Hands-On Phonics A to Z Sample *
For parent and child, teacher and child, or tutor and child. 

D can say “duh” at the beginning
of a word like Daisy.
 
 

D can say “duh” at the end of a word like paD.
 
 
 

D can also say “duh” in the middle of a word like saDDle.
 
 

D – daisy 

D – pad

D – saddle

The parent, teacher, or tutor should read these words and let the student repeat them. Let the child say the sounds, distinguishing the D sound. Then proceed to the following activities.
 

1.  DEVELOPING LISTENING SKILLS
The parent, teacher, or tutor should read the following words to the student. Assist the child in finding and recognizing the D sound in the words, whether the D is in initial, middle, or end position. It is not important for the child to discern the placement at this point – only to identify the sound regardless of its position in the word.

Sad
Paddle
Dog
Wedding
Dot
Dish
Puddle
Food
 

2.  WRITING PRACTICE 
The student should trace big and small L’s on the following lines. If you feel that the child is ready, he or she may try a few “free styles” on the blank lines provided.

D     D     D     D     D     D

D     D     D ____________         __________

d     d     d     d     d     d 

d     d     d__________ ____  _______
 
 

3.  RECOGNITION FOR READING
The student should circle the D’s in the following words, both big and small. Use the pictures to let the child feel he or she is “reading” the words. Point to the picture, point to the D the child has circled, then point to the word as a whole. This establishes the phonetic method for reading: look at the letters, associate them with sounds, then “sound it out.” 
 
 

	Door		Bird
	Wedding		Red
	Dog		Doll
	Dollar		Medal

4. TACTILE REINFORCEMENT 
Put on your favorite music and DANCE with your child, uninhibited, arm in arm or twirling in circles. Emphasize that Dance starts with D and that the two of  you are going to D-D-D-Dance!! If someone else is at home, ask for pictures to be taken of you and your child dancing. Once pictures are developed, make a “Dance Collage.” Or cut out pictures from magazines to make a collage.
 
 
 

*Elaine Ernst Schneider has just completed her "Hands On Phonics A to Z" series of lesson plans and activity workbook. Ignite all of your child's senses to introduce and reinforce this first building block of language development. This exceptional resource is now available for sale in our Shop@LT.