Tag Archives: letters

More Than Just Breakfast – Learning With Letter Pancakes

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Learning Letters with Pancakes

I am always on the lookout to squeeze some learning games into our day. Lately, my two children have been craving pancakes. They love to help make them, too. So, when I got the idea to make letter pancakes, I knew it was right up their alley. They loved playing with their food this particular morning!

What You Need:

  • Pancake mix (from scratch or box…it doesn’t matter)
  • 1 or 2 squeeze bottles
  • Funnel
  • Greased frying pan or griddle
  • Plates
  • Eager helpers/learners

Directions:

Step 1: Purchase your squeeze bottles or wash and clean other empty bottles from your fridge. (i.e. ketchup or mustard bottles) I found these two bottles below in the kitchen section of my local store for under $1 each.

 

Step 2: Prepare pancake mix and fill the above squeeze bottles with the finished mix. This can be a fun adventure to watch, too.

 

Step 3: Now let the fun begin! Slowly squeeze the bottle of pancake mix onto a preheated greased griddle or frying pan. Keep the heat low as the pancakes will cook fast.

My children wanted to be involved in every aspect, so I let them have a try at making and frying their own letters and/or words. They, of course, loved it!

But most of the time our griddle looked like this below. I went through most of the alphabet, as much as possible, and created two of each letter (one for each child).

 

Step 4: Once cooked, let them cool and separate one of each letter on each child’s plate.

 

Step 5: Now the time for “the game”. This is just one suggestion on what you can do…I said a word out loud and had my first grader figure out how to spell it and my preschooler had to find the sound the word started with. Then I would ask my first grader what other words he could make by switching one letter/sound. The preschooler understands rhyming, so she added her two cents, too, and would switch her letter pancake to change the beginning sound when needed.

Eventually, it led to my 1st grader teaching/helping his little sister figure out how to spell each word by him sounding out each letter of the word for her until she found  the right letter.

 

Step 6: Eat and enjoy. This had to be their second favorite part to actually cooking these letter pancakes, as you can see below. They devoured them!

 

Playing with our food has never been more educational! My favorite part was when my older child stopped and patiently helped his little sister learn. I think she is gaining a love for letters and words because of him. Again, gotta love that!

Make Learning Letters and Sounds a Game

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Playing Match to Learn Letters

Now that my son is in first grade and almost reading on his own, my 4 year old daughter is eager to catch up. She is still learning her letters and gets a little confused with the sounds they make. We recently discovered a fun way for her to practice figuring out which letters go with which letter sounds. In fact, even my 6 year old enjoys to playing it!

What You Need:

  • A favorite game with many word options, like Match
  • One or two eager learners

How To Play:

The game is simple, and I am really surprised we have not started this sooner.

We play the game as normal, except that when it is each player’s turn they say out loud what is in each picture (practice for the sound and letter match). i.e. “Balloon and Dragon”

When a match is found, the player says out loud what the match is. Then I ask what the first sound is. Once they answer that, I ask what letter makes that sound. If they run into an issue matching the letter sound to the letter, we will run through the alphabet together and if more help is needed, we will then run through the alphabet again saying the letter sounds for each letter.

Our conversation went a little like this:

Player: I found a match!
Me: What is it?
Player: Pizza.
Me: What sound does Pizza start with?
Player: Puh.
Me: What letter makes a Puh sound?
Player: P!
Me: Good job! You can take your match.

The first few matches were a little trial and error for us, but she soon got the idea. Her brother was able to skip right to telling me the letter before I even asked him.

Here is a short video demonstration of our new learning game:

Ever since the first time we played this game, my four year old often stops me throughout the day to tell me what sounds and letters the words she is saying start with. I love to see her so excited about learning!

DIY Fridge Magnet Letters

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glass pebble letter

My kids are a little older so those “classic” primary color fridge magnet letters don’t really fit our style anymore. I wanted to make a new set that would allow the kids to leave messages and notes to us and each other. I also wanted them to be cute and fun because they were geared towards the kids. I decided to raid my craft closet to see if I could make something unique but still useful.

Glass Pebble Fridge Letters

letter fridge magnets diy

  • 1/2″-3/4″ clear glass, flat gems (found in floral arranging section)
  • old magazines, junk mail, brochures
  • school glue
  • super glue or hot glue
  • scissors
  • disc magnets 1/2″-3/4″

craft suppliesLeaf through old magazine, seek out bright and fun headlines and titles. Determine if they’ll fit behind your marble by simply placing the gem on top and making sure you can see the letter, number or symbol clearly.
Apply clear drying school glue to the back of the marble, press firmly to the letter/page. Let completely dry for up to 1-2 hours.

glass gem fridge magnetWhen the glue has completely dried carefully cut/trim paper away from glass gem so paper does not stick out from behind gem. Using hot glue add pea size bead to magnet and press firmly to glass gem. Magnets will be ready to use in 10 minutes.

Gather up your old magazines, brochures, pamphlets and junk mail and make your own fridge magnets. The entire project, completing all the letters, numbers and some symbols should take one day. Please note these magnets are NOT intended for toddlers as they pose a choking hazard. These magnets are meant for older children and adults. With proper supervision younger children can enjoy spelling out words with your new fridge decor.

 

“Secret Missions” – Sneaking Reading and Math Into The Day

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Making Chores fun

Just using the phrase “Secret Missions” spike curiosity in my two young children and they eagerly want to be a part of whatever it is. Every now and then we all need a change of pace. That is where “Secret Missions” come in! Give some variety to your regular routine and sneak in some number, letter and letter sound recognition, along with some writing and reading practice. You can even sneak in some math for an added challenge, if you want. Right now we use “Secret Missions” as a part of our chore routine, hence the lovely hairdos my kiddos are styling with in the picture above.

What You Need:

  • Paper
  • Pencil or pen (or markers, if your children are obsessed with them like mine are)

Directions:

Step 1: Create an encryption code. Keep it simple or make it as complicated as you like. I recommend starting simple and making it more complicated as needed. For now, we assigned a number to each letter of the alphabet in numerical order. It is a good review for my almost 1st grader and a little bit of a challenge for my 4 year old. The 4 year old gets a chance to practice her letter/sound recognition and is able to put a name to some new numbers. She can currently go to 12, so going to 26 is fun little push for her. Plus, she loves to do what her older brother is doing and he loves to help her.

Ideas For Variety Or To Make It More Challenging:

  • Assign each letter a number not in numerical order like the above example.
  • Add math to the code. Instead of 1, 2, 3 for each letter make it all addition for the code or a variety of addition and subtraction. (i.e. 0+1, 1+1, 2+1 or 2-1, 1+1, 5-2, etc.)
  • Add shapes to the code. For additional options you can use patterns (star star or square circle, etc.)
  • Or use a variety of above.

Step 2: Create your secret code. This can be whatever you would like…a list of chores, something fun to do, a place you are going, a list of items to pack for a trip or a day out, etc.

Step 3: Decipher the code!

Like I said above, we are currently making our morning chores into “Secret Missions”. We have started with only 3 Missions for now and the current reward is 15 minutes with their favorite computer game. Each child deciphers one mission at a time, then they sound out the words (with help, if needed) and complete the job before they can work on the next Mission. Even though my 6 year old grumbles at the idea of chores and always starts grumbling through the start of figuring out his mission (because that is work for him, too! =-) ), I am amazed at how fast he runs off to do his job and comes back to the table to conquer the next Mission. Even my 4 year old cleaned up her room without me reminding her and did it without asking for help. That never happens!

This is what my son’s final mission looked like when he was done. The next time I write the code I need to make it in lowercase letters, so he does not get in the habit of writing in all caps. (His teacher did not like that last year. =-))

Enjoy!

Going on an Alphabet Sound Hunt!

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Photo Scavenger Hunt

The camera is something the kiddos know they are not allowed to touch. So, if I suggest we go on a picture hunt and they get to take the pictures with “my camera”, they are willing to try whatever I have planned. For us, the camera is a great motivator, and seems to make a basic scavenger hunt into a real adventure!

This activity is great for children who already know their letter sounds and connecting words to sounds. I love to play games like this with my oldest, who is in Kindergarten, when his little sister is close by because she seems to learn a lot from seeing him in action. After watching her brother, she will eventually join in and attempt to find some sounds. Right now she is much better at finding rhyming words than letter sounds.

What You Need:

  • A safe place to observe and look around. (We were on our cul-de-sac.)
  • A camera
  • An eager child who want to have some fun

Directions:

Pick a safe place to explore and look around. You can do this on a walk or in your backyard. My original plan was to play this on a walk, but it just didn’t happen. In the end, I think it was easier to do when we stayed in the same area and he was able to observe the same things the entire time.

Next, start sounding out your first letter. We started with the Letter A. To get him understanding the game I asked him what sound “A” made. Then I would pick things we saw and ask if it started with an “A” sound. “Does rock start with an ‘A’ sound?” Soon, he would start to pick things, too.

Note: “A” and “I” were really hard for us to do, so you may not want to linger on those too long if you know there is nothing nearby.

When he found a word that started with the letter/sound we were on then I would let him take the camera and take a picture. (I did show him how to use the camera before we started and made sure he had his hand through the camera strap…I also have a really good warranty with my camera, which helps me feel a little better about playing games like this. :-) )

A-(Not pictured), B-Bushes, C-Cactus, D-Dog, E-Ear, F-Fence, G-Grass and Green, H-Hand, I-(Not pictured), J-Jump

We only made it through the Letter K, but we had a lot of fun. Even a few days later I have my son coming to me to tell me what sound a certain word starts with. I am sure he is doing a lot of this in school already, but it is fun to have him know that he can include me in such observations!

 

Surprising Milestones

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All-by-myself

Do your kids ever do things that surprise you? That make you ask, “where did you learn this?” As much as I try to be active with my children and involved in their education, sometimes they really say and do things that make me proud and surprised at the same time.

With my oldest, I was constantly monitoring her progress against the recommended milestones. I read to her, played with her, created flash cards and took her on educational outings. I was able to because I had time.

Now I have a 5-year-old, 3-year-old and a 14-month-old. My time is split every which way and I am not able to give my son’s education the same kind of attention I gave his sister. At first I felt guilty. Then I was scared he wouldn’t learn as well as his sister or stay on track.

Boy was I wrong!

He learns so much from his older sister! I also take him to play groups with older children and he picks up things from them. I take him to the library so I can play with the baby while he enjoys story time. Little things that give him the education he needs and give the baby the attention she needs.

Another thing that is really convenient for me and saves me time is the Rusty and Rosy Reading software. It emails me David’s progress as he completes games! I look over his shoulder and see him clicking letters and learning sounds, very content with his play time and what it is teaching him.

Yesterday, out of the blue, he told me he can spell. Shocked, since I have not even begun to teach him his letters yet, I asked him what he can spell.

L-I-Z-Z-I-E! He said proudly!

His sister’s name. What she spells constantly. I took that opportunity to tell him how proud I was of him and we reviewed the alphabet. Then he went immediately to play with his trains. He counted all of them. When did I teach him to count?

A sigh of relief. Having three children was not the educational tragedy I thought it would be.  As long as I am active in their education, provide them activities that stimulate their minds, and build on what they already know, they will be just fine!

Learning on the Go

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produce

It’s easy to offer learning opportunities for your child when you’re on the go. Trips to the store, long car-rides, and even outings to the playground or park are great backdrops for education. There are thousands and thousands of things with which we come into contact each day that can serve as a quiz or learning prospect.

In the Car

The license plate game might be a bit old-school but it’s a great way to get little eyes moving rather than pasted on a tv or device screen. 20 Questions is an easy one do with a larger age range of people. Each person takes a turn with a random object and lets everyone guess. The little ones might give up more quickly but they’ll get the hang of it by listening to others. Children can learn about new animals and places around the world and new questions to ask for the next game.

Grocery Store/Market

As you peruse the produce or meat departments with your child in tow, ask your child if she knows what a particular product is. Can chickens fly? Do brown cows give chocolate milk? Are carrots REALLY good for your eyes? Teach colors to toddlers, math to grade-schoolers, and the basics of budgeting to teenagers

Playground/Park

Pick up leaves, examine rocks, and count flower petals. These are all ways to get your children to not only enjoy nature but learn some new things. Teach them how clouds aren’t really pillowy balls of cotton but are made up of water and ice. Identify colors in the flower garden or odd shapes at the playground.

Walk around the Neighborhood

Does your child know his street address? Does he know how many blocks to the closest school? How many houses have the same color front door as yours? These are just a sampling of questions that you can ask your child as you take a walk around your own neighborhood.

Learning doesn’t always have to be at a desk or kitchen table. Worksheets, technology, and good ole’ flashcards are great tools, but the learning and FUN can continue when you walk out the front door.

Photos courtesy of mjecker / Flickr.

Staying in Touch with Writing

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photo-1-e1325000999931

My seven-year-old daughter is my “minnie me” in many ways. She looks like me, loves pretty, girly things, and as of last week, started wearing glasses, just like me. One of the other ways my daughter is like me is that she loves to write. She has journals and notebooks all over the house. Most days you can find her with one of her journals writing a short story or drawing pictures in one of her books.

A few weeks ago, when I was grumbling about not having sent out any of my Christmas cards yet, my daughter, in true form, remarked that she also wanted to send some cards. I found a stack of old cards that I had from years past and handed her a few. We sat down together and, for a few minutes, I went over how to write a letter. I showed her where to write the date, the greeting, the body, and then the closing. After our quick lesson, she thought carefully about what she wanted to write and to whom her first card would be written. I didn’t want her to stress about doing the card “right” so I walked away and let her work peacefully

She sat at the table and got to work. She took out her pencil box and, for almost an hour, wrote out her first card. It was a card for my brother, his wife, their new baby, and the three dogs. She thought intently about what she would write. Every once in a while she would ask me how to spell a word, but for the most part she worked independently. Before she was finished, she drew a few pictures and then put her crayons down.

Justice jonesie letter written by child

She was so proud of her first card; you could just see it on her face. She read the card back to me, and then to her brothers, and then we sealed the letter in an envelop and dropped it in the mailbox. She was beside herself with her work; it was just so sweet!

That morning she had a chance to practice her reading and writing skills while staying in touch with family. She had fun writing her letter and I had fun teaching her a new skill. Pretty soon she’ll be able to write out my holiday cards for me too!

Taking Ownership in Learning

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Writing

It is so important when introducing learning for the first time that children feel ownership. They need to know why they should care. What do numbers and letters have to do with them?

That is why learning to write and spell her name was what opened up the floodgates of learning for Lizzie. When she began to recognize the letters and realize she could spell “who she is“ she was so excited!

You can branch off from a child’s name in a variety of fun learning activities. Here are Lizzie’s current favorites:

  1. Sign Language. Not only can she spell her name, but she can also spell it with her hands. She loves this new language. After Lizzie learned how to say her name in sign language, we transitioned easily to learning to sign different songs.
  2. Words that begin with “her” letters. Early on, “L” was Lizzie’s letter. Every time she saw an L in a magazine or book, she’d point to it and say, “L like in Lizzie!” So we go a step further and write out L-I-Z-Z-I-E and brainstorm words that begin with each of those letters.
  3. Reading books with Lizzie as a character. This is especially fun! One of the benefits of such a common name is the ability to find a book (or two) with Lizzie as a character. She can read her name, so as we read the book together, she quickly points out every instance of “Lizzie” on the pages. This can also work with unique names if you find one that starts with the same letter.
  4. Use her number too! Lizzie is four-years-old. To her, 4 is her number. Throughout the day we give her four grapes for snack and she counts them backwards as she eats them: 4-3-2-1; all gone!  If she wants an apple, I give her four slices, two at a time, and she tells me how many more she needs to get: four!

By investing Lizzie personally into learning I am teaching her why she should care about learning new things. We don’t just follow the rules at school, we learn new things because they matter to us. I hope this passion for learning follows her throughout her life.

Make Reading a Natural Part of Your Family’s Day

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Kid with books

Reading relaxes us; it keeps our brains moving and our minds in tune to our surroundings. For many, this skill comes naturally, but some need encouragement. There’s no better time to encourage reading at home than when children are young, to help them build a natural love of reading.

Be a Reading Role Model

Allow your children to see you actively reading in your home. By keeping a book nearby and taking time to sit and read, they’ll see that reading captivates you and will be curious to feel the comfort that you feel when you read a book. The more you are observed reading, the more likely your child will also pick up a book. Try to set aside at least 10 minutes each day for family reading time. Often times, it won’t even have to be announced as such. Just as a yawn can be “contagious,” so can picking up a book.

Allow Your Child to Explore a Book

A child doesn’t have to actually read the words on the page to be able to enjoy a book. Looking at pictures helps children identify key words and helps a child to preview a story before reading it. Children become more and more creative when they are able to create a story based on a few familiar words and the images featured. Encourage them to make stories; don’t always make them focus on the words that are written. Even toddlers can “read” independently by turning pages and drooling over the images, which teaches them how a book works.

Keep Books throughout the House

Reading materials can be kept in nearly every room so that there’s always something to read, not just in bedrooms or library areas. Keep books in bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms, and even the car. Getting lost in a good book can happen anywhere, at any time.

Invest in a Variety of Genres and Topics

Your child may be interested in trucks this week, but keep books about artwork and travel nearby as well. Children’s interests change by the minute, so make sure that you have a bit of everything that will interest your child at any time.

As Long as there are Letters, It’s Reading

While it’s ideal that a child will read a book, other materials such as stories, poetry, encyclopedias, cookbooks, magazines, computers, newspapers, and brochures all offer opportunities for reading. Encourage children to read many mediums to spark interest, broaden their horizons, and relate to topics of interest.

Encourage Reading with Positive Energy

The topic your child is obsessed with today may not be of interest to you, but take 10 minutes to show pride that your child is so interested in a topic, that she’s is picking up information on it and wanting to learn more. Chances are you’ll soon learn and embrace her interest.

Discuss What You’re Reading

Whether you’re reading together or your child is reading on her own, ask questions. Asking questions helps your child to see that you are interested and encourages him to want to read more. Ask questions that help him to reflect on what he has read as well as predict future outcomes, which will likely make him want to read more.

Read Together

Share what you’re reading, take turns reading out load, or read to your child. What’s important isn’t that the words are read correctly, it’s that you share a love of the stories and an interest in words that create stories that paint your days. Read often and enjoy it.

The more it becomes natural in your home, the more your child will become a natural reader. Soon, he’ll be the one encouraging you to read at home.

Featured image courtesy of photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.