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Phonemic Awareness is the ability to recognize, manipulate and work with individual sounds. For example, in the word “car” a child with phonemic awareness can identify three phonemes c/a/r, car.

1. Sound Sorting Game

Activity: Provide students with picture cards representing objects (e.g., cat, sun, dog). Have them sort the pictures based on their beginning sounds. For example, all words that start with /s/ go in one group, while words that start with /d/ go in another.

Differentiation:

- For students with speech delays: Use real objects instead of pictures to provide tactile reinforcement. Allow them to point instead of verbalizing.

- For English Learners: Pair visuals with spoken words and provide explicit modeling of sounds.

- For students with auditory processing challenges: Use exaggerated articulation and multisensory cues (e.g., tapping out sounds).

2. Phoneme Blending with Movement

Activity: Say the individual sounds of a word (e.g., /b/ - /a/ - /t/) and have students blend them together to say bat. To make it interactive, assign each sound a movement (e.g., clap for /b/, stomp for /a/, jump for /t/), reinforcing phoneme blending through kinesthetic learning.

Differentiation:

- For students with mobility challenges: Use hand gestures or finger tapping instead of full-body movements.

- For students with attention difficulties: Keep the activity short and engaging, incorporating visual cues like color-coded cards.

- For students with hearing impairments: Pair sounds with visual representations (e.g., mouth movements, ASL signs).

At-Home Activity: Sound Scavenger Hunt

This activity strengthens phonemic awareness by helping children isolate and recognize initial sounds in words. For children with exceptionalities, parents can provide visual or tactile cues (e.g., picture cards or textured objects) to reinforce sound associations, ensuring accessibility for diverse learners.

Website Resource: Reading Rockets

Reading Rockets offers a comprehensive guide on phonemic awareness for Pre-K learners, including activities, videos, and parent-friendly strategies to support early literacy development. The website provides research-based insights and practical tools to help families foster phonemic awareness at home. For children with exceptionalities, it includes adaptable strategies such as multisensory approaches and structured phonemic exercises to ensure inclusive learning experiences.

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Phonics is a method of teaching reading that focuses on the relationship between letters and sounds in an alphabetic writing system. Blending to combine individual sounds to form words. 

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Phonics is a method of teaching reading that focuses on the relationship between letters and sounds in an alphabetic writing system. Blending to combine individual sounds to form words. 

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1. Letter Sound Hopscotch

Activity: Create a hopscotch grid with letters or simple CVC words. As children jump on each square, they say the letter sound or blend the sounds together to form the word. This builds phonemic awareness and letter-sound correspondence in a playful, active way.

Differentiation Strategies:

- For students with mobility challenges: Modify by using large floor cards or a tabletop version where students point instead of jumping.

- For students who need additional phonics support: Provide picture cues alongside letters to reinforce sound associations.

- For English Learners (ELs): Incorporate familiar objects from their cultural backgrounds to make letter-sound connections more meaningful.

2. Sound Scavenger Hunt

Activity: Give students a letter sound (e.g., "S") and have them hunt around the classroom for objects that begin with that sound (e.g., sock, scissors, sun picture). This strengthens phonics skills through real-world connections.

Differentiation Strategies:

- For students with visual impairments: Use tactile objects or sound-based clues where students listen for initial letter sounds instead of visually identifying items.

- For students with executive function challenges: Provide structured choices with a small set of objects to focus attention.

- For students needing a challenge: Expand to rhyming words or multisyllabic words related to the targeted sound.

At-Home Activity: Alphabet Sound Hunt

This activity builds phonics skills by reinforcing letter-sound associations in a playful, hands-on way. For children with exceptionalities, parents can provide tactile letters (e.g., foam or textured cards) or use songs to reinforce sounds, ensuring accessibility for diverse learners.

Website Resource: Learn to Read

Starfall offers interactive phonics-based games, stories, and activities designed to support early literacy development in Pre-K learners. The website provides engaging, research-based phonics instruction through multisensory activities. For children with exceptionalities, Starfall includes auditory support, visual cues, and interactive elements that accommodate different learning needs, making phonics accessible for all learners.

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Vocabulary refers to the collection of words that a person knows, understands and uses in communication. A strong vocabulary is essential for reading comprehension, communication and overall literacy development.

1. Picture Word Play

Activity: Present students with a set of themed pictures (e.g., farm animals, weather, transportation). As they explore each image, guide them in naming the object, describing its features, and associating it with a simple sentence (e.g., "The cow says moo"). This activity reinforces vocabulary development in a playful, interactive way.

Differentiation Strategies:

- For students with speech delays: Offer AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) tools, such as picture cards or voice output devices, to allow participation.

- For English Learners (ELs): Incorporate familiar objects from their home language and provide translations alongside new words.

- For students with advanced vocabulary skills: Challenge them to create compound sentences or share additional facts about the objects.

2. Sensory Storytelling

Activity: Choose a simple story and enhance it with tactile objects related to key vocabulary words (e.g., cotton balls for "cloud," sandpaper for "rough"). As you read, invite students to touch, feel, and describe the objects, reinforcing vocabulary through multisensory engagement.

Differentiation Strategies:

- For students with sensory sensitivities: Offer alternative textures or allow students to engage through verbal description instead of physical touch.

- For students with mobility challenges: Ensure objects are easily accessible at table level or use digital alternatives, such as interactive storytelling apps.

- For students who need extra support: Pre-teach key vocabulary with visuals before the storytelling activity to increase comprehension.

At-Home Activity: Word Treasure Hunt

This activity builds vocabulary by encouraging children to connect words with real-world objects and descriptions. For children with exceptionalities, parents can provide tactile objects or visual supports to reinforce word meanings, ensuring accessibility for diverse learners.

Website Resource: Reading Rockets - Vocabulary Activities

Reading Rockets offers research-based strategies and engaging activities to help families support vocabulary development in Pre-K learners. The website provides practical, evidence-based approaches to expanding children's vocabulary through conversations, read-alouds, and interactive experiences. For children with exceptionalities, it includes adaptable strategies such as multisensory learning and structured word exposure to ensure inclusive language development.

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Fluency refers to the ability to read, speak, or write smoothly, accurately, and with appropriate expression. Fluent readers can focus on understanding the text rather than decoding individual words. 

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Fluency refers to the ability to read, speak, or write smoothly, accurately, and with appropriate expression. Fluent readers can focus on understanding the text rather than decoding individual words. 

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1. Echo Reading with Puppets

Activity: The teacher reads a short, rhythmic sentence or phrase aloud, and students echo it back. To make the activity more engaging, students can use puppets to "speak" as they echo, emphasizing expression and pacing.

Differentiation Strategies:

- For students with speech delays: Encourage them to use gestures or simple word approximations, allowing flexibility in participation.

- For students who are shy or reluctant speakers: Allow them to use their puppet as a "voice," reducing pressure and promoting confidence.

- For English Learners (ELs): Incorporate visual cues and real-life objects to reinforce meaning and fluency.

2. Nursery Rhyme Chants with Movement

Activity: Select familiar nursery rhymes and have students chant or sing them together, paired with corresponding actions or movements (e.g., clapping, stomping, or hand gestures). The rhythmic nature of nursery rhymes promotes fluency naturally.

Differentiation Strategies:

- For students with mobility challenges: Modify movements to seated gestures or use finger-play versions of the rhymes.

- For students who benefit from sensory input: Incorporate tactile props like rhythm sticks or textured objects to enhance engagement.

- For students needing additional language support: Use picture cards or ASL signs alongside the lyrics to build fluency and comprehension.

At-Home Activity: Echo Reading with Songs

This activity helps young learners develop fluency by reinforcing pacing, intonation, and word recognition in a fun, low-pressure way. For children with exceptionalities, parents can provide visual cues, gestures, or recorded versions of the phrases to support participation and comprehension.

Website Resource: Fluency for Pre-K - NC DPI

This website provides research-based strategies for developing fluency in Pre-K learners, including read-aloud techniques, expressive reading tips, and interactive activities. The site offers practical guidance for families to model fluent reading and engage children in literacy-rich experiences. For children with exceptionalities, it includes adaptable strategies such as multisensory approaches and structured fluency exercises to ensure inclusive learning opportunities.

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Comprehension is the ability to understand and grasp the meaning of something. In literacy, it refers to a readers ability to process text, make sense of it, and connect it to prior knowledge. 

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Comprehension is the ability to understand and grasp the meaning of something. In literacy, it refers to a readers ability to process text, make sense of it, and connect it to prior knowledge. 

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1. Picture Walk Storytelling

Activity: Before reading a book, guide students through a “picture walk,” where they examine illustrations and make predictions about the story. As you read, pause to ask questions that encourage students to make connections and recall details.

Differentiation Strategies:

- For students with language delays: Use simple sentence frames (e.g., "I see a…" or "I think…") to scaffold responses.

- For English Learners (ELs): Provide bilingual versions of the book or incorporate familiar cultural references to enhance comprehension.

- For students needing a challenge: Encourage them to infer what happens beyond the story’s ending or relate events to their own experiences.

2. Act-It-Out Story Play

Activity: After reading a short story, students take turns acting out key events using simple props. This reinforces understanding by allowing them to physically engage with the story structure and sequencing.

Differentiation Strategies:

- For students with mobility challenges: Offer alternative participation options, such as puppet play or digital storytelling tools.

- For students with social anxiety: Allow small-group or one-on-one reenactments instead of performing in front of the class.

- For students who need extra support: Provide visual storyboards to help them follow the sequence of events while acting.

At-Home Activity: Story Retelling with Props

This activity strengthens comprehension by encouraging children to recall story elements and express understanding through play. For children with exceptionalities, parents can offer visual storyboards, simplified text, or guided prompts to support participation, ensuring accessibility for diverse learners.

Website Resource: Reading A-Z - Pre-K

Reading A-Z provides structured literacy resources for Pre-K learners, including leveled books, comprehension activities, and interactive read-aloud strategies. The website offers research-based tools to help families foster comprehension skills through engaging, developmentally appropriate activities. For children with exceptionalities, it includes differentiated resources such as visual supports, audio narration, and scaffolded comprehension exercises to ensure inclusive learning experiences.

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Learning A-Z. (n.d.). Reading A-Z - Pre-K. Retrieved June 2, 2025, from [https://www.readinga-z.com/pre-k/](https://www.readinga-z.com/pre-k/)

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. (n.d.). Fluency for Pre-K. Retrieved June 2, 2025, from [https://www.dpi.nc.gov/students-families/parents-corner/literacy-home-digital-childrens-reading-initiative/pre-kindergarten/fluency-pre-k](https://www.dpi.nc.gov/students-families/parents-corner/literacy-home-digital-childrens-reading-initiative/pre-kindergarten/fluency-pre-k)

Reading Rockets. (n.d.). Phonological and phonemic awareness for pre-kindergarten children. Retrieved June 2, 2025, from [https://www.readingrockets.org/literacy-home/reading-101-guide-parents/your-pre-kindergarten-child/phonological-and-phonemic](https://www.readingrockets.org/literacy-home/reading-101-guide-parents/your-pre-kindergarten-child/phonological-and-phonemic)

Reading Rockets. (n.d.). Vocabulary activities for pre-kindergarten children. Retrieved June 2, 2025, from [https://www.readingrockets.org/literacy-home/reading-101-guide-parents/your-pre-kindergarten-child/vocabulary-activities](https://www.readingrockets.org/literacy-home/reading-101-guide-parents/your-pre-kindergarten-child/vocabulary-activities)

Starfall Education Foundation. (n.d.). Learn to read – Classic Starfall. Retrieved June 2, 2025, from [https://www.starfall.com/h/ltr-classic/](https://www.starfall.com/h/ltr-classic/)