Ok, I'm at my wit's end here! Shane knows his letters by site, and will often point them out on shirts, signs, etc. Madison, on the other hand, doesn't know ANY of them by sight. She can sing the ABC song, but when you show her a letter she's either clueless or playing dumb. (It's hard to tell sometimes, she likes to let everyone do things for her) I'm trying to work with her separately, but Shane always wants to butt in. I try to distract him with something else, but he wants to "help" his sister. We did A, B, and C today, and went down to the fridge to find the letters magnets, but she'll pretty much forget within the hour. Their room is decorated in ABCs, she SHOULD know this stuff, but it seems to go in one ear and out the other. She'll remember for a little bit, then a day later she says "I don't know!!" I'm SO frustrated!! We've pretty much decided to homeschool, but if this is how it's going to be I don't know if I can do it! She has the attention span of a gnat, and Shane likes to take over, so it's a constant battle. Anyway, I needed to vent!! Anyone know any fun tricks to get her to recognize letters?

By Amecmom on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 05:59 pm:

Hugs, Crystal! Don't stress over it. Some kids are just ready faster than others - it doesn't make them any smarter - just ready.
I used to read a ton of ABC books to Randy. Especially sing-songy type books. We have a great DVD called, "Here Come the ABCs" by They Might Be Giants. Also, Leapfrog has a bunch of great ABC learning tools. I have a Word Whammer on the fridge. It has settings for the name of the letter, the sound or sounds the letter makes and eventually, the child can make three letter words.
Use games. Find her learning style. Does she learn by touch, by hearing by seeing or a combination? Use play-dough to have her make a letter a week. Focus on that letter all week - the way it looks - upper and lowercase, how it sounds, find it in words, have her make bean pictures of it - be creative!

Most importantly - don't stress over it. Just do fun things with letters - or leave it alone for now. She's still little yet!
Ame

By Kellyj on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 06:00 pm:

Lexie got the Leap Frog video called "The letter factory" just before she turned 2. She learned all of the letters and the sounds that they make so quickly.

By Trina~moderator on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 06:02 pm:

Crystal, they're turning 4 in June, right? As a mom and former preschool teacher I have to stress that all kids are different. I'd say Shane is early in learning his letters by sight and Madison is more in the normal range. My DS caught on very early and was reading in Kindergarten so when my DD wasn't doing the same I was worried. She just caught on a little later, but still within normal ranges. I know it's hard not to compare kids, especially with twins, but don't compare them. LOL! They are two separate individuals and are each going to learn at their own pace. In the mean time continue encouraging them but be careful not to make Maddie feel bad about not recognizing letters, etc.. Frig letters and foam bath letters are lots of fun. Hang up an alphabet chart at kid level in full view. Number, letter puzzles, books, etc. READ, READ, READ to them.

By Dawnk777 on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 06:30 pm:

Chicka-Chicka-Boom Boom

Skit skat skoodle doot
Flip Flop Flee
Everybody's running to the coconut tree

Mamas and Papas and uncles and aunts
hug their little dears and dust their pants.

It's an alphabet book that is so fun to read! I saw it on a tv show and had to run out and buy a copy.

A told B, and B told C.
I'll meet you at the top of the coconut tree.

and a little later

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
Will there be enough room
Here comes H up the coconut tree!

The lower case letters all pile on the coconut tree and the uppercase letters help them up when it falls, because they got too heavy!

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

By Dawnk777 on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 06:36 pm:

Reader Rabbit Playtime for Baby and Toddler

I can't remember if you would prefer they not use the computer, or not. Just offering this as an option. Are they still 2, or have they turned three already? This was more in the 2yo option.

By Mommmie on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 06:51 pm:

You're frustrated a 3-year-old doesn't know her letters yet?

By Debbie on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 07:48 pm:

{{{hugs}}} Ditto, Trina.

My oldest knew all his letters and the sounds they make by the time he was 4, and he was reading when he went into K.

Now, my youngest sounds a lot like Maddie. If he can get someone to do something for him, he will! He is very active and was never interested in learning letters, etc. At age 3, besides singing the ABC song, he didn't know any letters or the sounds they made. He is in K now, and has learned all the letters and the sounds they make. He was having a hard time putting the sounds together, so I got Hooked on Phonics. He loves it! The leasons are kind of musical(which he loves) I got it 2 weeks ago. We just do 15 minutes a day after school(he is only in 1/2 day k) and he has already started reading!

They have different Hooked on Phonics kits. I got the one for K and it was $55.00. I think they have one for Preschool. They are not as expensive as the big kits. Maybe something like this will help? Also, we have a preshool learning computer game that my ds really likes. It teachs letters.

I know with my youngest ds that it has to be fun, and he is a very visual/musical learner. Give him a song to sing to learn something, and he picks it up in no time. He also has a very short attention span and about 15-20 minutes is all he will do at one time. Now, he does love for me to read to him, so I do all the time.

Just give her time and try to make it as fun as possible. I know with my ds, at age 3, he didn't know any letters or their sounds. He just wasn't ready. But, now 1/2 way through K, he is starting to read!

By Crystal915 on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 08:05 pm:

Thanks everyone!! You guys made me feel better, I was starting to think I dropped the ball somewhere along the lines. Madison is my overactive child, she's unable to sit still, so trying to teach her things can be a PITB! They are going to be 4 in June, so I know they aren't "behind", but the Virgo in my wants them to be ahead of the game! We do read every night, usually a book for each letter of the alphabet, I bought a set when they were babies. Honestly, Mads couldn't be bothered with playing their VSmile, or her LeapPad. If it doesn't involve moving she can't stand it. I might have to try a "Twister" type game with the letters, she would probably get into that. Anyway, I love MV for talking me down off my parenting ledge!

By Hlgmom on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 08:30 pm:

My dd is 2 and has a leap frog fridge phoinics...she loves to play with it and knows all her letters by sight...however I would definetely not be worried if she did not know them till she was 4!
Iti s a really cool toy though- she is very active and will just stop by the fridge and play with it in spurts!
They sound like great little people well on their way! How nice to have a mom that is so involved!

By Tink on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 10:22 pm:

Crys, we know how much Bella and Mads are alike and B has all of a sudden come into her own with letters. Like you and Trina, I was worried when she wasn't keeping up with her siblings but she learned an alphabet/phonics song in preschool that has motions (sounds like Mads might be a kinesthetic learner) and it's made all the difference in the world. She can sound out words now and is more likely to point letters out in the real world (something she couldn't be bothered with before now). My point (it's taking me awhile to get there!) is that I think our girls are so busy being involved with the rest of the world that letters simply aren't important enough to them to focus on. Keep exposing her to them (books, magnets, conversations about them, writing them in sand or shaving cream) and she'll be picking it up incidentally and it will just click. BTW, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is my all-time favorite alphabet book and I think there's even a video out now, if you think she'd pay more attention to that. {{{Hugs}}} and, if you'd like, I'll have Bella sing her alphabet song to you when you call tonight!

By Marcia on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 11:13 pm:

I saw something cool on the news last night. There is a teacher in Halifax who has all of the kids sitting on exercise balls at their desks. It gives them the chance to move, and also helps them to concentrate. The marks in the room have gone up since he started this.
Since M likes to move so much, perhaps you could try some fun things like that. You could also make up games where you have letters on paper on the floor, and she has to jump to certain letters, throw balls at them, etc. She is so very young, so things really should just be fun.

That's the joy of homeschooling. At school your kids would both be expected to learn the way the teacher was teaching. At home you can really teach to them individually.

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 12:52 am:

When Emily was in preschool, they did a letter a week. They had a little song they sang, and added a little letter picture to an evergrowing "worm", since the song was about a hungry little worm eating his way through the alphabet. Then each week, their show and tell item had to go with the letter of the alphabet. (Emily, at 4, brought a duck for quack during the Q week! LOL!)

Worm booklet pic

Hungry Worm Alphabet Stuff

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 12:54 am:

Found the lyrics to the song:

The Learning Workshop, Inc
Lyrics for Hungry Worm

I'm a hungry little worm,
And if you'll come with me
I'll nibble through the alphabet
All the way from A-Z.

On A I'll eat an apple
So juicy round and red.
On B there's nothing better
Than butter on my bread.
On C I'll eat a cookie
With nuts and raisins too.
On D I'll eat a doughnut,
And I'll save the whole for you.

I'm a hungry little worm,
And if you'll come with me
I'll nibble through the alphabet
All the way from A-Z.

On E I'll eat an egg.
I think I'll take mine fried.
On F I'll eat some french fries
With catsup on the side.
On G I'll eat a grapefruit
As golden as the sun.
On H I'll eat a hotdog
Steaming on a bun.

I'm a hungry little worm,
And if you'll come with me
I'll nibble through the alphabet
All the way from A-Z.

On I I'll eat an icecream.
A double scoop will do.
On J I'll eat some jellybeans.
My favorite ones are blue.
On K I'll eat some kiwi.
I'll love each fuzzy bite.
On L I'll lick a lollypop
From morning until night.

I'm a hungry little worm,
And if you'll come with me
I'll nibble through the alphabet
All the way from A-Z.

On M a marshmellow.
The sticky taste is swell.
On N I'll eat a nut,
If I can crack the shell.
On O I'll eat an olive.
I like them green and small.
On P I'll eat a pizza.
It's my favorite food of all.

I'm a hungry little worm,
And if you'll come with me
I'll nibble through the alphabet
All the way from A-Z.

On Q I'll eat some quiche.
I'll save a slice for you.
On R I'll eat some raisins
A little box will do.
On S I'll eat spaghetti
With meatballs if you please.
On T I'll eat a taco,
Topped with shredded cheese.

I'm a hungry little worm,
And if you'll come with me
I'll nibble through the alphabet
All the way from A-Z.

On U I'll eat an upside-down cake,
While standing on my head.
On V I'll eat fresh vegetables
Sliced on a lettuce bed.
On W I'll eat a watermelon,
The whole thing by myself!
On X I'll eat a hot-cross bun
Fresh from the baker's shelf.

I'm a hungry little worm,
And if you'll come with me
I'll nibble through the alphabet
All the way from A-Z.

On Y I'll eat some yogurt.
I like the fruit on top.
On Z I'll eat some zoo crackers,
And then, of course, I'll stop.

I'm a hungry little worm,
And if you'll come with me
I'll nibble through the alphabet
All the way from A-Z.

Emily is 13. I still remember the melody!

By Unschoolmom on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 04:39 am:

Crystal, she just has more important things to learn and better things to do. ABC's are interesting for some kids but just aren't half as exciting as all the other stuff out there to explore for many others.

My 4 yr. old doesn't give a hoot about them either. Now, he can tell you the difference btween a tender engine and a tank engine and knows exactly what 'change the points' means in relation to train tracks, but ABC's are coming more slowly. And who can blame him? In his world, and likely the world of your daughter, ABC's just have little importance or relavence. When they DO become important (to them, not us), our kids will learn them. That's just how kids work.

By Kittycat_26 on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 07:38 am:

Crystal, you were making me worried. Timmy sounds just like Madison. Then to top it off, I actually pay for him to go to daycare where they are working on this stuff all the time. (alot of it is in play though)

I'm glad to hear that you nor I have missed the boat on teaching the kids their alphabet.

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 07:52 am:

I think I miss my kids being this little! LOL! I have no one to teach the alphabet too, anymore!

By Conni on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 08:03 am:

Crystal, blake will be 6 in Arpil and still doesnt recognize all his letters by sight. Apparently he is one of the slower ones in his class. Many of the kids are already reading in the bridge class he is in. I would never force my ds to learn the letters this yr like the teacher is insisting, because i want him to enjoy it and pick it up at his own pace next yr in K. I dont mind at all that he isnt reading like some of the other kids. lol It drives the teacher crazy i think! If he doesnt get it next yr, *then* I will begin to worry. rofl But he is almost there! I can tell. He is just now beginning to sit still more.

Its ok!! They learn more then you think through playing. Make and Alphabet memory card game. Make alphabet pictures with cheerios and glue, etc... Sooner or later she will get it.

As for Shane butting in. Wow, I never had that issue! lol You may have to devise a plan for some one on one with M. Thats too cute he does that.

Have FUN!!!! Dont let it get to you.

By Vicki on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 08:37 am:

I don't know how you are going about working on the letters with her, but I found with dd that she did much better when I would ask her which one is the A? instead of what is this letter. It gave her time to process it or something I guess. I would just have like 5 letters on the fridge and go over them a couple of times and then ask her which one is the A and see if she can point it out. Keep those 5 up there until she masters them and then add 2 or 3 more and work on all of them and then add a few more etc.

By Angellew on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 09:10 am:

Crys, boy, do I know how you feel!

My daughter is great when it comes to visuals! She knows all her letters and numbers! Does second grade flash cards! She's very good! And I owe it all the the Leap Frog videos - Letter Factory and Word Factory! They show them sometimes in daycare and they really work! But, on the other hand, my DD is not overly conversational, which makes me crazy!!! I hear kids in the supermarket, carrying on whole conversations with their parents, and mine... nothing! Don't get me wrong, she talks, but not to the extent I think she should!!! My daycare providers have told me it perfectly normal! They have a two year old now, who converses more than my DD... but another, who is 2 days older, who only has a vocabulary of three words!!!!! (I let out a sigh or relief on learning that... selfish me!!!)

But, I guess I have to follow my own advice about every child being on their own timetable! But, they all seem to come around! Maddie can probably do alot of things that her brother can't. Right? It's all in the kid! You're doing great! Try the videos!

By Reeciecup on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 09:47 am:

I think your idea for more active learning is the right way to go. First I wouldn't stress at all about a 3 1/2 year old not knowing her letters. But just to keep exposing her by way of games like twister using letters instead of colors or hopscotch with letters or numbers... things like that. There are also some great videos with rhyming and songs that help. Maybe videos where she can dance around to music.

By Conni on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 10:02 am:

Just an after thought. They only work on 1 letter per week at Blake's school. (well, they do alot of other things too count too 100 by 1's,5's,10's, weather, word families, 1000 worksheets, lol etc... But they focus on one main letter every week.

So, you could actually do one letter for 2 weeks or something like that. Easier to focus on one letter then several at one time. Just a thought.

By Crystal915 on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 11:04 am:

Thanks again, everyone!! I think when DH gets home from the field we'll concentrate on him having some Daddy time with Shane, and Maddie and I working on stuff her way. They definitely are 2 different people, Shane is a memory kid (much like I was), and Madison is a fantasy/activity kid. I know she'll enjoy active games that incorporate learning, so I'm going to give some of your suggestions a try. I guess the hard part for me is switching gears between their learning styles, especially since I am naturally more like Shane!

By Bellajoe on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 11:54 am:

Two words "Sesame Street"

That's how my kids learned their letters and numbers.

By Boxzgrl on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 12:41 pm:

I'm a Virgo right along with you. Kaitlyn know's her ABC's but half the time will skip some then we have to go back and correct her. When I make her go back, she says them just fine. I don't know if it's laziness or what? I'm sure i'll be right where you are when it's time for her to recognize them. The Virgo in us wins every time, huh?

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 06:31 pm:

When Sarah was in the 1 year old room at the daycare, she was barely speaking any words. There was a little boy named Jacob, who had an older brother and was FAR more verbal than Sarah and could also catch a ball better. I figured he was light-years ahead of her, since he had a brother and Sarah was my first-born. I couldn't wait until Sarah could speak in sentences. Her speech took off, after Emily was born, when she was 2-1/2.