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An introduction to identifying individual letter sounds and matching them to the alphabet.
What if every letter in your name could talk? Imagine if they could whisper, pop, or hiss to tell you exactly who they are!
Letters are like musical instruments; each one plays its own special note! Most letters in the alphabet are called consonants. To make their sounds, you use your lips, teeth, and tongue. For example, the letter B makes a quick 'buh' sound, like a bubble popping. The letter S makes a long hissing sound, like a snake in the grass. When we learn these sounds, we unlock the secret code to reading any word on the page!
Let's practice the sound for the letter S. 1. Look at the shape of the letter 'S'—it even looks like a curvy snake! 2. Put your teeth together lightly. 3. Blow air out to make a 'Sssss' sound. 4. You just matched the letter 'S' to its sound!
Quick Check
Which part of your body do you use to make the 'B' sound for 'Ball'?
Answer
Your lips (they pop together!).
Now that we know letters make sounds, we have to match the right sound to the right shape. Think of it like a game of connect-the-dots. When you hear the sound 'mmm' (like when you eat something yummy), your brain should immediately think of the letter M. The letter M has two humps, just like the sound has a steady hum. Matching sounds to letters helps us turn marks on a paper into real words we can say out loud.
Let's match the 'M' sound to a word. 1. Listen to the sound: 'Mmm'. 2. Think of a word that starts with that hum, like 'Moon'. 3. Look at the letter 'M' and say 'M-m-moon'. 4. Now you have matched the sound, the letter, and the word!
Quick Check
If you hear the sound 'T-T-T' (like a ticking clock), which letter are you hearing?
Answer
The letter T.
The most important sound in a word is often the initial sound, or the very first sound you hear. To find it, you have to say the word very slowly. If you say the word 'Dog', the first thing your tongue does is tap the top of your mouth for the 'D' sound. By catching that first sound, you can guess what the word is before you even finish reading it! This is the first step to becoming a master reader.
Let's find the starting sound for two different words. 1. Say the word 'Pan' very slowly: 'P-p-pan'. The first sound is a puff of air ('P'). 2. Say the word 'Fan' very slowly: 'F-f-fan'. The first sound is a soft breeze ('F'). 3. Notice how your mouth feels different for 'P' and 'F' even though they both use air!
Which letter makes a hissing sound like a snake?
What is the first sound you hear in the word 'Apple'?
The letter 'M' makes a popping sound with your lips.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, look at three objects in your room and try to say the first letter sound of each one out loud.
Practice Activity
Play a game of 'I Spy' with a friend. Say, 'I spy something that starts with the Ssss sound!' and see if they can find the Sun or a Sock.