This fall, our kindergarten classrooms on the Mountain Academy Jackson Campus have been buzzing with excitement as our youngest learners dive into the world of literacy! Each day, students eagerly explore letters—their shapes, their sounds, and how they come together to form words. Some of our kindergartners are already reading and writing with growing confidence, while others are building a strong foundation by recognizing and naming letters and sounds. Regardless of where they are on their literacy journey, all our students share the same goal: they want to be able to read their favorite books. Families can nurture this enthusiasm at home by practicing letters together, pointing out familiar words in everyday life, and celebrating each new skill as it develops.
To keep the learning going at home, here are our Top 5 Fun and Easy Ways to Practice Letters with your child:
1. The Wiggle Worm Game
What You’ll Need: A jar, small pieces of paper with letters written on them, and 10 slips with pictures of worms.
How to Play: Mix the papers in the jar. Players take turns pulling one slip at a time. If they draw a letter, they say its name and sound. If they draw a wiggle worm, everyone wiggles and dances—until the gamekeeper calls, “Oh no! A bird is coming!” Then everyone must freeze to stay safe. Those who move are “caught” and sit out. The laughter and learning are endless!
2. ABC Sound Scavenger Hunt
Write each letter of the alphabet on a sticky note and place them in alphabetical order on the floor. Then, search around the house for items that begin with each letter sound. Place each object next to its matching letter. It’s an adventure in phonics that turns your home into a literacy playground!
3. Write and Draw
Pick a letter, write it at the top of your page, and challenge your child to draw as many things as they can that begin with that sound. This creative activity blends art, writing, and phonics—perfect for visual learners.
4. KABOOM!
Materials: Popsicle sticks with letters written on one side, and a few labeled “KABOOM!”
How to Play: Players take turns choosing a stick. If they can correctly name the letter and sound, they keep it. If they draw a “KABOOM!”—uh-oh!—they have to put all their sticks back. The player with the most sticks at the end wins. It’s fast-paced fun that builds quick recall!
5. ABC Yoga
Can you make the letter “A” with your arms? What about “S” with your body? Stretch, twist, and balance your way through the alphabet! This active learning game simultaneously builds body awareness and letter recognition.
At Mountain Academy, we believe that learning should be joyful, hands-on, and filled with wonder. Our kindergarteners are off to an incredible start on their reading journeys—and we can’t wait to see where their love of learning takes them next.
