Fine Motor Strength

      I found this website that has a nice list of ideas to help improve fine motor skills: Therapy Street for Kids.  Fine motor skills are important in many aspects of daily life - buttoning buttons, zipping zippers, picking up objects, holding a pencil/crayon, using scissors, etc.  This website provides several activities parents can do at home to help your son or daughter develop their fine motor skills.

b d Confusion - b

      Today in Fundations, some friends were trying to figure out which letter was b on their magnetic board (now that we have b, d, p on our magnetic boards).  We reviewed our d method - if you can grab the door knob, it's d!  Today I added - if the bump is on the back, it's b (since we always go left to right AND back starts with the /b/ sound)!

ST Math App (Free)

      Your son/daughter may now play games they have played in school.  Visit ST Math's website to download the app to a phone or tablet device!  Or, your child can play JiJi's games on any computer by visiting JiJi's website!

Shaving Cream Activities

      Shaving cream is a fun way to reinforce writing letters, numbers, and spelling words.  Put some shaving cream on a cookie sheet (or table, counter, etc).  Dictate what you would like your child to write.  Encourage them to make letters following the Fundations directions (Lower Case Directions, Upper Case Directions)!

 Some possible prompts...

• Let's make the letter...
• What letter starts the word?
• What letter makes this sound ____?
• Show me how to make the number ____.
• (Clap a certain number of times) - can you write the number?

Flashcard Activities

These activities can be done with any type of flash cards...

One set:

• Show cards to your kiddo and have them say it's name (or sound).
• Sort cards by words they know and don't know.
• Tape cards around the house.  Have them read the card as they pass by.
• Hang from door frames or ceiling - have them jump up and touch words as they read them.
• Modify this activity to have them jump up and grab the card
• Spread out in a line or curve - have your kiddo read them, then jump or step over them
• Hide the cards around the house for them to find, then read
• Sort cards by beginning letters / sounds, number of letters, number of syllables.
• Attach to a game board, using a dice and game pieces, have your kiddo role the dice and move that many spaces.  The space they land on they must read.  If they can't, have them go back to where they started.
• Have your kiddo make sentences using the flashcards to make sentences
• Have your kiddo use the flashcards to build the letter or word using legos, beads, playdough, glue and scrap paper, etc.

Multiple sets (if you make more flashcards)

• With 2 sets
• Play Concentration - have your kiddo flip over and read cards.  If they match, they keep them! 
• Play 'Go Fish!'

Click here for more ideas from our Reading Specialists!
Have other ideas!  Share below!