Part One: Getting Ready to Read
Unit 1: Phonological Awareness and Prewriting
Children begin by tuning their ears to the sounds around them. Through listening games, sound discrimination, and sequencing activities, learners develop the auditory foundation that underlies all reading. Prewriting lessons focus on grip and the basic strokes that form every letter.

Overview


Main ConceptActivitiesFine Motor
1Listening for SoundsNotice and imitate environmental sounds (clapping, animal noises, everyday sounds).Tripod Grip and Vertical Surfaces 
2Same or Different?Identify if two sounds (or words) are the same or different.Horizontal and Vertical Lines
3Listening for the “Wrong” SoundPurposefully change a word in a familiar rhyme or song (e.g., “Twinkle, twinkle, little hat” instead of “star”) and see if they notice!Circle
4Following DirectionsPlay a game where children act based on the soundCross +
5Sequencing Sounds IIdentify which sound came first and which came last in a short sequenceSquare
6Sequencing Sounds IIIdentify which sound came first, next, and last in a simple sequence. Diagonals and X
7Word AwarenessClap or tap once for each word in a short-spoken sentence Triangles


Frequently Asked QuestionsIs my child ready for Unit One?
  • Your child is ready to start unit one if they...
    • Are able to have back and forth conversations with you
    • Understand how to play simple games 
  • If your child is younger than four
    • Expect to do the activities multiple times and do not expect mastery
    • They might not be ready for the fine motor activities. Leave those out until they are ready for them.
Can my child skip Unit One?
  • If your child is four or older, ask yourself the following questions.
    • Can they follow two-step directions? (turn around, then hop)
    • Do they notice if a word is wrong in their favorite songs?
    • Can they answer first, next, and last questions?
    • Can they count the number of words in a simple sentence? (I like cats = 4 words)
Does my child need to do prewriting?
If the prewriting doesn’t work for your child or your child isn’t ready for it, do NOT do the fine motor activities. 

To know if your child is past the prewriting stage that Unit One goes over, evaluate if your child can make the marks on the following page

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