Teaching Letter Xx

Are you looking for letter Xx 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 Xx

• Say words that begin with Xx: Say each word after me. Listen for the sound the ENDS each word. (Emphasize the /x/ at the end of each word as you say it.) Fox. Wax. Fix. Six. Ax. Ox. What sound do you hear at the end of each word? Each word ends with /x/. It’s actually two sounds pushed together: /k/ and /s/.
• Talk about what your mouth is doing as you say the sound: Look at what my mouth is doing as I say /x/. Now you try. Where in your mouth are you making the sound /x/? Put your hand on your throat as you say /x/. Is it a quiet or noisy sound? (quiet)
• Introduce the letter on a flash card: (Hold up the letter X card in uppercase or lowercase.) This is the letter X. When we see this card, we say “X spells /x/.” Your turn. (Students: “X spells /x/.”)

How to practice writing uppercase letter X

• Sky-write the letter: To make the letter X, we slant down and slant down again. Watch me put my hand in the air and write an X. I slant down and slant down again. Now you try. Slant down and slant down again.
• Have students finger-write the letter: Make an X by moving your finger on the table. Slant down and slant down again. (Other options: sand or salt tray, shaving cream, etc.) Now do the same thing while saying “X spells /x/.” Remember to underline the X when you say /x/. (Practice multiple times.)

How to practice writing lowercase letter x

• Sky-write the letter: To make the letter x, we start in the middle. Slant down, and slant down again. Watch me put my hand in the air and write an x in the sky. I start in the middle. I slant down, and slant down again. Now you try. Put your finger in the air. Start in the middle. Slant down, and slant down again.
• Have students finger-write the letter: Make an x by moving your finger on the table. Start in the middle. Slant down, and slant down again. (Other options: sand or salt tray, shaving cream, etc.) Now do the same thing while saying “x spells /x/.” Remember to underline the x when you say /x/. (Practice multiple times.)

Other letter Xx activities

Crafts
Book List
Fine Motor
Sensory Play
Math Connections

Free Printables

X is for Xylophone (dot sticker page)
Little Letter X Book (rhymes & 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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