Language

Our integrated approach combines phonetics and ‘whole language’ skills. Children first become familiar with sounds, then symbols and then begin the transition to using spoken and written words.

Sandpaper Letters help children explore how words are a way of expressing sounds. A word can be broken down into its phonetic components. ‘Cat’, for instance starts with a ‘Kuh’ sound, has an ‘ahh’ sound in the middle, and concludes with a ‘tuh’! Once those individual sounds become familiar, the teacher introduces the Sandpaper Letters. A child can associate sounds, and the way these are expressed as letters: ‘C’, ‘A’, ‘T’. Sandpaper provides a tactile experience - by tracing letterforms by hand children can ‘touch’ sounds. A very imaginative way of learning about letters!