Objective

By the end of this lesson, Hope will be able to recognize and read simple words, understand the sounds of letters, and feel excited about reading!

Materials and Prep

• Paper and crayons or markers
• Flashcards with letters and simple words
• Storybook with colorful pictures
• A comfortable reading space

Before the lesson, make sure to familiarize yourself with the sounds of the letters and have a few simple words ready to practice with Hope.

Activities

• Letter Sound Game:

  Start by introducing each letter of the alphabet and its sound. Use the flashcards to show the letters, and ask Hope to make the sound. For example, "What sound does 'B' make? Yes, 'B' says 'buh'!"

• Word Building:

  Using the flashcards, create simple words like "cat", "dog", and "sun". Show Hope how to blend the sounds together. For example, say, "Let's sound out 'c-a-t'. What do we get? Yes! It's 'cat'!"

• Storytime Fun:

  Read a colorful storybook together. Pause to point out simple words and ask Hope to read them with you. Say, "Look at this word, 'the'. Can you say it with me? Great job!"

• Draw and Write:

  Encourage Hope to draw a picture of her favorite animal and write the word underneath. Help her sound out the letters as she writes. Say, "What animal did you draw? Let's write 'dog' together!"

Talking Points

• "Every letter has its own special sound. Can you tell me what sound 'A' makes?"
• "When we put sounds together, we can make words! Like 'c-a-t' makes 'cat'!"
• "Reading is like a treasure hunt! Each word is a treasure we discover!"
• "Look at the pictures in the book. They can help us understand the story!"
• "You are doing such a great job! Every time you read, you get better and better!"
• "Let’s celebrate our reading! What’s your favorite word we learned today?"