ABC Stickers

For a little supplementing today I had "A" pull out his ABC Letter Stickers (he has a few different sets). The first skill was matching ABC's to ones I had stamped onto a recycled paper towel roll. The second sticker activity was another type of matching put he had to use the letters to write some sight words we are working on. At first he was getting tired because he kept saying his ABC's to find the right letter on the sticker packs, and he thought that was just too much like work. Then I told him he didn't need to say the ABC's every time but look for the shape of the letters (like a circle for the letter o). I described it like a search-and-find game and all of a sudden he had a lot more fun.

ABC Sticker Match:

Sight Word Sticker Writing:

Letter B Tot Sensory Basket

As I mentioned in my last sensory basket post I was running out of ideas. Many really liked the red basket and suggest I do the other colors. I would love to continue on with that but I don't have a lot of baby proof items in other colors at the moment-except possibly blue (possible idea for the next one). Scouring the blog world I found baskets with letters of the alphabet theme. Why didn't I think of this? I struggled with starting with A but decided to go with B since that is what my tot's (well actually 10 1/2 months old) begins with. This sensory basket is chalked full of goodies. Once I started finding things that begin with B I couldn't stop!!!

The B basket it all its glory!

The B items are:

I took a large picture of "B" and put it in a page protector with a piece of cardboard behind it so it won't bend.

On the other side is a pic of the two brothers. Each one I put a foam B on the outside and taped the sleeve shut.

Felt Barn & Boy, Wooden Bird, Large Letter B, B Block, Boat, Blue Bootie, Binky, Rattle with Bells, & Plastic Bead Ring

Glass jar with buttons and wooden letter b (good for rattling)

Board Book, Bag with a Bow, Gift Bow, Brush, and Foam Brush (one of his fave toys)

Large letter B puzzle piece w/ bear on it, teddy bear, baby bear figurine, and sponge bear

Blue ring and circle, blue block, and blue sensory bottle (from nature basket)

Box with stackable blocks, two balls, and a badge

Mardi Gras Beads (so far his favorite) and a bag of beans and a magnet letter B (taped shut of course)

I told you this basket was a little over the top. The letter idea is so clever and now I think I have ideas ranging from ABC's, Shapes, and Colors to last me a little while. I am curious what others do with their children who are under 18 months old?

ABC Trees? Two, Please!

We decided to do a homage to two of my favorite ABC books by creating some art. We haven't done much art lately, and I think "A" was desperately missing it. Not only did I get two amazing pieces of artwork from my little man, but he got some learning in!

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.

After the letters fell out

The letters were made from cool stencils that I found at Dollar Tree

The Alphabet Tree by Leo Lionni

Stamped some sight words we are working on. He included the bee from the book too!

I attempted to make a leaf stamp from the only sponge I had in the house. Not great, but it worked

What sucker will you choose?

The blogger Relentlessly Fun, Deceptively Educational is a must go to for fantastic learning activities with your kiddos. She takes supplementing education to a whole new level! She recently did a activity she called Alphabetize Surprise (see link above). I knew that I wanted to try it out with "A", because like her son I am looking for ways to go above phonic sounds (which he knows most of) and work on sight words. What you do is take is 12 sight words and write each one on an index card. You can find Dolch Sight Words by grade level of work of  Fry's First 100 word list. When you write them make sure they are in order and then on the back of the cards in a different color write the surprise sentence: "Red, Orange, or Blue-What sucker you choose?" One word or punctuation for each card. Then mix up the cards. Then have your little one alphabetize the words. This was difficult for "A", and something I want to keep working on. Normally, he masters things in the first try, but that just means we get to do this again! Once he had alphabetized the sight words I made him read each word. Reading sight words can be tricky because they often times don't follow phonic rules. As he read them I flipped the word over to show the new word. Once the whole line of cards (and it was a long one) was flipped I read him the surprise sentence. Having a sucker at the end made all his hard work worth it!!!

We took our learning outside-too hot!

Working on alphabetizing

Some of the sight words on the Dolch pre-primer list

Told you that the line of cards is long!

"A's" sucker choice: ORANGE!

Shark ABC Attack

I have been scouring the computer for fun activities and games to help "A" with reading sight words and lowercase letters. I recently came across I Heart Crafty Things and saw the cutest game with a homemade shark that eats flashcards. It was so simple and adorable I had to make one. Let alone, I knew this would be a way to look at flashcards that "A" wouldn't run shrieking away from. Man, was I right...he loved the game and did some good reading as well! The game is to put flashcards (we made homemade ones that look like fish) with letters or sight words face up on the floor or table. Next you say, "Mr. Shark is looking for the letter..." They choose the letter and if it is correct they get to feed the shark. If you are doing a word you would say, "Mr. Shark is looking for the word...." It truly was a hit and can't wait to play it again! If you want to play this game and make a shark of your own get a legal size envelope and seal it. Next color it gray. Cut out a large triangle from the side. Clue the triangle you cut out so it is sealed on all sides. This will be glued to the top to make your fin. Next put a googly eye,tooth and gills. In I Heart Crafty Things she used felt teeth and yarn for fins but I just used what I had on hand-paper.

I chose lowercase letters that don't look like their uppercase and some sight words

Top 10 ABC Books

I know this is awful to admit but I hate ABC books. How many "A is for Apple" do they expect a person to read. The always seem so simple and boring. Even "A" feels like I am treating him like a baby when I read most of them. However, I know that children need those concept books to help facilitate reading. After much painful research, I have compiled my list of top ten ABC books that aren't nauseating to read.

Picture found on web at Thomas Davis Group

1) Apple Pie ABC by Alison Murray: I just read this book this summer and I loved it. "A" made me read it multiple times. It is the story of a dog who watches his owner make an apple pie and each letter is his desperate attempt to get a taste.

2) I Stink by Kate McMullan: I have two boys so having an ABC book that talks about puppy poo and dirty diapers is a must. The best way to read this book about a garbage truck is with a New York accent, acting real tough. Better yet get the scholastic video of the reading. I always do dramatic pauses with the ABC page and give some really exasperated "OooOOOooo YUCK" for the gross things, but that is just me!

3) Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr: Okay, pretty much everyone loves this book about the letters in the coconut tree. It's a classic, pure and simple. To be honest, it took me hearing the song being sung on the Scholastic Video to truly appreciate it. Dang, now that song is in my head!

 cuz everyone should hear the song...

4) Al Pha Bet by Amy Krouse Rosenthal: This is another new discovery. It is a fun creative look at how and why the alphabet may have been created, something I have always wondered. This would be a great writing activity for older kids to think about why they think the letters were chosen in that order.

5) Dr. Suess ABC-An Amazing Alphabet Book: Honestly, who could go wrong with Dr. Suess. He was a creative genius! Plus it's just darn fun to say Fiffer Feffer Feff!!! I also like the book On Beyond Zebra about how words are just symbols and to not be afraid to make up some symbols of your own. Turned out well for Suess!

6) The Z is Zapped by Van Allsburg: Another favorite author of mine who leaves so much for the imagination. This book is set up like a play in 26 acts. There is a pencil illustration of each letter and on the back of that page is an explanation ("Z was Zapped"/"U was being Uprooted"). It is a great introduction to alliteration as well. There is one letter that doesn't follow alliteration and sometime I change the words so it does. I never understood that one letter...

7) The Alphabet Tree by Leo Lionni: When you see my author lineup these top ten are a no brainer. There are some great writers here! This story is about letters that live in a tree and get together to form words. It is great to show your child how letters for words, and maybe you can even get them to read a few!

8) AlphaOops- The Day Z Went First by Alethea Kontis: Why should Z have to always go last. He is sick of it, but when he tries to go first letters get out of order. Bickering and chaos ensue. Too Funny!

9) Alphabet Adventure, Alphabet Mystery, and Alphabet Rescue by Audrey Wood: I love the Wood family and everything they produce. The Napping House is my house every afternoon! Anyway these three books are a fabulous look at the letters (big and small) as they go on adventures. The illustrations are phenomenal! My son especially likes the Rescue one because it has a fire truck!

10) Superhero ABC by Bob McLeod: This book takes a comic book approach to introducing ABCs (keep in mind I have boys). Comics are intriguing to boy readers and -contrary to belief- help stimulate a love for reading, vocabulary, and fluency. The illustrations are so rich and vibrant anyone would be drawn into this book.