1. Listening is such an important skill for our early learners.

Moo, Where Are You?

This is a fun game to play and settles everyone right down. Have students either lay on their backs with their eyes closed, or put their heads down on their desks or tables so they can’t see. One student is chosen to move to a separate place in the classroom and make a “mooing” sound. Other students should name the mooing student and state the location in the classroom.

Sounds in the hall 

Have everyone put their heads down and listen for sounds in the hallway. Open your classroom door and be surprised at how the voices from other classrooms carry!

2. Counting syllables is an early phonological skill.

Bippity, Boppity Bumblebee

You may have a little stuffed bumble bee that could be handed or tossed to different children in your classroom. On receiving the bumblebee, others chant Bippity, Boppity Bumblebee…tell me what you name should be! Student then claps, snaps or whispers their name in syllables.

3. Rhyming is fundamental.

Read many rhyming books and listen for the rhyming words.

As the children pick up on the pattern of the story, have them predict what the rhyming words will be.

Play “Thumbs UP and Thumbs Down”

Go through a list of words and have your students decide if the two words rhyme or not. Be sure to add words that mean the same rather than rhyme, just to make them think harder!

Here are some great rhyming books suggested by Scholastic:

                        “I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More,” by Karen Beaumont

                        “Rhyming Dust Bunnies,” by Jan Thomas

                        “Frog on a Log?” by Jim Field

4. Onset/Rhyme

Try these well known songs 

The children will be required to change the onset of the words in the song that begin with consonants to a chosen letter sound (perhaps the sound of the day).           

Willaby Wallaby Woo – Sharon, Lois and Brahm style!

       Bappy Birthday Bo Bou