kids, nieces and nephews, and to my students feels almost like a selfish act because of the benefits to me. Isn’t it amazing when we find reciprocal gifts?! 
.
.
.
#reading #gratitude #parenthood #auntielifeisthebestlife #teachersofinstagram #thatfunreadingteacher
Tough day at the office. Anyone else struggling wi Tough day at the office. Anyone else struggling with motivation when the sun forgets to shine? 🌄
.
.
.
#teacherfriends #pandemic2020  #teachersofinstagram #catlife #ThatFunReadingTeacher
Do you teach with children’s books? Storybook le Do you teach with children’s books? Storybook lessons are so fun and engaging, kids love learning this way! Here's where to find a freebie, resources and Pinterest boards with loads of Storybook Lessons: (FB: http://bit.ly/TeachWithBooks) (IG: in my profile) Enjoy!
.
.
.
#teacher #iteach #earlylearning #storybooklessons #kindergarten #ThatFunReadingTeacher #teachersfollowteachers
You know you're a parent, educator, health care wo You know you're a parent, educator, health care worker, caregiver when you realize if you were to do it all over again, you wouldn't change a thing. Your life touched other lives positively because you care. Let that fill your cup a little bit higher today.
.
.
.
##fillyourcup #iteach #positivity #spreadpositivity #teacherlife #quotestoliveby #ThatFunReadingTeacher
Sending home learning packets or teaching hybrid? Sending home learning packets or teaching hybrid? These fun and engaging printables are engaging and flexible to suit a range of skill and motivation levels, with many pages ready to use in Google Classroom through TpT Digital Activities.
Link to Everything Winter in profile! 
.
.
.
#teachersofig #teachersoftpt #iteachfirst #1stgrade #earlyliteracy #thatfunreadingteacher #tpt
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Teachers Pay Teachers

Pinterest

That Fun Reading Teacher © 2021 Ā· Disclosure · BRANDING + WEB DESIGN BY LAUGH EAT LEARN