Simple Saturday: Labels of Love

What? Me? Read?The Simple Saturday Labels of Love reading game is so easy a dog can do it! For real. Let me show you.

Did you do what I asked you to yesterday? Did you take note of your wee one's objects of desire? Things that are the most important to them? We're going to use their love for these things to spark a love of the written word.

Have you gathered up the supplies? The index cards and markers? You haven't? Well, hurry up and get them. Tripod and I will wait for you.

Lick. Lick. Slobber. Slobber. Hug. Hug. Oh! You're back! Good...

 Now all you have to do is write the names of the objects of desire on the cards. Make a few labels. How many? Oh, about ten or so would be good. Show your child how the word is spelled. Talk about the beginning letters, the ending sounds...you know the drill. Help your child become familiar with the identification of the words. Then, mix up the cards and ask your little darling to read the cards and then find those items in the house. Reading is that easy! 

 Tripod actually did a pretty good job with this game, too. He found his toys, where his food is stored, his water bowl, and his bed. Good boy, right?

Well, I guess since he matched the label for his leash we'd better use it. See ya! We're off for a lovely Simple Saturday walk. Wish you could join us!

Simple Saturday Prep: Labels of Love

 In efforts to enhance letter/word recognition, tomorrow we're going to capitalize on your newbie reader's objects of passion. We're going to use the stuff they love to our/their academic benefit.

Food. Clothes. Games. People. Pets. Anything's fair game!

The supplies we'll need for tomorrow's Simple Saturday fun are index cards and a marker. That's it.

So, for now, observe your little darlings, closely. Notice what their objects of desire are. Keep those thoughts in mind. Check back in with me in the morning when we'll have some Simple Saturday Labels of Love fun together, okay?

I do love these sneaky posts, don't you?

Simple Saturday: Keys to Reading

Today we're going to make a Simple Saturday Keys to Reading puzzle with a collection of old keys, a small piece of cardstock, and a fine-tipped marker. That's all we need. Let's get with it!

On the piece of cardstock, lay out your keys in a pattern that pleases you. Maybe gradate them from large to small.  Or in a random splash-like design. Anything that meets your fancy. Shoot, while you're at it, make a variety of pattern cards. Let the good times roll!

Next, trace around the keys with the fine-tipped marker. Bingo, baby! You've made a puzzle!!! Good for you! Now sit back and marvel as your wee ones as they decifer between the various keys' bendy and straight lines, discovering which key goes where. 

Not only does this super simple activity help to develop eye-hand coordination and help to lengthen the concentration span, it offers the early reader the opportunity to discriminate between the ups and downs of line shapes. Pair this up with sight/sound discrimination and you've got a reader, pal.

Simple Saturday Prep: Keys to Reading

 Okay, my Simple Saturday buddies, tomorrow's post features another one of those activities that are so simple and yet so profound that I am almost ashamed to launch it.

Almost.

Got any kiddos that are working to learn the shapes of letters? That in grasping the awareness that specific bends and straights of simple line drawings is actually key to learning something completely life altering - the ability to READ!!!! Can you give me  hearty hip, hip, hooray for reading? Hip. Hip. HOORAY!

Tomorrow bring a fistful of old keys, a piece of cardstock, a fine-tipped marker, and maybe some scissors with you and we'll make a game guaranteed to mesmerize any child working to unlock the mysteries of  the sight/sound connection  of the written word.

Uh, oh. I feel another cheer coming over me. Please indulge me, won't you? Hip. Hip. HOORAY!!!