Age 4+
Learn to read whole words
About this book My Second Reading Activity Book focuses on beginning, middle and final sounds in regular words. With the help of the Letterlanders, children will be able to work out which letters belong in each position in a word (spelling), and blend the sounds together into a whole word (reading). Letter sounds and alphabet names Letter sounds are much more useful than alphabet names at the early stages of learning to read, because alphabet names do not provide the sounds that letters usually make in words. Compare the letter sounds: ‘eh…’, ‘fff…’, ‘hhh…’, ‘lll…’ and ‘mmm…’ with alphabet names: ee, ef, aitch, el and em. These alphabet names, ‘em… ay… enn…’, for example, cannot be blended to make a word, but their sounds can: ‘mmm… a…nnn, man!’ Regular words If each letter in a word is making its ‘regular’ sound, then children can blend the sounds together to read the word. (For example ant, bug, cat and dog are regular words.) Most of the words on pages 1–17 of this book are regular words. Learning how they work is an important first reading skill. Irregular words It is also useful for children to be able to recognise a number of irregular words by sight, especially words that often appear in sentences, for example: the, this, she, her, of. You will find a selection of much used irregular words (or ‘tricky words’, as your child may like to call them) on pages 18-24 of this book. How to use this book Many of the activities in this book rely on knowing the a-z letter sounds. Here is the simple ‘Letterland Sounds Trick’ that your child can use to discover each letter’s sound: Just START to say any Letterlander’s name, and catch the very first sound that comes out of your mouth*. That sound is actually the sound that letter makes in words. For example: Bouncy Ben Eddy Elephant Firefighter Fred
‘b…’ (not ‘buh’ or ‘bee’) ‘eh…’ (not ‘ee’) ‘fff…’ (not ‘fuh’ or ‘ef’)
* It is important not to add ‘uh’ on to ends of sounds. This can cause children to read and spell words inaccurately, for example, saying ‘buh’ ‘tuh’ and expecting they can spell the word ‘butter’ with just bt.
The Letterland Alphabet Songs CD can provide a fun way to practice each letter’s sound accurately.
Words The Letterlanders love to make their sounds in words. u…
b…
hhh…
a…
t…
d…
Let sou ter nds
sss…
o…
g…
Here’s a special Letterland trick to help your child remember all the correct letter sounds. Just start to say a Letterlander’s name, then stop before you add ‘uh’! For example, Bouncy Ben’s sound is a quick ‘b…’ sound, not ‘bee’ or ‘buh’! Say it with your mouth almost shut.
1
Starting words Say the first sound in each Letterlander’s name.
Annie Apple
Bouncy Ben
Clever Cat
Whose sound starts each word? Write the letter. Read the word.
bu s
___
ed
___
___
2
List en
___
nt
up
___
___
at
pple
After saying the sounds at the top together, look at the pictures underneath. Can your child tell you the first sound he or she hears in the word ‘bus’? Which Letterlander makes that sound?
Say the first sound in each Letterlander’s name.
Dippy Duck
Eddy Elephant
Firefighter Fred
Golden Girl
Whose sound starts each word? Write the letter. Read the word.
___
List en
___
og
uck
___
___
gg
reen
___
___
ox
rog
When you have helped your child to finish the page, stop and let him or her have fun pretending to be a firefighter fighting fires with foam as you make Firefighter Fred’s ‘fff…’ sound.
3
Starting words Say the first sound in each Letterlander’s name.
Harry Hat Man
Impy Ink
Jumping Jim
Kicking King
Whose sound starts each word? Write the letter. Read the word.
___
4
Let sou ter nds
___
am
and
___
___
at
ing
___
___
ug
nsect
Ask your child if they remember the Letterland trick to discover any letter sound (see the inside front cover)? For ‘hhh...’, you pretend you are creating mist on a mirror. For ‘j...’, you keep your mouth almost shut, and for ‘k...’, you just whisper the sounds to avoid adding ‘uh’.