How can I help my child at home to learn their letters?

For some children, the process of learning the alphabet is very difficult. They have a lot of trouble “remembering” letters and the sounds that they make. Sometimes children need fun ways to practice the letters that are hard for them to learn. One way to learn the alphabet is to play letter games. It is always easier to learn something “tricky” if we can play a game!

---

So… how do we play games with letters?

Flash Letter Cards
When your child brings home letter cards you can use them like flash cards to help them learn the letters quickly. Show each card and if the child knows the letter, they get to keep the card in their pile. If they don’t know the letter, it goes back in the parents pile to practice again. The one with the most cards wins!

Memory
Make sure you have 2 copies of each letter card. Turn all the cards face down on a flat surface in rows. Each player takes turns turning over 2 cards at a time. If they make a match (2 cards that are the same) they get to keep the cards. If they don’t make a match, they have to turn the cards back over. The child that is learning the letters has to say the letters out loud no matter who’s turn it is. Whoever gets the most cards wins! Helpful hint: It is always easier to remember where the cards are if they are turned over in a pattern. Example: Two cards next to each other in a column.

Go Fish
Make sure you have 2 to 4 copies of each letter card. Each player gets 5 cards dealt to them face down. The rest of the cards are put in a draw pile. They check their letters to see if they have any matching cards. If they do, they say the name of their cards and get to lay them down in pairs. To start, you take turns asking another player if they have a card you are trying to match. If they do, they must give it to you. If not, they tell you to Go Fish and you draw a card from the pile that’s left over. If you make a match, you get to say it and lay it down as well. Each pair is worth one point. Who ever gets the most points wins!

BINGO
First you need a grid that is 5 squares by 5 squares with a FREE space in the center. The child writes one of their letters in each square. You can practice 24 letters with this game. Use the letter cards to call the letters. When you get 5 in a row you have BINGO! The winner must say their letters correctly to win.

*NOTE: All of these games can also be used to practice letter sounds.

Quick Tips:

Things to do:

• Flash Letter Cards
• Memory
• Go Fish
• Bingo

Supplies:

• Letters (see teacher if parent or Downloads Section for Letter Cards)
• Letter Cards or Index cards to write letters onto (these can be cut in half)
• BINGO sheet or blank piece of paper with a 5 square by 5 square grid
• Markers for BINGO: pieces of paper squares, dried beans, plastic disks, etc

Hint:

Make sure that the letters do not show through to the back side of the card! Stay away from black permanent marker.