Quick Activity to Help Kids Learn to Read

Do you have a kindergartner who knows at least some letter sounds? If so, your child is ready to string the sounds together to read. On the Reading Elephant YouTube channel, our video “Quick Activity to Help Kids Learn to Read,” can help you learn how to get your kindergartner reading for the first time.

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Here’s the link:

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Summary of the Activity:

For a summary of this activity, here are the steps:

1. make flashcards of the letter sounds your student knows
2. put 3 letters in a row to make a word
3. tell your student to, “Say the sounds slowly.”
4. Next, say, “What’s the word?”
5. Switch out one letter. For example, if your orignial word is cat, switch out the c to make sat.
6. Continue in this manner. Have your child read 6-20 words, depending on his frustration level.
7. Do this activity daily.

The letter switch out activity is an excellent way to get your child reading for the first time.