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Connecting Phonemes and Symbols – Letter Sound Correspondence

Phonological & Phonemic Awareness

Initial Sound (Phoneme) Boxes/Drawers with Cards or Objects

(Sets consist of 2 letters and 4-6 picture cards (or objects) that begin with those sounds. Child or teacher chooses two drawers and children name objects, then sort by initial sound.)

  1. Choose a set of initial sound cards and bring them to a rug on the floor or mat on the table.
  2. Line up the letters at the top of the mat, saying each sound as you go.
  3. Show the children each object or picture card, naming each picture with the children. You can ask them if they know what it is, but the first sounds need to match your letters so you may need to say, “That is one name for it but for this game we can call it a hen, that is another name for chicken.”
  4. Turn the picture cards upside-down to reduce visual noise. Demonstrate turning over a picture card and placing it under the letter that matches the initial sound of the picture, saying the name of the picture and the sound. “book, bbbbb”. For objects, place objects in a small group at bottom of mat, choose an object and say its name emphasizing the first sound, and place it under the corresponding letter
  5. If the child makes a mistake, place the object or picture next to the wrong letter (for example ‘h’) and then next to the correct letter (‘b’) saying, “Is it a hook or a book?”
Box with 26 drawers, each labeled with a letter of the alphabet.
2 letter drawers at the top of the mat with corresponding objects placed at the bottom of the map
Letters "m" and "t" placed at the top of a mat and objects with corresponding sounds at the bottom of the mat
The Sound Drawers are filled with objects that begin with the sound. Labels can be in both upper and lower case. Inside are letter tiles or cards to place on the mats for sorting. Children can choose 2 drawers, carry them to a table, and sort objects on a mat. Then they can play with the objects to tell a story or engage in dramatic play.
example of a mat with sound drawer activity on top

You can also make sets of two letters and corresponding objects in small boxes, rotating them throughout the year as the focus sound groups shift.

More Sound Sorting and Matching Games

a piece of cloth labeled with letters "l", "h", "d", and "k" at the top and pictures sorted below according to initial sound.
letter sound sorting activity example. 2 boxes each labeled with a letter and pictures with corresponding matching sounds.
letter sound sorting activity example with letters placed at the top of a pocket chart.
letter sound sorting activity using a baking sheet
letter sound activity with 9 letters on a baking sheet and pictures with corresponding beginning sounds placed on top of a letter
letter sound matching game. Child uses a clothespin to indicate the corresponding sound on a card
Use a clothespin to pin the corresponding sound.
Letter-sound matching and sorting games teach and reinforce children's developing connections between the sounds that they hear and the letters they see and write.
Match the moveable alphabet letter and  object on card.
Sound sorting and sound book card
Sound sorting and sound book making                  
focus letter movement card
Focus letter movement card

Year-Long Trajectory

The Year-Long Trajectory is your scope and sequence for learning experiences across the year.

View the Year-Long Trajectory