OVERVIEW

This lesson introduces kindergarten students to correct upper- and lowercase letter formation.  As students begin learning the letter names of the alphabet, they will begin practicing correct formation by tracing, copying, and writing letters.  This can be done with a variety of tactile learning activities to accommodate individual learning styles.

LESSON

As a Resource teacher for primary students with multiple disability categories, it is important that I vary my teaching activities to accommodate for individual interests, as well as cognitive and physical challenges.  Immediately following daily practice echo reading the ABC chart, I like to offer my students choices of enrichment activities and media that support the objective of correct letter formation.

ACTIVITIES

Interactive Alphabet by Piikea St. LLC for iPad:  My students LOVE to use the iPad.  I love it when I find an app that really teaches my students.  This app is very user-friendly and highly engaging for students with language barriers, cognitive challenges, as well as typical young learners.  This app also has a setting for left-handed students.

LetterSchool by Sanoma Media Netherlands B.V. for iPad:

Letter Workbook - Alphabet Writing Game for iPad:

Multimodal learning environments allow instructional elements to be presented in more than one sensory mode (visual, aural, written). In turn, materials that are presented in a variety of presentation modes may lead learners to perceive that it is easier to learn and improve attention, thus leading to improved learning performance; in particular for lower-achieving students (Chen & Fu, 2003; Moreno & Mayer, 2007; Zywno 2003). 

ABC Highway Manuscript:  This is a very engaging tactile activity that can allow students to get out of their seats and engage in the learning with their classmates or independently.    Students are taught correct letter formation using letters that resemble asphalt on a road.  They can run matchbox cars along laminated copies of Jennifer Kimbrell's ABC Highway.  This is also a great activity to share with the general education teacher to place in a "break" area for a child with autism.  

To access the iBook, you must click on the link here.

To access the SMART Notebook lesson click on the link here.