Dear Family: We are now ready for you to be your child's Coach. If your child had Fundations® in Kindergarten, Unit 1 is mostly review and will go quickly. If your child did not have Fundations in Kindergarten, do not become discouraged with the pace of the progress. It may appear to be slow moving, but it is laying the necessary foundations for your child to be a fluent, independent reader. During the next few weeks, I will be reviewing: * The sequence of the alphabet. * Letter formation from a to z. +The letter name, a keyword and sound for the consonants: bedfghjkimnpqrstvwxyz * The letter name, a keyword and sound for the short vowels: aeiou The keyword is a specific word which we will use to help your child master each sound. Notice the letter y is not included as a vowel. ‘This comes later. If y begins a word it is considered a consonant and for now, it will only begin words. Please work with your child to reinforce the above concepts. See the attached activity suggestions in order to do this. Ifyou have any questions, please write them down and I shall get back to you. WE ARE OFF! Sincerely, FUNDATIONS® LEVEL 4 HOME SUPPORT PACK PACES 06,21 ML TiC, AIR er Pein tty oatGS) evi he Soqunce ofthe pate ‘Your child needs to be able to say or sing the alphabet from A to Z. Sing or say the alphabet whenever you can — in the car, bath time, bedtime, ete. Make sure your child is aware of each letter! So often “Imnop” is lumped together and the child does not separate them. Ifyou have magnetized plastic letters, have your child place them on your refrigerator in sequence as he or she says the letter name. ABCDEFGHIJKLM NOPQRSTUVWXYZ You will find the suggested books listed below helpful at this time, They should be available at your local library. Te A:B-Cing: An Action Alphabet Alligators All Around: An Alphabet Alphabears City Seen From A to Z Dr. Seuss's ABC (2nd edition) ‘The Guinea Pig ABC Zoophabets ‘The Z Was Zapped Hasue, K. Isactora, R. Seuss, Dr. Duke, K. Tallon, R. @ WEEK 1 Following this page, you will find the alphabet order squares. Have your child lightly color the vowels (a e i 0 u) orange. Keep one of the groups of squares uncut to use as the base and cut the second group into individual squares. Have your child place the letters onto the matching letters on the uncut squares. Make sure your child says the name of the letter as itis placed. Keep these letters ina baggee to do this again and for other activities. Ifyou enjoy crafts, you could make a place mat and decorate it with one of the letter squares. Have your child place the cut letters on the place mat while waiting for supper. Publisher / Dato Crown: 1984 Harper Trophy; 1990 Henry Holt & Co.; 1984 Greenwillow; 1983 Random House; 1991 Dutton; 1983 Scholastic; 1979 ‘Van Allsburg C. Houghton Miffin; 1987 2 tn agin ig Capen eel Pei phy aedName: Fundations® Alphabet Order Squares Dawe: a b d g h —_ m n Pp qu t u Vv WwW x ay Z Have your child lightly color the vowels (a € i 0 t) orange. Keep this group of squares uncut to ‘use as the base. Have your child place the cut letters (from below) onto the matching letters on the ‘uncut squares. Make sure your child says the name of the letter as it is placed. Have your child lightly color the vowels (a ¢ { 0 u) orange. Cut this group into individual squares. Keep these letters in a baggie to do this again andl for other activities.& Review Letter Formations With Your Child For the next three weeks, your child will practice writing the letters in lower-case. Encourage correct pencil grip Be sure your child has the pencil between the index finger and the thumb and then rests it on the other fingers. Right Hand Pencil Grip _ Left Hand Pencil Grip, — When your child writes, both elbows should be on the table and feet should be on the floor, if possible. You can use an old box under the table if the table is too high. Also, have your child hold the paper with the non-writing hand. Practice the letter formations You can practice the letter formations at home just like we are practicing them in school. See the attached writing paper with pictures. We call this our Writing Grid. The pictures indicate the names of the lines: the sky line, plane line, grass line and worm line. Say the verbal step-by-step guidelines while your child makes each letter. ‘As your child writes the letter, guide him or her by reading the directions on the enclosed Letter Formation Guide. Practice some letters each night, as indicated below. Have your child write each of these letters five times on the Writing Grid. Each time, be sure that you read the step-by-step directions to guide the correct letter formation. @ WEEKS 1-3Name: pate: @) Fundations® Letter Formation XD ex — FFUNDATIONS' LEVEL 4 HOME SUPPORT PACK PACE 1m, 2:2 ug Ts Copn MR em, Fen ase aeName: Fundations® Letter Formation Fm es FUNDATIONG® LEVEL 4 MOME SUPPORT PACK PAGE 19 HU2 2 ML epee Mee Pa ohsame eee @) Fundations® Letter Formation Fin << ——__—_— —_ FUNDATIONS® LEVEL 1 HOME SUPPORT PACK PAGE 11 GLE. Wan aC MR a, Peisin ean ekNames Date @) Fundations® Letter Formation FUNOATIONS® LEVEL 1 HOME SUPPORT PACK EGE 42 NEE Vntayunge ing Cavin Agena PembaName: Date @) Fundations® Letter Formation [UNDATIONS' LEVEL 1 HOME SUPPORT PACK PAGE-13 Ga, on Lara aCe. BF enn. amin pspName: Date @) Fundations® Letter Formation ee ea eg ct oe ce ‘ma oe FUNDRTIONS® LEVEL 1 HOME SUPPORT PACK PAGE 44 i 202 Vota Taig Cort AIR Furia poy tedFundations® Letter Formation G Use the following verbalization fo direct students in proper etter formation. Letter Formation for @ @ is a plane line round letter. It starts on the (plane line). Letter Formation for¢ ¢ isa plane line round letter. It starts on the (piane line). Point to the plane line. Go back on the plane line then down and around on the grass I and up to the plane line. Trace back down to the grass Ii Say a-apple -/3/, have students repeat. Letter Formation forb bis a sky line letter, It starts on the (sky line) Point to the plane line, Startto fly backwards, ‘and go down and around to the grass line. Say ¢-cat- IW, have students repeat. Letter Formation ford dis a plane line round letter. It starts on the (piane line) just like ac, Point to the sky line. 2 Go down to the grass line. ‘Trace up to the plane line, and around to the grass line, Say b - bat Ib, have students repeat. Point tothe plane line Go back, down and around tothe grass line, all the way back up tothe shy line. Trace back dow to the grass line, Say d - dog -/dl, have students repeat.Fundations® Letter Formation Gi Use the following verbalizaion fo direct students in proper letter formation. Letter Formation for: is a plane line round letter, but itis special. € starts below the plane line. 2 Point between the plane line and the grass line. Fly under the plane line. Then go up to the plane tin ‘and around to the grass line. Say @ ~ Ed -/6), have students repeat. Letter Formation for f fis a sky line letter. It starts on the (skyline). Point tothe sky ine, Trace back on the skyline, land then way down tothe grass line, ‘cross iton the plane line. Say f -fun fl, have students repeat. Letter Formation for g ai It starts on the (plane line) just lke ac. a plane line round letter. Point to the plane line. Trace back on the plane line, down and around all the way back to the plane line Trace back down all the way to the worm line and make a curve. Say g - game -/g/, have students repeat. Letter Formation forh his a shy line letter. It starts on the (skyline). Point tothe sky line. Go down tothe grass line. ‘race back up to the plane line, and make a hump. ‘Say h -hat - hi, have students repeat, (212 i agai Capon, AR Reed Reisen hy teFundations® Letter Formation Guide Use the following verbalization to direct students in proper etter formation. Letter Formation for | {is a plane line letter. It starts on the (plane ine), “Point to the plane line, Go down to the grass line. Adda dot Say I-Itch -1V, have students repeat, Letter Formation for J jis a plane line letter. It starts on the (plane line). Point tothe plane fine. Go all the way down to the worm line, and make a curve, Add a dot. Say | -Jug - i, have students repeat. Letter Formation for k kis. a sky ling letter. ‘starts on the (skyline). Point tothe sky line. Go all the way down to the grass, Point tothe plane line and leave a space. Slide over and touch your tll line, and slide back to the grass line. Say k- kite - ki, have students repeat. Letter Formation for! {is a sky line letter. It starts on the (shy line). Point tothe sky line, Go down to the grass line and stop. Say 1~| smp - IV, have students repeat. Lance AR Ran Parent adFundations® Letter Formation Guide Letter Formation for M mis a plane line letter. Itstarts on the (plane line). Seen: Letter Formation for N a a plane tine letter. It starts on the (piane tine). Er Point tothe plane tin. Go down to the grass tne Trace back up to the plane tine, ‘and make a hump, land then back up to the plane line and make another hump. 5. Say m - man - Imi, have students repeat. Point tothe plano line. Go down tothe grass line. Trace back up tothe plane line, and make @ hump. Say n «nut - ni, have students repeat. Letter Formation for 0 0 isa plane line round letter. It starts on the (piane line) just like ac, Point to the plane line. Trace back, then down to the grass li and around back up to the plane line. Say 0- octopus -/6, have students repeat. (am, 212 he Leg Ta Cope, Re Femon onany NeFundations® Letter Formation Gui Use the following verbalizaton to direct students in proper etter formation. Letter Formation for P isa plane line letter, It starts on the (piane line}. Letter Formation for q is a plane line round letter. Htstarts on the (plane line). Remember that q is the buddy lettor so in the ‘end it wants to point up to its “buddy, Point to the plane line, Go down to the worm line. Trace back up to the plane line, ‘and curve all the way around to the grass line. Say p - pan - ipl, have students repeat. Point to the plane tine. Trace back and go down to the grass line around, back to the plane line. Trace back down to the worm line, and point up to his “buddy,” u. Say qu - queen - /kw/, have students repeat. Letter Formation for ‘ris a plane line letter. It starts on the (plane line). Point to the plane fine Go down to the grass line. Trace back up to the plane line, ‘and make a litte curve. Say r-rat I, have students repeat. 27 202 aon ar Ting Cano Med Pee ety oneFundations® Letter Formation Guide Use the following verbalization to rect students in proper letter formation. Letter Formation for $ ‘sis a plano line round letter. It starts on the (plane line) just ti Point to the plane line. Trace back and it curves in, and goes back again and lands on the grass line. Say s - snake -/s|, have students repeat. Letter Formation for t tis ashy line lettor. It starts on the (sky line) Point to the sky line. Go down to the grass line. Gross iton the plane line. Say t- top -/t, have students repeat. FUNDATIONS® LEVEL 4 HOME SUP RT PACK PACE 20 Letter Formation for U is a plane line letter. It starts on the (piane line). Point to the plane it Go down to the grass line. Curve up to the plane line, and trace straight down to the grass line. ‘Say u-up ~ dl, have students repeat. Letter Formation for V vis @ plane line slide letter. It starts on the (piane line) and (slides). Point to the plane line, Slide down to the grass line. ‘Slide up to the plane line. Say v- van -/vl, have students repeat. ‘2 22 a Tai Cope, A Pd Fen hey edFundations® Letter Formation Gi Use the following verbalization to direct students {in proper letor fommation. Letter Formation for W ‘wis a plane line slide letter. It starts on the (plane ne) and (slides), Letter Formation for Y y is a plane line slide lettor. Itstarts on the (plane ine) and (sides). ih Yai, Ue Vv ww Point tothe plane lin. Slide down tothe grass line Slide up tothe plane tine. Slide down tothe grass lin. Slide up tothe plane line. 5. Say w— wind - fw, have students repeat Letter Formation for X x is plane line slide lettor. It starts on the (plane line) and (sides) Point to the plane line. Slide down to the grass line. Pick up your pencil (finger) and leave a space ‘and point to the plane line. Slide back -all the way to the worm lr Say y -yellow - iy, have students repeat. Letter Formation forZ zis a plane line slide letter, but it doesn't slide Fight away. Where does it start? (On the piane line). Before it slides, the z goes on the plane line. Point tothe plane tine, Slide down tothe grass line. Leave a space and point to the plane tne. Slide back tothe grass line. Say x- fox ks have students repeat. Point tothe plane line. Go on the plane line. Slide back to the grass line, ‘Thon go on the grass line. ‘Say 2-z0bra -2l,have students repeat. (21 en gg Tig Copcn. AR, Pein pp se