Learning letters

My 4 year old is in pre-k and she got her 4th 6 weeks report card today. The teacher is concerned about her recognizing letters, and sent home flash cards. We sat down with our first set, and after a 10 minute crying session because she didn't want to do it we started with our first 5 letters.

The letters we are supposed to work on first are B,S,M,F,and H.

She knows H only out of all of the letters. I've worked with her and know for a fact that she knows the letter B also, because she writes it all the time and tells me that its B like Baby.

When she is showed the flash cards she will stare at me or the wall and refuses to look at the letter she's being shown. She will guess every letter she knows and just plays. I have no idea how to get her to actually pay attention and focus on what we are trying to do...

Any tips or advice is greatly appreciated. I feel like she's very smart but she's extremely behind in this aspect of her school.

I imagine having her to try to learn it in a style that may not fit her "learning style" is really really hard. What about a more play-based approach? I'm sure I can dig up a few ideas if you want them. Is she crafty? Maybe letting her paint her letters. Or, does she like to read? Maybe just surrounding her with more books and then pointing to the letters as they come up on the page.

Does she like you to read books to her? Get some alphabet books. We read alphabet books all the time and sang the abc's every day. My LO has known all his letters by sight and can say them for at least a year and he's 3years 4 months.

We try to do flash cards with sight words now too and he is very reluctant about it but will pay attention if I MAKE him sit there (and tell him he can play with his kindle fire afterwards...).

How about practicing with something she can hold to jaz it up a bit? At the school I worked at we bought magnetic letters and placed them on cookies sheets to be more interactive!

<blockquote><b>Quoting grace life:</b>" I imagine having her to try to learn it in a style that may not fit her "learning style" is really really ... [snip!] ... she like to read? Maybe just surrounding her with more books and then pointing to the letters as they come up on the page. "</blockquote>



We've tried having a craft time where she can pick her favorite activities and then we will incorporate the letters in it. Like we will
glue the macaroni on a piece of construction paper in the shape of a B and while she's gluing it we talk about all of the different words start with a B. but its like as soon as she is done she "forgets" what the letter is.

Quoting Trixie7678:" How about practicing with something she can hold to jaz it up a bit? At the school I worked at we bought magnetic letters and placed them on cookies sheets to be more interactive!"

Ohh, stuff like this is fun!

Quoting [♥]Mrs. Morgan:" <blockquote><b>Quoting grace life:</b>" I imagine having her to try to learn it in ... [snip!] ... we talk about all of the different words start with a B. but its like as soon as she is done she "forgets" what the letter is."

Do you think she knows it, but she just doesn't see the point in saying it? I have a friend with a kid like that. Smart as any other kid, but so stubborn. If asked "What is this?" She'll just say she doesn't know because she doesn't want to answer.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Colt's mommy:</b>" Does she like you to read books to her? Get some alphabet books. We read alphabet books all the time ... [snip!] ... about it but will pay attention if I MAKE him sit there (and tell him he can play with his kindle fire afterwards...)."</blockquote>




We do read a lot, so I'll get some more of the alphabet books and try that.

Jack is almost three and what has helped him a LOT with letters is Dr Seuss' ABC book.

Its reads like "Big A, Little a, What begins with A? Aunt Annie's alligator! A..a...A"

Jack enjoys to "read" it with me and it really has helped with his letter recognition

<blockquote><b>Quoting grace life:</b>" Do you think she knows it, but she just doesn't see the point in saying it? I have a friend with a kid ... [snip!] ... any other kid, but so stubborn. If asked "What is this?" She'll just say she doesn't know because she doesn't want to answer. "</blockquote>



That could definitely be part of the problem. Even with the flash cards she'll say the letter and then forgets it by the next time it comes around. And she will name every letter in the alphabet just guessing.

Quoting grace life:" Ohh, stuff like this is fun! "

I think so too!

You can use tablet or smart phone games to learn letters
It's interactive and interesting and many of the games are free
My kid plays this game http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.weplaywelearn.englishletterpairslite

Dana