SOUND CHART:

Read the alphabet together--sing the alphabet pointing to the letters as you sing!

Brainstorm and illustrate pictures that begin with special alphabet letters!

Practice matching beginning sounds: Find a picture that starts like horse.

LETTER OR SIGHT WORD RECOGNITION:

Use play-doh or string to practice making letters/words!

Use shaving cream or a soap bar to practice making letters/words in the bathtub!

Stamp sight words!

Cut letters our the newspaper or a magazine to create simple words!

Play Memory or Go Fish with index cards. Write upper and lowercase letters to match or two sets of sight words.

Cut out letters or words from newspapers or magazines.

Write names of family members and practice those letters.

Pick a letter when you are at the grocery store, look for that letter!

WRITING: (Always refer to the alphabet as a reference, help your child use the alphabet to find sounds/letters. We want them to become independent. Unfortunately you will not always be around when they are writing. Starting with one sound is ok until they get more comfortable to move to 2-3 sounds.)

Write grocery lists, notes to family members, reminders.

Label objects in your house!

Keep a notebook and pencil/marker in the car to practice writing!

Purchase a journal at your local Dollar Tree, Dollar Store, or Wal-mart and have your child journal throughout the week.

Write simple letters or cards to grandparents or friends! 

PHONEMIC AWARENESS: (These activities can be done in the car or anywhere you have 2 minutes)

Say 2 words, have your child tell you if they have the same beginning sound. If they do, have them think of a word with that same beginning sound. Then ask what letter makes that sound.

Say a word slowly, c-a-t or b-l-o-ck. Have your child listen and figure our the word you said. Of your child has difficulty with this, start where he/she has pictures to look at and choose a word from a picture he/she can see.

Say 2 words, have your child tell you if they rhyme. Go to 3 words and pick out the 2 that rhyme. Make up real and silly words that rhyme. Take a word family like "at" and go through the alphabet to make new words (bat, cat, dat, etc).

NUMBERS:

Play war. Set highest or lowest number to win. Count the hearts, clubs, ect. if the number is unknown. Play this with 2 cards for addition war. Teach your child to count on from the highest number to get the answer.

Practice counting objects up to twenty. Once your child can count to twenty, count objects past twenty!

Practice estimating at home! Have your child reach in and grab a handful of beans or cereal...estimate...then check!

Count aloud. Go around the dinner table until you hit a certain number. Start at 20 and count to a higher number.

Count backwards like a rocketship! As your child is getting ready for school or bed count down and see if they can be dressed or in bed by the time you count down to zero.

Sort objects around your house (buttons, toys, socks, shoes, etc.) remember to resort them and always classify (tell your sorting rule: color?  size?  shape?)

READ, READ, READ!!!!!

Visit with your child at the end of a story. Visit with them about their favorite part of the story. Ask your child what happened at the beginning, middle, and end. Sometimes I stop in the middle of the story and ask students for their prediction of what may happen next!  Ask you child these important reading questions!

Who was in the story?
What happened in the story?
When did the story take place?
Where did the story take place?
Why did the Author write the story?

Let your child see you reading! You are the biggest influence in your child's life! If you show your passion for reading...it is likely your child will develop a similar passion!