Fun For Tots: August 2016

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Step Up the Fun For Tots

Tot Funetics

Phonetics for Fun Addicts

This program is called, "Fun For Tots" because it is my experience that children learn when they are having fun. It is a 4 step progression into reading. This is for children that are learning to read or reading to learn.

Step 1

Step 1 is learning about a single letter.

A letter is born and is given a name to read.

Learn to recognize what the letter looks like. Learn to w rite a letter. You are now ready to r-r-r read.

Reading Readiness

Pre Reading Skills

Let us repeat this step.

Birth of a Letter Sound

Give a Letter a name to recognize.

Letters make a sound to read.

Write the Letter.

(The 3 Rs)

r-r-r ready to read

Read the sound

(W) rite the letter

Recognize the letter

R-rrrrrr ready to read!

Step 1 (Baby Steps)

Step 1 is for Pre School reading readiness lessons which incorporate (4) learning categories:

1-letter 2-numbers 3-shapes 4-colors
all in one lesson.

Lesson Support Activities:

Field Trip

Snack

Story

Music

Tot Funetics

Learning

By Brenda Chadburn

This is a program designed for Tot’s to be taught (tot) the FUN way, because if you are not having fun, you are not learning! Hence, TOT Funetics is being taught fun phonetics for all you fun addicts.

This curriculum is designed to introduce reading readiness skills in a fun way as they step into reading. All 26 initial letters and sounds are introduced through music, snack, story, take-home activity, play, and field trips.

The Letter Might be G

“G” is for the color gold. The story might include: Goldilocks and the 3 Bears using 3 as the number for the day. The shape might be circles for the bowls you draw for the bears. It could include the concepts of **giving, gone, guess, go,and growing. As you can tell,**

all are tied to one letter in a nutshell!

In designing these lesson plans, careful consideration was given to assure it is a lesson at a glance, almost like a recipe. File mastery cards are used for quick reference during the lesson. Though the words are few, the activities are many. One letter is done each time you meet. . You can go through the alphabet once in the year for each time you have met. If you meet three times, then you would have gone through the alphabet three times. There were a few who knew the letters and sounds the first time through. Others started identifying beginning sounds and letter recognition after the second time. It is good as each learns when they are ready. There is no pressure, only fun!

All the lessons have many children’s songs and music which aid children in learning. If you were to hum the “ABC” song to a group of teenagers, they would quickly recite the rest of the song back to you. Music stays in the mind long after words do.

Creativity is fundamental to the growth of children. This learning is interconnected to arts, crafts, music, experiments, dance, and kitchen activities. Children’s play is also important to their development. Children’s play is children’s learning. Playing house, pretending to go to the grocery store, and play mat activities with cars or plastic figures are great for their imagination.. Always remember that if the children are getting bored, it is time to change the activity.

THERE IS MORE THAN YOU CAN DO IN ONE SESSION. SAVE IT FOR WHEN YOU REPEAT THE ALPHABET OR FOR A REVIEW DAY.

Letter Introduction, Music, Snack, Story , Activity, Play, Field trip.

-2-

What’s different about this program? All lessons are designed to be themed around a letter of the alphabet. It is not a letter of the week, or a letter a couple of times in a month. In order for them to understand letters, they must do them in order and every time they meet! Now you may be saying, “I don’t want them to feel like they are in kindergarten”. “I want my child to have a childhood.” That is exactly why you will like fun funetics (Phonetics). The reading readiness skills are not always taught in school. I wanted my child to feel free and creative and yet have fun while they learn. There are many times that my tot’s have said that they are going to a party. ***Remember if you’re not having fun, you are not learning!

introduced true to their sound
I DO NOT USE XYLOPHONE FOR “X” NOR, DO I USE XEROX! There is enough information in each Letter Mastery, to teach at least three different lessons using the same letter. I have even covered the hard sounds like I, X, and Z. Last but not least, every letter has an age appropriate story to teach the letter sound. Again I did not use a story with the words like, “KNOCK, KNOCK” for K.

This curriculum offers something for everyone. It is a great resource for parents, pre-school teachers, or any other type of teacher.

For those who want to do the HOME TOT FUNetics PROGRAM, invite 3-6 preschoolers and share in the teaching and hosting of the tots. I recommend meeting 1 to 2 times a week. There have been groups who met three times a week but, suggested that they were overwhelmed. Home tot learning can be a time of one on one for your child or children. The rule of thumb for those who should be invited to this type of program is that they must be potty trained.

Remember that there is no place like home for learning.

Lesson Instruction

tIntroductionn: Pick out activities that are interrelated to the story. This introductory period should last about fifteen minutes and will include every possible activity that may be repeated in another area at another time. An example of this would be a song that was used for both the introductory period as well as the music time like, “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” for the letter “H” h-h-h head. This amounts to about 4 or 5 different selections from the letter mastery. Remember, that if you use the initial sound in the music or any other time, they must have heard the word before. You must be sure to introduce it in the introductory period or the tot’s will not identify the sound. Do the letters in order and always a letter a lesson. (15 min.)

Feed different things through the curtain that begin with "v" like pictures of a vacuum, vampire, etc. Each tot might share a "v" thing that they brought from home.

Music: The music listed in yellow, are common early childhood songs and verses. If you would like to download music or words from the web, a section has been included with web site resources. You can purchase c.d. discs for as little as a dollar at the dollar store and on the web for as much as $20.00. During music time you will vary the activities and instruments. For “B” you would use bells. For “C” you could ride on horses with cowboy hats. For “M” you would march. For “S” you might skip or use scarves. Always check the Music Letter Mastery. Choose 2-3 songs for the music period. Sometimes you may want to repeat the same song. (10 min.)

M-is for maracas

Snack: The snack is listed in pinkish purple. The snack might be a gummy inch worm in Oreo dirt for I, or it could be G for goldfish. Again, it ties in with the letter. (15 min.)

O is for octopus

Story: The story can be one you choose from this curriculum or a popular children’s story. Some books may be in your library, or can be checked out from the library. Tie the snack or activity to the story. An example of this would be, “The Gingerbread Man” story would be followed by decorating gingerbread men for the snack. You could make a hat for the story like, “The Cat in the Hat” for the letter “H”. If the story is too long for your group, then retell it with the pictures. (5 - 10 min.)

Activities: There are activities of every sort, including a volcano, a great one for the scientific mind. They will paint, stamp, work with play dough, make paper plate masks, and so many other fun activities. However, you may still want to surf the web for different crafts which are listed on the web site list. All time periods are themed and linked by the letter. Choose only one activity for the day. Check the activity section for ideas and patterns. (15 min.)

A- is for the animal cookies in the ark

Play: Play time consists of activities that are apart of the letter and sound. An example of this would be when giving the lesson for the letter “P” for puzzles. For play time you could put out the puzzles. If you want to have free play time where there isn’t play linked to the letter, feel free. It is your call. (Remainder of the session)

P -is for parachute play

Field trips: Field trips are connected with letter concepts. (You don’t always have to have a field
trip.)

Summaryr There will be a summary of all that is taught throughout the letter lesson.

There are activities which are not part of the letter theme. I always have them wave flags to a patriotic song such as, “I’m Proud to be an American” or “You’re a Grand Old Flag. Following the flag waving, we will say the Pledge of Allegiance. Then with different instruments, I have them march to an “ABC” song. Each day we meet, we will repeat these activities of flag waving, the Pledge of Allegiance and the “ABC” song, in that very same order! This allows for the few who are late, to be able to attend the introductory time. THAT IS ESSENTIAL! The Introductory period must remain in the order suggested, in order to be effective in teaching phonics. The order you do the music or other areas, is your call. You may want to break the introductory period into two segments with a circle time.

Outline

Flag Waving:

Pledge of Allegiance:

“ABC” Song:

Introduction: (20 min.) "A"

1- Place different pictures or objects that depict "a" things. (alligator, apple, ant etc.) through the window of a puppet theater.

2- Guess what is in the sack. It is round it is juicy. Sometimes it is green, sometimes yellow, and sometimes it is red. It grows on trees. What is it? an a-a-a- (apple)

3-Invite them to bring a share and tell animal to share.(Do the animals match in pairs of 2)

4- Put magnets on a magnetic board. Group the magnets in like kind and then add them.

5- Place the a-z stickers on the floor spaced a foot length apart. Turn on an "ABC" song and walk from a-z.

Music: (15 min.)

1 "ABC" song by Heidi Butkiss

2- "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" 3-

Story: (10 min.) "Aggie Alligator" by Brenda Chadburn

Snack: (15 min.) Cut up apples and serve.

Activity: (20 min.) Make an alligator using the patterns.

Play Time: (remainder of the session) Use the animal puppets to act out the animal sounds.

Field Trip: visit a farm or a zoo

Summary: A- Animal dominoes, (pairs #2), Color green for the apples and alligator, make circle apples
Concepts: learning to match, animal recognition , adding, learning the alphabet

(This is designed to fill a 1 ½ - 2 hour session.)

Outline

Flag Waving:

Pledge of Allegiance:

“ABC” Song:

Introduction: (20 min.)

Music: (15 min.)

2- 3-

Story: (10 min.)

Snack: (15 min.)

Activity: (20 min.)

Play Time: (remainder of the session)

Field Trip:

Summary:

(This is designed to fill a 1 ½ - 2 hour session.)

Here is a review of the baby steps for pre-reading Step 1.

Funetics Handbook

for a hands on learning experience

Hands On Learning

The Complete Hand Book For Step 1

Includes:

A Step by Step Overview

A-Z Mastery Cards

*mastery cards are an index summary with a short list that Inscludes:

letter possibilities, Intro, music & verse, snack, book list, activities, field trip, & summary

(An outline to use with your mastery cards)

Music and Verse a-z List

Snack List from a-z

Book List from A-Z Library List

List of Craft Activities from a-z

A Yellow Year Book with Past Lesson Summaries

Not Included in the Complete Handbook

50 + Original Books for Lamination

(an activity included in each book)

Patterns for Take Home a-z

Lesson activities A-Z

Mini 4 page letter a-z Books

Color Fun

Shape Fun

Number Magnetic Board Verses 1-10 Pieces

Bringing Letters Alive a-z

Build a Food Pyramid Game

Phoningo

You Have Mail

Animal Sack Puppets

Mini Musicals

Letter Cubes

Step 1

Lesson Mastery Cards

Create a lesson around each letter

lesson plans for A-Z

sample for A

Mastery Card

Here is a 2 year Yellow Year Book

My Yellow Yearbook

Summary of Lessons for the Year

My Yellow Year Book (1) In Fall 2012

. There is always at least one shape, color, number and many concepts included with each lesson.

A-. is for Aggie Alligator that ate a lot of A things. Each started with an A, but not one of them rings. Adding starts with an A too. Animal dominoes came 2 x 2. You make an A in the shape of a triangle. Careful when you write on an angle

A is the letter

Triangle is the shape
Green is the alligator color
2 is the number
Concepts: adding, naming animals
”Allie Alligator” is the story with an alligator that eats long & short “A” pictures for their lunch.project.

Lesson Interactive Activities

This is a Book of Lesson Activities

Use with "I Can Add Dad" mini letter Book & the "Allee Ant" story

A-Adding apples (sorting) Sample

Letter Activity for Take Home

Patterns for Take Home Activity

Sample Pattern

Extra Materials

Letter Fun

Picture Flash for Letter Funetics (phonics)

sample "A" Flash

Mini letter Books

Sample letter book for "A"
Learning by reading a Mini Letter Book

Beginning Letter Book with consonant and vowels initial sounds.

More Letter Fun

Phoningo Bingo

Draw a letter card.

If the picture has the matching beginning sound,

then make an x over the laminated Bingo Card.

More Letter Fun

You Have Mail

Open up the letter to reveal a letter and picture

fold up letters from the mailbox

Letters Alive

Sample for "E"

Throw the ring on the e-e-e elephant's nose

repeat the sound of e for elephant while you play

Number Fun

Number Verse Magnetics

Sample for 5

Laminate and Cut out.
Cut small strips of flat magnet from a roll. Place in a sheet protector that stores in a binder Put your magnets on the board as you say and act out the number verse.

Color Fun

sample activity