7 Simple + Fun Activities that Improve Letter Recognition in 5 Minutes

Have 5 minutes to fill in your homeschool day?  These 7 quick, fun letter recognition activities are perfect for your transition times. The letter recognition activities:

• provide essential review
• keep your child’s attention 
• offer additional letter exposure

It’s important to include these in your daily routine because:

“some children may need only 10-20 exposures to a letter to recognize it automatically, other children may need 20 times that amount of exposure to over learn the letters to the point of automaticity” (Berninger, 2000).

7 Quick Letter Recognition Activities

1. Alphabet Letter Deck.  Use a deck of letter cards containing all the letters of the alphabet.  Flip through them quickly, having students call out the letter name. Your child can complete this letter recognition activity in 60 seconds or less. See how fast they can complete the task. Your child will love trying to beat their latest time!  Here are the ones I use:                                                                                         
2. Alphabet Pathway.  Create a path on your floor using tape. As your child walks the path, have them say the letter name.  This letter recognition activity is perfect for a quick movement break, too!
3. Alphabet Chart.  Display a large alphabet chart in your homeschool space. Point to the letters in random order as the child says the letter name.  They can then find them on their own alphabet chart.                        
4. Letter Card Line Up.

   Show a letter card to your child before starting an activity or leaving the house. They must say the letter name. If you’d like to differentiate this letter recognition activity based on their needs, have them give the letter name, the sound, or even a word that begins with that letter.

   

5. Sing the Alphabet Song.  Remember the classic alphabet song we all learned as kids? Have your child sing it during the day. Want to vary it up a bit? Click here to find 3 more creative ways to use the alphabet song to increase letter recognition.
6. Alphabet Arc Center.  Set up an alphabet arc for a quick learning activity. Your child should be able to complete this task in 3-5 minutes. Not sure how to use an alphabet arc? Click here to get your free guide and alphabet arc.
7. Play Find It.  Place an alphabet strip on your homeschool table or learning area. Ask your child to find different letters on the strip, “Find B.” You can make it more difficult by asking them to find a different uppercase and lowercase letter. For example, “Find uppercase R and lowercase z.”  You can even let them call out letters for you to find!

If you’d like to try out the alphabet arc I use, CLICK HERE to grab yours for FREE.

REFERENCES:

Berninger, V.B. (2000, Nov.). Language based reading and writing intervention:  Findings of the University of Washington Multi-Disciplinary Disability Center.  paper presented at the meeting os the International Dyslexia Association, Washington, DC.