Zoo-Phonics is a system for learning letter sounds. The program combines animals, songs and games to teach children the individual letter sounds. Each letter is given a sound, animal name and animal movement. This gives the child several different clues for remembering the letter and its sound. Zoo-Phonics is used in many preschools and kindergarten classrooms across the United States. An at-home system is also available for parents.
Teaching letter sounds can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it. One of the best ways, according to Ideal Curriculum, is to simply teach each letter sounds individually. Start one day with A, and advance to B the next day. Once your child knows the letter sound of the day, review the previous days' sounds. Continue to review all the letter sounds as frequently as needed. Do not spend more than 10 minutes per day on the new letter, however. If your child cannot grasp it in that time, teach it again another day.
Place three different items that begin with the same letter sound in a paper bag. Put the bag on the floor in front of your child, and pull out each item one at a time. Have the child tell you what the item is, and have him make the beginning letter sound. Ask if he knows what letter makes that sound. If he does not, make the letter sound again, then tell him which letter it stands for. Play the game often with a variety of different letters, and your child will quickly begin to learn the letter sounds.
Draw a picture of a home or other object with several parts on a dry erase or chalk board. Ask your child to erase something from the picture that starts with a certain letter. For example, if you drew a house and noted the letter R, the child could erase the roof. Then you take a turn, and the child tells you to erase something that starts with a specific letter. Continue playing the game until you run out of items. If you are given a letter that does not fit with the picture, go over each separate part, asking your child if that item fits the letter. Make sure you reinforce the letter sounds by identifying what you erased and making the letter sound.