Hi everyone! Well, the Teeny Tot is nearing the end of our Letter of the Week activities! This week we’re working on the Letter X, and then only two more letters to go!

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We’ll be having fun with Xylophones this week. And before any of you ask, yes I’m working on another variation for letter X because I realize that xylophone isn’t exactly the best pronunciation for the letter “X”.

Xx Tracing Card: These larger tracing letters are great for kiddos who aren’t quite ready for my regular pre-writing practice pages. Its larger and easier to trace. You could use markers, crayons, or laminate and use with Expo Dry Erase Markers.

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Letter X Memory Verse: “eXceeding great and precious promises are given unto us” 2 Peter 1:4 Click here to download the verse puzzle.

Letter Poking Page: We typically use a toothpick, or we also have these cute Oversized Push Pins, to poke holes through the paper in the shape of the letter. Print on regular paper for easier poking, and do this one on carpet :) Another idea would be to hole punch along the lines of the letter as well. Both work on motor skills!

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Read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and put up the letter X on our Alphabet Tree! You can download my small alphabet letters here. Since I don’t have our alphabet tree up yet, I’m putting in an old picture of TinkerBell doing this activity.

 

Song time:
Hide ‘Em in Your Heart Vol 1
Hide ‘Em In Your Heart Songs – Vol 2

Roll A Xylophone! I found this idea on Play 2 Learn Printables, and had to make one for my alphabet collection! The game is simple, cut out the pieces (they’re on pg2 not shown here). Roll the die and place the piece of the puzzle indicated by the number rolled. Its a fun way to practice number recognition skills! I like these fun Giant Soft Dice. (Below is a photo of TinkerBell doing it so you can get an idea of how it works.)

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You can also use the pieces as a size sorting game by having your student place the bars in the correct order smallest to largest.

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Letter X Shape Puzzles:Cut out each zylophone, then cut along dotted line to make shape matching puzzles.

 

X Color by number: We color this, paint it, or use markers. I found some that fit my 3 year old well, they’re called Pip-Squeaks Washable Markers. They’re shorter and easier for her to use. These pictured are chubby markers, they also make a skinny version. I got mine at Wal-mart.

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Letter X Scavenger hunt:Since not too many things start with the letter X, fill your box with things that have an X in them!

 

Size Sort:Put these in order small to big or big to small then discuss which is largest, smallest and medium.

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Numbers Practice:I laminate this and use with Expo Dry Erase Markers for pre-writing practice skills. You can also print this in grayscale and use for more scissor skills practice!
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Puzzle: Cut along the guides for a fun 6 piece beginner’s puzzle!

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Pattern Activity: Just use the pieces to practice pre-math pattern skills.

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Magnet Page: I use this with a cookie sheet and these pom-pom magnets I made from pom-poms and self-sticky magnets from the craft isle in Wal-mart. I also use these magnets from Amazon: Power Magnets, 0.75 inch Diameter, Assorted Colors
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Letter Matching: This is a fun letter matching activity, that practices both upper and lowercase letters recognition! If you’re looking for more challenge, use the uppercase card with the lowercase letter disks or visa versa! (The download includes upper and lowercase letter disks and activity cards) Click here to see the process of making the letters.

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(Please note, the original idea for this game came from Tot School and Carisa’s blog.)

Lacing Card:I make sure to laminate this one for durability, then punch with a hole punch every inch or so for lacing practice. Teach them patterns to do with this as well, like up from the bottom each time, or in-out-in-out sewing. Whatever pattern you can think of.

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X Do-A-Dot Worksheet: We usually use Do-a-Dot Art Markers with this, you can also use some circle stickers (the kind you use for garage sales) and put one sticker in each dot. It is a great variation and good for fine motor skills, patterning, and one-to-one correspondence!

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Cutting Practice:Simple print and let your child try cutting along the lines!

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Counting:I use these with either mini-clothes pins, colored paper clips, or put a hole in them and have her attach chain links to them. Whatever you use, just have them put on the correct amount for the number on the card. These are also good for putting in numerical order.

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Color Puzzles:I cut these little guys out then cut them in half in as many interesting ways as I could think of to make tiny color matching puzzles.

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11 x 11 Pin Geoboard: We use these to make letters, numbers, shapes etc!

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Finger Tracing Paint Bag: This is simple and fun, I filled a bag with tempura paint, you could also use cheap shaving cream. Then I’ll tape it to her desk for her to practice writing her letter on using her finger. You could also skip the bag and put shaving cream on your counter if you’re feeling brave ;o) After we do the letters we do numbers, shapes, and whatever else we can think of!

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Letter Collage Worksheets: The download includes letters A-Z as well as a collage idea sheet. We use these items as objects to decorate our letters for an alphabet book. Since we use both upper and lowercase, I have provided both for you! Click here to download the Letter Collages:

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Color Cubes: First we traced the letters with her finger, then normally we used our 1″ building blocks to make a pattern on the letter. Since we just moved and the color cubes are MIA, we used our pom-pom magnets.  Click here for more fun with Creative Color Cube Activity Cards

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Foam Letter Builders: I cut the shapes from foam and let her use them to make the letters. You could also use my Magnetic Letter Builders as well!

Letter Bead Lacing: I’ll put an index card in this box with the word ‘kite’ so she knows the order of the letters. I got my lacing beads from Lakeshore Learning but these look more fun to me: Bead Bazaar Lacing Kits – Alphabet Lacing Kit

Letter Hunt: I created some Letter Hunt worksheets that you can download.

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Kumon ABCs Uppercase Write & Wipe Flash Cards, they also have lowercase cards and Numbers.

Family Fun Night: Okay, I had to get creative to find a food that starts with X, so…that said, we’ll have Xiangjiao (Chinese for banana)! And a lovely reader reminded me that she made X’s for snacks using pretzels.

Have some fun Letter X Preschool Ideas to share? Make sure to leave a comment below!

So those are just some of what I managed to capture via photos this week, but you can click here to download all of the Letter X preschool activities, or check out my Letter of the Week preschool curriculum to get the entire alphabet all at once!LOTWBinder

Is my Letter of the Week Curriculum too easy for your student? If your student is ready to move on to Kindergarten, make sure to check out my K4 Kindergarten Curriculum!

K4Binder

4 Comments

  1. Hi Erica! I love your LOTW curriculum and am now using it for my daughter, my 2nd child, who asks to “do school” every day, even weekends, holidays, and holiday/summer breaks. Even my son, who went through this 2 years ago, and on his own school breaks works through your Daily Notebook and K4 materials, asks to do it too. You’ve helped me create little lovers of learning.

    I don’t remember seeing the Letter Search activities before! I’m trying to click on them and download them from your links above, but I’m getting an error. Is it on your side or mine? I have Adobe Reader XI and I’m trying to access it from IE.

    And a word of encouragement, I think what you did over the weekend to help the mom selling her curriculum was great. You have a big heart. Unfortunately you got quite a bit of undeserved backlash over your decision to give it to the person you did. This after all your FB issues of being banned for standing up for your copyright. Don’t be discouraged, please know all those haters are the minority, the vast majority of your followers are lovers of the Lord like you, seek to please Him in all our actions and want to most of all share His love with our children as you are. Unfortunately you are being targeted, not by man, but by a power that wants to shut that down. Know our God is even greater and you just need to keep serving Him using your amazing gifts the way you are. You showed your character by not being dragged in and responding the way you “rightfully” could have.

    Kim H
    1. Hi Kim,
      Once you click the link on my blog, you will be directed to 4shared. Click the small download button, then the one that says “free download”. Then you have to wait for the download clock. After that you’ll get a link that says “download now” where the countdown clock used to be.

      I’m so sorry they make it so confusing! It didn’t used to be like that, but unfortunately they’ve sold out to advertising so it’s difficult to know where to click.

      I’ll email you with screen shots as well, hope that helps!

      And thank you for your encouragement! I don’t always think about details when I post stuff on FB, I need to be more careful :o)

      erica
  2. Hi! We are doing your LOTW with my 3 1/2 year old daughter this year, yay! She is totally enjoying it, and even asks for “more school!” when we’re done! 🙂 I know X is such a tough letter to incorporate, but I thought I’d share that one of our favorite videos is Signing Time’s ABC dvd: http://www.signingtime.com/volume-5-abc-signs-dvd At the end, there’s an awesome “Lonely Letter X” song 🙂 Just thought I would share!!

    Janelle F.
  3. This message is for Kim H who posted earlier,

    Unfortunately, you too are being targeted by the enemy. Why? Simply because you are a human on this earth. What challenges have you faced this year on your job or at home? I am sure you can name some. Everyone, regardless of their faith, has challenges. This is why we need the Lord Jesus.

    I know your email was meant to encourage but I think it is unfair to single someone out and say they are being targeted when the truth is we all are, including you. Fortunately, we Christians, have Jesus to help us from anything that comes are way.

    Thanks for all you do Erica!!! This site (you) gave me the courage to say “I can homeschool”.
    Keep doing what you were called to do. You are blessing so many people.

    Tonya T.

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