ABC Summer

This summer I wanted to make sure we got plenty of learning in, especially since Levi's going into kindergarten and Max is going into preschool so I thought of doing an 'ABC Summer' where we'll cover all the letters of the alphabet (for Mr. Preschool to learn his letters) and doing beginning reading words (for Mr. Kindergarten).

I found some die cut letters at the dollar store and traced them onto a poster board so letters could be added on each letter day. Each boy has their own poster because I knew they'd fight over it. For my budding reader I found these lined strips of paper perfect for words and laminated them so the words could be changed each day and then I used dry erase markers for it. Easy peasy.

 So far it's gone great and the boys look forward to each new letter day. The night before I write the new words and then have them go through the alphabet until we find what is the letter of the day. Then we go to our pile of letters and they have to find the letter and put it up. It's been a fun routine.

 We haven't done it every day but the goal is to get them all done by the end of the summer, so it averages to about 2-3 letters a week. I try to do 1-3 fun, quick activities for each and make sure to point out words from things we see going about our day, letters on signs and having them think up things that start with the letter. Most of the times it goes along with what we're already doing for the day, just focusing on a certain letter/words.

 So far so good and we've been loving it!

Activities I do along the way to help them learn the letter (and words) is to:
Point out letters on signs and billboards when doing errands
Have them practice writing letters in their homework books
Play the eye spy game with something that begins with the letter of the day
Pointing out packaging on food or books throughout the day
Trace the letters on their poster with their fingers
Doing other fun ways of writing letters (write it in finger paint, write it in shaving cream whatever you can think of)
Before going to bed doing a little quiz of the words of the day and review all the letters we've done