PRE-K / AGES 3-5
PRACTICE FOUR LITERACY SKILLS BEFORE STARTING SCH0OL
Children must learn the names and sounds of the ABCs. Once they understand the connection between letters and sounds, they can begin to combine letters to form words. This is the very foundation of reading!
TRY THESE ACTIVITIES
SING THE ABC SONG
Sing the alphabet song together each morning when you’re getting your child dressed. Then have them sing it while pointing at each letter of the alphabet.
The most meaningful letters to your child are the ones they see in their own name. Write their name everywhere you can, such as on their drink cups and backpacks, or put the letters of their name on the wall of their bedroom. It’s important for them to see the letters of their name written often.
GUESS MY LETTER
Tell your child a letter sound and have them guess the name of the letter that matches. “The letter I’m thinking of makes the “ssssss” sound. What letter is it?”
MILESTONES FOR 3 YEAR OLDS
Can begin to recite favorite books by memory
MILESTONES FOR 4 YEAR OLDS
Enjoy both being read to and beginning to read to self or looking at the pictures and telling the story.
MILESTONES FOR 5 YEAR OLDS
Start segmenting a word out into its individual sounds
Practice inventive & phonetic spelling with unfamiliar words, (e.g. ”Kat” for “Cat” or “Curls” for “Colors”)
OAKLAND RESOURCES
TANDEM PARTNERS IN EARLY LEARNING
A Bay Area nonprofit working at the intersection of social justice and early childhood education. Explore Tandem’s growing collection of virtual storytime videos by category. Interactive videos feature high-quality children’s books, and each video focuses on developing specific early learning skills based on the California Preschool Learning Foundations.
