The main aim of this game is to make your child aware of the PHONETIC sounds in spoken language and to make the process of exploring sounds and words fun and exciting.
Please teach your child with phonetic sounds only. Writing of letters must be lowercase.
Stage 1
- Choose 6 to 10 objects that will be easy for your child to sound out phonetically . E.g. “p” for pen, “b” for book, “c” for cup etc.
- Place these objects on a tray or table . Pointing to each object , name the objects e.g. this is a pen, this is a book etc
- Now you ready to start the “I spy game” with your child.
- Say “I spy with my little eye “something beginning with…. choose an object from the tray and say the first phonetic sound only.
- Allow your child to look at the objects on the tray and choose the object that begins with the correct sound.
- Prompt a guess if necessary and when you hear the correct answer acknowledge it by repeating the word and sound. “ a” for apple
- Remove the correct object from the tray and start again. “I spy with my little eye”
- Continue with the game until your child has guessed all the objects.
Once you feel your child has gained confidence and is familiar with the first stage, gradually start increasing the amount of objects and repeat the process.
Stage 2
- Make it less obvious by broadening the area.
- E.g.” I spy with my little eye “something in this half of the room beginning with ‘l’
Stage 3
- Continue making the choices more difficult until your child is able to find the required object anywhere in the room.
Stage 4
- Add a new difficulty . Your child is required to hear the sounds not only at the beginning but also at the end and in the middle of words. E.g. “I spy with my little eye” something beginning with ‘m’ and ending with ‘t’.”
Stage 5
- Ask your child to sound out each sound contained in the word.
- E.g. please sound out the word “… “ eg dog
heading to change – same as sandpaper letters
Extensions of the I spy game = same font as sandpaper letters heading(purple and size) See below
- Trace a letter on your child’s back and ask your child to guess the letter(remember phonetic sounds only)
- Place sand/sugar/ flour in a tray and ask your child to trace the letter (Please remember that the letter must be traced the way it is written ) Ask your the child to say the phonetic sound as he traces it and then ask” Can you think of any words beginning with the letter I have traced?”
- Clap out syllables eg c – an- dle
- Once your child recognises her/her sandpaper letters which is taught by the 3 period lesson she/he will start reading phonetic words (Pink and blue boxes, reading lists etc.)
- Your child will now be ready to presented with sandpaper phonograms eg “th” “sh” “ee” “oy”
- This is followed by the “puzzle word boxes” e.g. “ the” “once” “for” (3 Period lesson)
- And many more Montessori language activities.
- Don’t forget to read to your child daily and ask questions about the topic being read
- Remember to say precise words e.g. Instead of saying flower say hibiscus.
