At Fun To Learn, we tailor lessons to each child so they can shine. In K1, listening, speaking, and vocabulary growth go hand‑in‑hand with phonemic awareness—the ability to hear and work with sounds in words. This week’s activity shows a K1 learner using initial sounds to recognise new vocabulary confidently.
What we practised
- Daily review of letter‑sound correspondences
- Listening for initial sounds (e.g., /m/ in monkey, /s/ in snake)
- Quick word recognition using sound‑to‑print
- Oral language: say the word, use it in a mini sentence
- Focus and turn‑taking through a tap/hammer game
Why phonemic awareness first
- It’s the strongest predictor of later reading success
- Prepares children for blending and segmenting in K2–K3
- Builds confidence: “I can figure it out by listening!”
Our routine (step‑by‑step)
- Sound warm‑up: 4–5 letter sounds with actions
- Hear it: teacher says two words; learner identifies the one with target initial sound
- Tap it: learner taps the matching card; teacher models mouth shape and sound
- Say it: child repeats and uses the word in a short spoken line
- Review it: quick shuffle and do it again for automaticity
- Celebrate: specific praise for listening, turn‑taking, and effort
Home practice tips (5–7 minutes)
- Sound hunt: “Can you find something that starts with /t/ at home?”
- Picture sort: group 6–8 pictures by initial sound
- Mouth‑shape mirror: watch lips and tongue while saying sounds
- Keep it joyful: short, frequent, and success‑focused
Placement matters
We begin with a Professional Assessment to place each child in the most suitable course and level. No trial classes—just accurate placement and clear goals.
Centres: Sheung Shui • Fanling • Tai Wo • Tai Po
Message us: “Assessment + child’s age/year + preferred centre.
