Keep It Simple

If your child is starting to read and still seems unsure, review the alphabet and letter sounds. Next, look at short CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words (top, cat, fog and so on) and have your child break them apart into their individual sounds. Then blend these sounds back together (/t/ /o/ /p/; top). 
 

Watch this video for an example

Letter Sound Water Squirt

• Write various letters or letter sound combination patterns on a wall or ground with chalk.

• Have your child squirt the letter or group of letters for the sound you say.

• Repeat multiple times and see if the child can go faster.
  
  Watch this video to learn how!

Playdough Letters

• Give the child playdough and ask them to build any letter that you say

• Build a letter and ask the child to name it 

• Build a word and ask the child to sound it out (only do this AFTER your child has learned most of their letter-sounds)
  
  Watch this video to learn how!

Mastering Short Vowels and Reading Whole Words

Reading expert Linda Farrell works with Calista, an early stage reader, on short vowel sounds, blending and manipulating sounds, reading whole words, and fluency.

Ms. Farrell starts by making sure Calista has a strong foundation in short vowel sounds by teaching her hand motions to remember those sounds more easily.

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After Calista demonstrates she knows short vowel sounds, Ms. Farrell teaches her to change one sound in a spoken word using manipulatives. Finally, Ms. Farrell helps Calista move from sound-by-sound reading to whole word reading.