My son just turned 4 and knows his ABC's. He has recently asked me what certain letters look like, and how to spell certain words. I would love to start teaching him letter identification, I just don't know where to start. Any ideas?
Starfall.com is great. I think the Leap Frog DVDs helped my ds quite a bit. We're now getting to the point where he'll practice writing the letters since he can identify them all, and there are tons of free printables if you just google.
I agree with Erica. And if he does not know the letters in his name I'd start with that and maybe family names- i.d. the letters so that it hooks into something relevant to him. Then also words he can relate to- pet names, etc. You could play I spy on the road or in the store- letters in his name- make play dough and shape his name in that and other letters. =) Have fun!
I agree, starfall.com is GREAT, and I also use file folder games! They are a HIT with my 3 year old. I would go to www.filefolderfun.com and print as many as you can!!
We used Explode the Code to teach reading. The first three books are primers (Get Ready for the Code, Get Set...., Go....). They teach consonants and sounds. They also teach how to write the word, but first there is practice for their hand control (fine motor) with following simple "mazes". Hard to explain on here, sorry. Anyway, I was just thinking that if he is asking to learn his letters and spelling, he may be ready for some phonics.
Any question he asks, answer it! I think the best time they learn something that they retain is when they actually ASK themselves! Other than that, at the Dollar Store you can pick up all kinds of workbooks, for writing, phonics, beginning this and beginning that...Alphabet cards are great too, and like others said, starfall.com is awesome, my 4 yr old loves it! (he calls it the abc game)
"The Reading Lesson" is a very simple way to introduce letters and their sounds in an incremental way. I used it with one of my little ones, and it was simple and fun. http://www.amazon.com/The-Reading-Lesson-Teach-Lessons/dp/0913063029
