Teaching phonics and handwriting at home is a rewarding journey that sets the foundation for a child’s language skills. To ensure effective learning, choosing the right supplies is crucial. In this guide, we’ll explore essential supplies to make your home-based phonics and handwriting lessons engaging and successful.

What are the basic essential supplies for teaching phonics and Handwriting?

Surprisingly you don’t need much to teach phonics and handwriting at home. Here is a list of supplies I recommend in no particular order.

1. Exercise Notebook for Classwork and Homework:

Start with a dedicated exercise notebook for daily classwork and homework. This provides structure and helps in tracking progress. Consider using this recommended notebook for optimal results.

2. Red Pencils for Checking Work:

Red pencils play a crucial role in providing constructive feedback. Use them to mark errors, encouraging self-correction and improvement. Find quality red pencils here.

3. #2 Pencils for Writing:

Quality #2 pencils are essential for proper handwriting exercises. Be sure to practice proper posture to enhance writing skills. The recommended #2 pencils should have six sides as opposed to rounded pencils to help emphasize the correct pencil grip.

4. Readers for Beginners:

Readers are a tool we will need later down our reading journey but I wanted to mention them now so you can begin to research what to use for your family. As a Christian household, we align our reading materials with our family values. Some beginner readers I have used are the Read to Me KJV Bible for Kids, (Yes you can use the Bible as a reader), Rod and Staff Bible Nurture and Reader Series, The Rhyme Time Bible by Linda Sattgast for phonemic awareness exercises, and 365 Read Aloud Bedtime Bible Stories by Daniel Partner.

5. Index Cards for Phonogram and Sight Words:

Index cards are versatile tools for creating phonogram and sight word cards. Regular white cards are excellent. You may choose colored index cards if color-coding helps. For example, use white for consonants, red for vowels, and vowel teams phonograms, green for ‘er’ phonograms, and blue for consonant teams.

6. Black Permanent Marker for Writing on Index Cards:

To ensure legible letters, write on phonogram cards with a quality black permanent marker. This marker is ideal for creating clear and lasting impressions.

7. Whiteboard for Demonstrations:

A whiteboard is a valuable tool for demonstrating letter and word formation interactively. Use it to engage your child in the learning process. I like this whiteboard because it has manuscript lines on one side and is blank on the other.

8. Whiteboard Markers:

Quality whiteboard markers are essential for a clear and vibrant presentation. Choose reliable whiteboard markers for effective teaching.

9. Phonogram Cards:

Phonogram cards are instrumental in teaching phonics. You can make your own using index cards and permanent markers as mentioned above. Or you can purchase our done for you cards or make your own with our diy phonogram cards from our Etsy shop. You want cards that do not have any pictures printed on them and are easy to read. We want the student to rely upon what is stored in their memory. Alternately you can grab this one from amazon.

10. Manipulatives

Enhance hands-on learning with manipulatives children can touch and feel like these red-blue letter alphabets. These tactile tools make learning more engaging and memorable. Check out our recommended manipulative here.

11. Manuscript Paper for Structured Handwriting Practice:

Structured handwriting practice is vital for developing fine motor skills and neat penmanship. Consider using manuscript paper for a well-defined space to guide your child’s writing. Additionally, check out the handwriting tablet created by our team on Etsy. This tablet provides a four step manuscript paper to guide your beginner writer to reduce the size of their writing over time and has a helpful guide for improving handwriting skills, offering a practical resource for honing letter formation.

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Conclusion/Summary

Embarking on the journey of teaching phonics and handwriting at home is a commendable endeavor, and the right supplies can make all the difference.

By incorporating these supplies into your home-based learning environment, you create a foundation for successful phonics and handwriting instruction. For more in-depth information, resources, and future tutorials, be sure to explore our blog. Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for the upcoming video on creating your own =phonogram cards.

As you embark on this educational journey with your child, remember that patience, consistency, and the right tools are key. Happy teaching!