Develop your students' phonemic awareness skills with these engaging Initial Sounds Picture Sorts. Based on the Science of Reading, these phonetic picture sorts teach sound recognition and develop strong alphabet letter-sound correspondence. Designed for beginning and emergent readers, this hands-on phonemic awareness activity is a must-have for kindergarten and preschool teachers seeking to practice isolating phonemes and strengthening alphabet letter sounds.

THIS SET CONTAINS:

• 26 Alphabet letter labels to make sorting mats.

• up to 12 easily recognised photos for each of the 26 initial sounds.

• Printable Title Cover Label for easy storage.

• A word list answer key.

• Bonus A4 Alphabet Poster.

• 2 printable Learning Prompts.

IDEAS FOR USE:

Picture sorts are one of my favourite ways to help students hear and identify beginning sounds in words. They help students turn abstract listening into a concrete activity so they can learn by doing.

I first model how to do a picture sort with my children. Working together, we say the letter name and sound on 2 of the labelled A4 cards. I then introduce the corresponding little picture cards. One at a time, we name the picture and listen to the initial sound before deciding on which labelled card it belongs.

At the end of the guided sorting, the children are ready to sort the pictures individually or with a friend.

To become fluent readers, children must become fast and accurate with their phonemic awareness. These picture sorts will help your children get there. Put a timer on and have a sorting race—your children will love it.

DIFFERENTIATE:

I love these picture sorts as they allow me to easily differentiate my teaching. I can individualise the activity by giving each child the sorts for the letter sounds they need to learn.

I start them on a 2-sound sort that has a sound they already know and a sound they need to learn.

For more able children, I might give them up to 4 picture sorts at once. They love the challenge.

CLEAR PHOTO VISUALS:

The visually appealing pictures in the sorts are real-life photos so your students can easily relate to them.

ALL ALPHABET LETTER SOUNDS INCLUDED:

This phonemic awareness resource includes pictorial sorts for all 26 alphabet letters. Each alphabet letter sound is represented with up to 12 relatable sorting pictures. Bonus matching alphabet letter labels, clear and detailed instructions for using the cards and learning activities, and a storage label are also included.

Please Note: Some picture sort letter cards do not contain 12 pictures. Some letters (like letters o, x, u, y and z) just don’t like to play the game and their initial sounds cannot be represented pictorially 12 times.

ALIGNED WITH THE SCIENCE OF READING:

Initial Sound Picture Sorts align with the Science of Reading research and develops phonological awareness skills in your students.

Teach foundational reading skills by integrating this resource into your curriculum.

You can be confident that you’ll be providing your students with targeted instruction that meets essential literacy standards with these Initial Sound Picture Sorts..