Help students better understand the long and short vowel sounds by creating a list of words that use them. For example, paint the short sounds in blue on a paper bag and the long sounds in red on another bag. Create a list of cards that use the short and long vowel sounds. Use a blue marker for all the words with the short-A sound, and a red marker for words with the long-A sound. Hold up a card to the class during circle time and ask students which bag the card belongs to. Is it a short-A sound or a long-A sound? Remind students that often when there is one vowel in the word the vowel normally says its short sound, and when there are two vowels in the word it normally says its long sound.
Fill a bag with foam letters or cards with printed letters on them. Allow students to reach inside the bag and pull out a letter. Have them tell the class the name of the letter and the sound the letter makes and then use as many words that begin with that letter in a sentence. For example, the student who pulls out the letter "B" would say something such as "B says 'b.' Ben bought a billion boxes."
Use the tune to "Mary Had a Little Lamb" to help students learn about the letters that their names start with. For example, a child named Amy would sing "My name is Amy, Amy, Amy. My name is Amy. My name starts with A." If the students in your class are particularly shy, or you don't want to single anyone out in your class, sing the song about different objects in the classroom instead. For example, hold up a stuffed giraffe animal and sing, "This is a giraffe, giraffe, giraffe. This is a giraffe. Giraffe starts with G."
Blindfold students or ask them to close their eyes and ask them to feel a wooden or foam letter that's been glued to foam board. Hold the letter so that it is facing in the correct direction and ask students to identify the letter based upon how it feels. If a student struggles to identify the letter, ask questions that will help him identify it. For example, ask if the letter feels like it is more round, or if it has a lot of sticks or points in the formation. Require the student to give the sound for the letter.
Help students form the letters of the alphabet correctly by letting them feel the way their mouths should say the word. Have students put their hands near their mouths and feel what happens when they say particular letters. For example, when the letter "H" is formed correctly students should feel a soft puff of air hit their hand. Other letters such as "T" should create a quick puff of air. If students struggle with how much air should be escaping their mouths with each letter formation, let them feel how the air feels coming from your mouth.