What sound does it start with?

Every word has a beginning. Can you catch it?

ArabicAges 3–412 minutes3 pagesInk-light

Being written

This one is planned but not finished yet. Everything below is what it will contain.

Not drawn yet

I can hear the first sound in a word.

How the fifteen minutes go

The five steps on this sheet, in the order a child meets them. This is what you will actually be doing, not a description of the method.

Print the one that fits today. Same skill, three depths — and on this sheet they differ like this.

Support

Two pictures at a time: does this start with بـ, yes or no?

Fewer items, more pictures, hints included, parent reads the instructions.

Core

Four pictures, circle the three.

The standard task, recognition, practice and explanation.

Challenge

Do the same page again for مـ, using your own words.

Open-ended. Explain why, make your own example, use it somewhere new.

The same guide that is printed on the back page, so you can read it before you decide to print anything.

The answers

بَيْت · بَاب · بَطَّة start with بـ. شَمْس does not.

If they get stuck

Say the two words back to back and let them choose which one you 'started the same way' as. Comparison is easier than identification.

Common mistakes

Hearing the whole first syllable rather than the sound, بي instead of بـ. Both are progress; do not correct it yet.
Naming the LETTER instead of the sound. The letter comes later.

When they finish early

Walk around the house collecting three things that start with the same sound.