Saturday, July 31, 2010

A a B b C c ...


With this post, we come to an end of the phonics festival. Throughout this month, we've learned the letters of the alphabet and their sounds. This is the first step towards reading. Next, we will learn the sounds of a consonant and a vowel combined.

As a parent, you can try and make the learning of alphabet sounds interesting. You may pick up your child's favorite toy or snack and ask him, with what sound does it begin with? Or may be you have a silly rhyme day, where your child can sing the rhyme of a particular letter sound throughout the day, and then may include many more words from his surroundings, that start with that alphabet sound.

The aim behind these activities is to teach a child to read confidently at an early age. Reading at an early age kindles his interest in books, increases his understanding and hence boosts his confidence. When this task is undertaken by a parent, it also improves the parent-child bonding and learning becomes a fun filled and memorable activity. And hence, the results are just fantastic!


My big A now enjoys reading level 3 books from the series, "Now I'm reading" by Nora Gaydos. These wonderful books help him read with confidence, while improving his vocabulary skills.

Friday, July 30, 2010

Z z


The letter Z sounds \z\ as in zebra

Sing with me
Z sounds \z\
Z sounds \z\
Zebra, Zigzag and Zoo
Z sounds \z\


Say with me
Zulu zebra zipped and zigzaged to the zoo.

Examples of the \z\ sound
  • zap
  • zebra
  • zip
  • zoo
  • zulu

Print and color the zebra!

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Y y


The letter Y sounds \y\ as in yak

Sing with me
Y sounds \y\
Y sounds \y\
Yak, Yo yo and Yatch
Y sounds \y\


Say with me
Yak and yo-yo yelled at the yatch.

Examples of the \y\ sound
  • yak
  • yes
  • yo yo

Print and color the yak!

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

X x


The letter X sounds \x\ as in max

Sing with me
X sounds \x\
X sounds \x
X-ray, X-ray fish and X-ray machine
X sounds \x\


Say with me
X-ray fish took an axe and ran to the exit.

Examples of the \x\ sound
  • axe
  • exit
  • annex
  • mix

Print and color the x-ray fish!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

W w


The letter W sounds \w\ as in wet

Sing with me
W sounds \w\
W sounds \w\
Walrus, Whale and Water
W sounds \w\


Say with me
Wetty whale and whimsy walrus washed and whistled in the wintery water.

Examples of the \w\ sound
  • war
  • wet
  • win
  • won

Print and color the walrus!

Monday, July 26, 2010

V v


The letter V sounds \v\ as in van

Sing with me
V sounds \v\
V sounds \v\
Vulture, Vampire bat and Virus
V sounds \v\


Say with me
Vampire bat and vulture blew some virus in the vent.

Examples of the \v\ sound
  • van
  • vat
  • vase
  • vet
  • vim

Print and color the vulture!

Sunday, July 25, 2010

U u


The letter U sounds \u\ as in uncle

Sing with me
U sounds \u\
U sounds \u\
Umbrella, Umbrella bird and Uncle
U sounds \u\


Say with me
Umbrella bird hopped up and down umpteen times with his uncle.

Examples of the \u\ sound
  • bus
  • sum
  • upto

Print and color the umbrella bird!

Saturday, July 24, 2010

T t


The letter T sounds \t\ as in ten

Sing with me
T sounds \t\
T sounds \t\
Tiger, Turtle and Train
T sounds \t\


Say with me
Tubby tiger and Tummy turtle tip toed on a train.

Examples of the \t\ sound
  • tap
  • ten
  • tip
  • top
  • tug

Print and color the tiger!

Friday, July 23, 2010

S s


The letter S sounds \s\ as in sun

Sing with me
S sounds \s\
S sounds \s\
Snake, Summer and Seal
S sounds \s\


Say with me
Slippery seal and slimy snake sailed on Sundays all summer.

Examples of the \s\ sound
  • sat
  • set
  • sit
  • sob
  • sun

Print and color the snake!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

R r


The letter R sounds \r\ as in ray

Sing with me
R sounds \r\
R sounds \r\
Rat, Ram and Race
R sounds \r\


Say with me
Ronty rhino and Rammy ram ran a rat race.

Examples of the \r\ sound
  • rat
  • red
  • rip
  • rot
  • run

Print and color the ram!

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Q q


The letter Q sounds \q\ as in queen

Sing with me
Q sounds \q\
Q sounds \q\
Queen bee, Quilt and Quail,
Q sounds \q\


Say with me
Queenie the queen bee, quickly quilted a quail on the quilt.

Examples of the \q\ sound
  • quack
  • queen
  • quick
  • quote
  • que

Print and color the queen bee!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

P p


The letter P sounds \p\ as in pat

Sing with me
P sounds \p\
P sounds \p\
Pelican, Penguin and Peanuts
P sounds \p\


Say with me
Penny pelican and Peter penguin packed plenty of peanuts.

Examples of the \p\ sound
  • pat
  • pen
  • pin
  • pot
  • put

Print and color the pelican!

Monday, July 19, 2010

O o


The letter O sounds \o\ as in pot

Sing with me
O sounds \o\
O sounds \o\
Octopus, Ostrich and Oranges
O sounds \o\


Say with me
Otto ostrich and oldy octopus opened oranges in October.

Examples of the \o\ sound
  • box
  • cob
  • fog
  • dog
  • top

Print and color the octopus!

Sunday, July 18, 2010

N n


The letter N sounds \n\ as in net

Sing with me
N sounds \n\
N sounds \n\
Narwhal, Nanny goat and Nile
N sounds \n\


Say with me
Narwhal and nanny goat nosedived in the river Nile.

Examples of the \n\ sound
  • nap
  • net
  • nip
  • nod
  • nun

Print and color the narwhal!

Saturday, July 17, 2010

M m


The letter M sounds \m\ as in mat

Sing with me
M sounds \m\
M sounds \m\
Monkey, Mouse and Mountain
M sounds \m\


Say with me
Montu monkey and maniac mouse moved mighty mountains.

Examples of the \m\ sound
  • mat
  • man
  • mill
  • mop
  • mud

Print and color the mouse!

Friday, July 16, 2010

L l


The letter L sounds \l\ as in lad

Sing with me
L sounds \l\
L sounds \l\
Lion, Lobster and Lollipop
L sounds \l\


Say with me
Lazy lion and lousy lobster licked lollipops all day .

Examples of the \l\ sound
  • lamp
  • let
  • lit
  • lot
  • lump

Print and color the lion!

Thursday, July 15, 2010

K k


The letter K sounds \k\ as in kit

Sing with me
K sounds \k\
K sounds \k\
Koala, Kangaroo and Kitten
K sounds \k\


Say with me
Kampu kangaroo and kittu koala kicked a kettle.

Examples of the \k\ sound
  • kid
  • kit
  • kob

Print and color the koala!

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

J j


The letter J sounds \j\ as in jet

Sing with me
J sounds \j\
J sounds \j\
Juggler, Jellyfish and Jamjar
J sounds \j\


Say with me
Jerry juggler and Jetty jellyfish jumped into the jamjar.

Examples of the \j\ sound
  • jam
  • jet
  • jig
  • jot
  • jug

Print and color the jellyfish!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

I i


The letter I sounds \i\ as in fish

Sing with me
I sounds \i\
I sounds \i\
Insects, Igloo and Indian
I sounds \i\


Say with me
Interesting insects and an Indian entered an igloo.

Examples of the \i\ sound
  • bib
  • dig
  • lip
  • pit
  • rib

Print and color the insects!

Monday, July 12, 2010

H h


The letter H sounds \h\ as in hat

Sing with me
H sounds \h\
H sounds \h\
Hippo, Hen and Hat
H sounds \h\


Say with me
Happy hippo and Hanna hen hid the hunter's hat.

Examples of the \h\ sound
  • hat
  • hen
  • hit
  • hot
  • hut

Print and color the hippo!

Sunday, July 11, 2010

G g


The letter G sounds \g\ as in gun

Sing with me
G sounds \g\
G sounds \g\
Grandma, gorilla and grapes
G sounds \g\


Say with me
Grandma gave grumpy gorilla green grapes.

Examples of the \g\ sound
  • gap
  • get
  • gill
  • got
  • gun

Print and color the gorilla!

Saturday, July 10, 2010

F f


The letter F sounds \f\ as in fan

Sing with me
F sounds \f\
F sounds \f\
Frog, Fish and Fights
F sounds \f\


Say with me
Fat frog and funny fishes had a fist fight on a Friday

Examples of the \f\ sound
  • fan
  • fed
  • fin
  • fog
  • fun

Print and color the frog!

Friday, July 9, 2010

E e


The letter E sounds \e\ as in bed

Sing with me
E sounds \e\
E sounds \e\
Elephant, Emu, and Egg
E sounds \e\


Say with me
Elly elephant and emu ate 88 eggs.

Examples of the \e\ sound
  • bed
  • fed
  • met
  • leg
  • pet

Print and color the elephant!

Thursday, July 8, 2010

D d


The letter D sounds \d\ as in dog.

Sing with me
D sounds \d\
D sounds \d\
Dog, Duck and Dinosaur
D sounds \d\


Say with me
Dido dog and dodo dinosaur danced on the drums

Examples of the \d\ sound
  • dad
  • den
  • did
  • dog
  • dug

Print and color the dinosaur

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

C c


The letter C has multiple sounds:
  • When placed before letter a, o or u, it sounds as in cat, cot or cut
  • When placed before letter e, i or y, it sounds as in cent, cite or cycle
For our little beginners, it's best to start with the sound of C as \k\, as in cat or camel.

Sing with me
C sounds \k\
C sounds \k\
Cat, Caterpillar and Clown
C sounds \k\


Say with me
Cathy cat, a cranky caterpillar and a clown in the caravan.

Examples of the \c\ sound
  • cat
  • cot
  • can
  • cut

Print and color the crab!

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

B b


The letter B sounds \b\ as in bat

Sing with me
B sounds \b\
B sounds \b\
Bug, Bunny and Basket
B sounds \b\


Say with me
Betty Bug and BoBo Bunny bought a balloon basket.

Examples of the \b\ sound
  • bad
  • bed
  • bid
  • box
  • bud

Print and color the bunny!