Phonological Awareness
Phonological Awareness: the ability to hear, recognize, and play with the sounds in spoken language
Shopping for Sounds
GRADES: K-2
TARGET SKILLS: Segment Sounds in Words, Isolate Beg/Mid/End Sounds in Words, Blending Sounds
As you and your child shop, have your child separate the sounds in the name of each item you put in your shopping basket, listening for beginning, middle, and ending sounds; for example, for a bag, your child would say b-a-g. Next, ask your child to blend sounds together to make a word. Say words one sound at a time.
For example, you say m-i-l-k and your child says milk; you say c-a-n and your child says can.
Sounds on a Walk
GRADES: K-2
TARGET SKILLS: Segment Sounds in Words, Counting Sounds in Words
Help your child take spoken words apart. Have your child listen for syllables in words. You can play this game while you are walking. Have your child clap the number of syllables in the name of each object you see. Next, have your child separate the sounds in words, listening for beginning, middle, and ending sounds.
For example, if your child sees a bird, he or she would say b-ir-d.
Mystery Game
GRADES: K-2
TARGET SKILLS: Isolate Beginning Sound
Play a mystery game in which you are calling your child's name or looking for an object around the house.
For example, say, "I'm thinking of someone whose name begins with (say the sound for the letter t)," or "I'm looking for an item that begins with (say the sound for the letter g)."
Word Race
GRADES: K-2
TARGET SKILLS: Isolate Beginning Sound
Help your child pick out the first sound in words, an important step in learning to read. Give your child one minute to name as many objects, people, foods, etc that start with a given sound, such as sss. When the minute is up, have them try to beat their score with another sound, such as rrr. It's important to say the sound the letter makes rather than the letter's name. For instance, say mmm rather than em.
Count the Words
GRADES: K-2
TARGET SKILLS: Word Counting
Have your child count the number of words in a spoken sentence. Say a sentence.
(Example: "Let's go to the park.")
Have your child tell you the number of words in the sentence. Switch roles, allowing your child to give you a sentence and have you say the number of words it contains.
Break the Words Apart
GRADES: K-2
TARGET SKILLS: Segment Sounds in Words, Isolate Beg/Mid/End Sounds in Words, Blending Sounds
Help your child take spoken words apart and put them together. Have your child separate the sounds in simple three-letter words, listening for beginning, middle, and ending sounds.
For example, pronounce mom as follows: mm-o-mm. Next, ask your child to blend sounds together to make a word. Say words one sound at a time; for example, you say sh-ee-p and your child says sheep.