Are you looking for letter Jj activities to use with your preschooler or kindergartner? Maybe you’re a classroom teacher browsing for more ideas.
Research tells us that a direct, explicit approach to teaching the alphabet is more effective than indirect teaching. Enjoy the crafts, art ideas, and book list, but know that using a scripted routine like the one below is the most efficient way to teach letters and sounds. Make it your own!
How to introduce letter Jj
- Say words that begin with Jj: Say each word after me. (Emphasize the /j/ at the beginning of each word as you say it.) Jump. Jack. Jello. Jar. Jam. What sound do you hear at the beginning of each word? The sound is /j/.
- Talk about what your mouth is doing as you say the sound: Look at what my mouth is doing as I say /j/. Now you try. What are your teeth doing? Put your hand on your throat as you say /j/. Is it a quiet or noisy sound? (noisy)
- Introduce the letter on a flash card: (Hold up the letter J card in uppercase or lowercase.) This is the letter J. When we see this card, we say “J spells /j/.” Your turn. (Students: “J spells /j/.”)
How to practice writing uppercase letter J
- Sky-write the letter: To make the letter J, we start at the top, pull down, curve around, and go across the top. Watch me put my hand in the air and write a J in the sky. I start at the top, pull down, curve around, and go across the top. Now you try. Put your finger up in the air. Start at the top. Pull down, curve around, and go across the top.
- Have students finger-write the letter: Make a J by moving your finger on the table. Start at the top, pull down, curve around, and go across the top. (Other options: sand or salt tray, shaving cream, etc.) Now do the same thing while saying “J spells /j/.” Remember to underline the J when you say /j/. (Practice multiple times.)
How to practice writing lowercase letter j
- Sky-write the letter: To make the letter j, we start in the middle, pull down, curve around, and give it a dot. Watch me put my hand in the air and write a j in the sky. I start in the middle, pull down, curve around, and give it a dot. Now you try. Put your finger up in the air. Start in the middle, pull down, curve around, and give it a dot.
- Have students finger-write the letter: Make a j by moving your finger on the table. Start in the middle, pull down, curve around, and give it a dot. (Other options: sand or salt tray, shaving cream, etc.) Now do the same thing while saying “j spells /j/.” Remember to underline the j when you say /j/. (Practice multiple times.)
Other letter Jj activities
Free Printables
- J is for jellybean (dot sticker page)
- Little Letter J Book (rhymes and songs)
More alphabet resources
- Alphabet picture cards from A-Z
- Beginning sound clip cards
- Beginning sound coloring pages
- Beginning sound match mats
- Letter hunt & find worksheets
Find the rest of the alphabet HERE.
Looking for a done-for-you alphabet curriculum?
Alphabet Curriculum for Preschool
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Our curriculum includes lessons for teaching both upper and lowercase letter names and sounds. You’ll get three lessons per letter, built-in review, simple handwriting practice, rhyming, syllable counting, phonemic awareness, and a whole lot more!
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