The keywords show a picture that starts with the most common sound the letter makes. For the vowels, that is the short vowel. We will work with a few letters at a time. In this step we focus on just the starting sound. The instructions are the same for each group. Start by printing out the keyword sound cards or larger sound cards on heavy paper and cut apart. Separate the letters for each step.
Step 1: Show each picture and ask what the picture is: apple ball cat dog If the child uses a different word, such as puppy instead of dog, tell them that for this lesson we are going to call it a dog. After you have identified each of the pictures, say just the first sound for each picture. That is for "A" you will say the name of the letter, then the first sound for "apple." For the vowels, this starting sound will be the short vowel. A as in apple, E as in egg, I as in iguana, O as in octopus, and U as in umbrella. The goal is to be able to make this basic sound for each letter.
Step 2: Identify other pictures that start with the same letter:Circle the pictures: A B C D Color the pictures: A B C D Circle the starting uppercase letter (with 4 choices)Circle the starting lowercase letter (with 4 choices)Write the starting letterMatch each picture to the starting letter
Step 1: Show each picture and ask what the picture is: egg fish goat hand
Step 2: Identify other pictures that start with the same letter:Circle the pictures: E F G H Color the pictures: E F G H Circle the starting uppercase letter (with 4 choices)Circle the starting lowercase letter (with 4 choices)Write the starting letterMatch each picture to the starting letter
Step 1: Show each picture and ask what the picture is: iguana jelly key leaf
Step 2: Identify other pictures that start with the same letter:Circle the pictures: I J K L Color the pictures: I J K L Circle the starting uppercase letter (with 4 choices)Circle the starting lowercase letter (with 4 choices)Write the starting letterMatch each picture to the starting letter
Step 1: Show each picture and ask what the picture is: monkey nest octopus panda
Step 2: Identify other pictures that start with the same letter:Circle the pictures: M N O P Color the pictures: M N O P Circle the starting uppercase letter (with 4 choices)Circle the starting lowercase letter (with 4 choices)Write the starting letterMatch each picture to the starting letter
Step 1: Show each picture and ask what the picture is: queen rabbit sun turtle umbrella
Step 2: Identify other pictures that start with the same letter:Circle the pictures: Q R S T U Color the pictures: Q R S T U Circle the starting uppercase letter (with 4 choices)Circle the starting lowercase letter (with 4 choices)Write the starting letterMatch each picture to the starting letter
Step 1: Show each picture and ask what the picture is: valentine watermelon xylophone yellow zebra
Step 2: Identify other pictures that start with the same letter:Circle the pictures: V W X Y Z Color the pictures: V W X Y Z Circle the starting uppercase letter (with 4 choices)Circle the starting lowercase letter (with 4 choices)Write the starting letterMatch each picture to the starting letter
The words on these flashcards are all 3 letter words: consonant-vowel-consonant, (CVC words). All of the words use the letter-sounds from the Keyword lesson. They should be able to sound out each letter. As they sound out each letter, accumulate the sounds. That is for cat, the child will say the "c" sound, then the "a" like in apple. Now say the "c" and "a" sounds together, then sound out the "t" sound and add it to the "ca" getting "cat." With longer words, the child sometimes forgets the previous sounds by the time they get to the end of the word. This method will help the child to sound out the whole word.
If the child can read the words, show each picture, and ask how he thinks he would spell it. The child can practice both spelling it out loud or write it on paper. Because the letters "c" and "k" can make the same sound, it is normal for children to confuse the spelling. A simple rule is that if the vowel sound after it is the "e" or "i" sound, use "k" (key, kids, king), otherwise use "c".
Arrange the letters on this worksheet, all 3 letter words: consonant-vowel-consonant. If the learner has trouble writing the letters, they can draw a line to connect the letters, or tell you the letters.
