Sandpaper Letters

Presentation

1
Choose three letters with sounds and shapes that are clearly different (for example: m, a, t) and bring them to the table.
2
Sensitize the child's writing fingers (index and middle) by touching them lightly.
3
Hold the board steady with your non-writing hand. Trace the first letter slowly in the direction it is written, with two fingers.
4
Say the sound immediately after tracing: "/m/." Do not say the letter name.
5
Period 1: trace and say, "This is /m/." Repeat for each letter. Invite the child to trace and say each sound.
6
Period 2: "Show me /a/." "Trace /t/." "Give me /m/." Mix the order and ask several times.
7
Period 3: point to one letter and ask, "What is this?" The child traces and says the sound.
8
Play a short I Spy game using the new sounds: "Can you think of a word that begins with /m/?"
9
Return the letters to the shelf. Introduce new letters in groups of two or three on later days.

Extensions, easiest to hardest

Child traces known letters with eyes closed and names the sound
Matching a sandpaper letter to objects that begin with that sound
Tracing the letter, then drawing it in the air
Finding the first letter of the child's name and friends' names
Sandpaper letters for sounds that begin the child's own chosen words (following interest)

Control of error

The rough texture of the letter against the smooth board tells the fingers when they have left the shape. The adult checks the sound.

Ready to move on when the child…

Says the sound for most letters when shown the sandpaper letter
Traces each known letter in the correct direction without prompting
Finds the letter for a sound the adult says

Guide note

Teach sounds only; letter names come much later (usually with alphabetical order). Use the same letter style (print or cursive) as the school uses for handwriting. Left-handed children hold the board with the right hand and trace with the left. For dual-language learners, sounds are the same whatever the object name, so games can use words from either language.