Multi-Sensory Learning
Use a variety of materials to reinforce letter, number and sight word recognition. Shaving cream is one of my favorite recommendations for home. Clear off some space on the kitchen table and squirt a blob of shaving cream right onto it. Children can spread the shaving cream out flat on the surface and then practice writing letters, numbers, and sight words in the cream. They can "erase" by spreading the shaving cream around. Not only is this very fun for the children, it is also good practice and can leave a room smelling fresh!
Use a variety of materials to reinforce letter, number and sight word recognition. Shaving cream is one of my favorite recommendations for home. Clear off some space on the kitchen table and squirt a blob of shaving cream right onto it. Children can spread the shaving cream out flat on the surface and then practice writing letters, numbers, and sight words in the cream. They can "erase" by spreading the shaving cream around. Not only is this very fun for the children, it is also good practice and can leave a room smelling fresh!
Other multi-sensory materials include:
- play-dough (shape the
letter, number, or word)
- wikki sticks (shape the
letter, number, or word)
- "sand trays" (pour
a small amount of sand onto a plate or into a tray and use in a similar
fashion to the shaving cream activity described above)
- stamps
- stencils
- sign-language (say and sign
each letter to spell common sight words; find the sign language alphabet
here http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/cedir/kidsweb/amachart.html)
Memory
This adaptive classic can be used to review nearly any concept. Make your own memory game on index cards. Draw or write letters, numbers, or words on one side of each card, and leave the other side blank. Make sure that each card has a "partner" with which to match. Create 8-16 cards total. After you have your cards, arrange them in a rectangle with the blank side facing up. Take turns with your child turning over two cards at a time. If the cards "match," then that player gets to keep the pair. Otherwise, (s)he turns the cards back over. Here are some ideas for memory variations:
- read and match letters
- read and match upper and
lower case letters
- read and match letters with
pictures representing their sound (e.g. c with a picture of a cat)
- read and match sight
words
- read and match numbers
- read and match numbers with
images representing those numbers (e.g. 5 with a picture of five dots)
- match math facts with their
answers (e.g. 1+2 on one card and 3 on its partner card)
You can also use your cards to play "Go Fish."
I Spy
I Spy
"I Spy" is a fun way to make any drive or walk
educational. Find objects that start with a certain supplied sound
("I spy with my little eye, something that begins with /b/.") or with
a letter ("I spy with my little eye, something that begins with b."). Mix in rhyming words
("I spy with my little eye, something that rhymes with cat.") and
challenges ("I spy with my little eye, something that has two
syllables/beats.") to keep it fun. Be sure to let your child have a
turn to be the one who spies something; children love to "be the
boss!"
"Grown-Up Materials"
Children love to use materials that feel grown up. One of their favorite tools is a highlighter. Encourage children to "read" real newspapers or magazines by finding and highlighting known letters and/or sight words. The sports and comic strip sections can be particularly popular.
Dice Games
Children love using dice. They can roll a die and identify the number. Alternatively, they can roll two dice and identify the larger number or add the two quantities together. Stores also sell blank dice with stickers so that you can make your own custom cubes. Use numbers 7-12 if you would like your child to practice subtracting with a custom die and a regular die.
"Grown-Up Materials"
Children love to use materials that feel grown up. One of their favorite tools is a highlighter. Encourage children to "read" real newspapers or magazines by finding and highlighting known letters and/or sight words. The sports and comic strip sections can be particularly popular.
Dice Games
Children love using dice. They can roll a die and identify the number. Alternatively, they can roll two dice and identify the larger number or add the two quantities together. Stores also sell blank dice with stickers so that you can make your own custom cubes. Use numbers 7-12 if you would like your child to practice subtracting with a custom die and a regular die.
