5B) Letter identification and letter-sound awareness
Help children identify letters and develop awareness of letter-sound connections (i.e., phonics); (relevant for letter-based writing systems only).
Video: Sentence Patterning Chart—Kindergarten
In this bilingual classroom, students are engaged in creating a Sentence Patterning Chart, a strategy designed to help students utilize the high level, academic vocabulary they have acquired orally to read and/or write sentences with an emphasis on grammar and parts of speech.Read More
Strategy Overview: Name Acrostics
This strategy engages students in writing free verse acrostic poems about themselves using the letters of their names to begin each line. The use of children’s names can bring personal meaning to writing; and valuing children’s names is a part of a strong, respectful classroom community.Read More
Planning Template: El Dictado
The Dictado is a routine in which the teacher dictates a series of phrases or sentences, and the teacher and students collaboratively correct them. The Dictado serves to teach and reinforce basic writing skills within each language, and to highlight cross-language transfer. This template helps teachers analyze their Dictados.Read More
Video: El Dictado
In this video, the teacher dictates a series of phrases or sentences, and the teacher and students collaboratively correct them. The Dictado serves to teach and reinforce basic writing skills within each language, and to highlight cross-language transfer and reinforce the teaching points presented over the three days of implementation.Read More
Resource Guide: A Deeper Look at Early Literacy
This interactive guide offers a comprehensive approach to literacy for Multilingual Learners. It is an overview of the language and literacy skills and instruction that children need at different stages of development. Common literacy terms are defined, instructional strategies are offered, and a picture of instruction, aligned across the grades is explained.Read More
Video: Making Butter—Small Group Instruction
In this video, the teacher works on a hands-on project to make butter with Multilingual Learners. The small group instruction supports multiple opportunities to practice oral language and writing in an authentic context.Read More
Video: Writing Her First Letter—Alphabetic Knowledge
In this video clip, the teacher supports a Multilingual Learner to write her letters on her work after they talk about it. The teacher supports the child to practice letter-sound correspondence in an authentic context and then helps her read her work.Read More
Video: Toy Animals
This video clip shows both English and Spanish-speaking teachers developing student content knowledge about animals through oral conversations. Students then paint animals using toys as examples and share knowledge about their paintings so teachers can write down what each child says.Read More
Video: Sharing at the Easel—Transference
This clip is an example of a teacher listening to a child narrate what she has drawn, and carefully labeling it with the child's exact words. The teacher acknowledges responses given in both English and Spanish.Read More
Video: My Pumpkin Story—Metalinguistic Awareness
A teacher works with Wendy to orally discuss and write a story about a recent pumpkin project. When the teacher asks Wendy to take her writing home, the interaction changes to Spanish so Wendy can talk to her Spanish-speaking mother about her project.Read More
Video: Engaging with Text and Narrative
This video begins by highlighting chants, songs, and intentional conversation that teachers facilitate to help young Multilingual Learners (MLs) to develop oral language. Further examples demonstrate how oral language can then transfer to written language and early reading opportunities. It is important for MLs to use developing literacy skills in authentic, print-rich learning contexts, where they feel ownership for their learning and knowledge.Read More
Video: Standards for Mathematical Practices in Transitional Kindergarten
A teacher discusses how she integrates literacy and language instruction into a mathematical story problem using a "Secret Message" strategy.Read More
Blog: Connecting the Ingredients of Language and Literacy for DLLs
This resource discusses the importance of supporting Multilingual Learners’ oral language and literacy skills in an integrated way, rather than focusing on one skill alone.Read More
Website Article: What Research Says About Small Group Intervention
This article summarizes research and discussed how to use assessment to inform strategic groupings for Multilingual Learners, particularly for reading instruction.Read More
Online Module: Systematic Instruction on Phonics and Sound-Symbol Relationships
Teachers can review phonics concepts and instructional ideas that are specific to Multilingual Learners. This page is linked to a larger set of online learning modules on other K-3rd literacy concepts for diverse learners.Read More
Tip Sheet: Name Song
This resource provides guidance for teachers around creating a name song for each child in the classroom. Name songs can help children to identify letters and develop an awareness of letter-sound connections.Read More
Tip Sheet: Picture Dictionary-1st grade
This resource describes how to build picture dictionaries with children to help them identify letters and develop an awareness of letter-sound connections. In picture dictionaries, teachers can write out vocabulary words with children and use a picture or realia (e.g., an object) to visually represent the words.Read More
Tip Sheet: Picture Dictionary- Kindergarten
This resource describes how to build picture dictionaries with children to help them identify letters and develop an awareness of letter-sound connections. In picture dictionaries, teachers can write out vocabulary words with children and use a picture or realia (e.g., an object) to visually represent the words.Read More
Tip Sheet: Picture Dictionary PreK-TK
This resource describes how to build picture dictionaries with children to help them identify letters and develop an awareness of letter-sound connections. In picture dictionaries, teachers can write out vocabulary words with children and use a picture or realia (e.g., an object) to visually represent the words.Read More
Tip Sheet: ABC Chant
This resource describes how to create ABC chants using word cards with children to help them identify letters and develop an awareness of letter-sound connections. This resource also includes photo examples of word cards that teachers can use with children.Read More
