Paramount Pick:
Melissa and Doug See and Spell Puzzle
Can you spell great deal!
Melissa and Doug See and Spell PuzzleCan you spell great deal!
Sale Offer Expires September 9, 2011!
Our Strange Lingo
When the English tongue we speak.
Why is break not rhymed with freak?
Will you tell me why it's true
We say sew but likewise few?
And the maker of the verse,
Cannot rhyme his horse with worse?
Beard is not the same as heard
Cord is different from word.
Cow is cow but low is low
Shoe is never rhymed with foe.
Think of hose, dose, and lose
And think of goose and yet with choose
Think of comb, tomb and bomb,
Doll and roll or home and some.
Since pay is rhymed with say
Why not paid with said I pray?
Think of blood, food and good.
Mould is not pronounced like could.
Wherefore done, but gone and lone -
Is there any reason known?
To sum up all, it seems to me
Sound and letters don't agree.
~ Lord Cromer
When the English tongue we speak.
Why is break not rhymed with freak?
Will you tell me why it's true
We say sew but likewise few?
And the maker of the verse,
Cannot rhyme his horse with worse?
Beard is not the same as heard
Cord is different from word.
Cow is cow but low is low
Shoe is never rhymed with foe.
Think of hose, dose, and lose
And think of goose and yet with choose
Think of comb, tomb and bomb,
Doll and roll or home and some.
Since pay is rhymed with say
Why not paid with said I pray?
Think of blood, food and good.
Mould is not pronounced like could.
Wherefore done, but gone and lone -
Is there any reason known?
To sum up all, it seems to me
Sound and letters don't agree.
~ Lord Cromer
As Lord Cromer’s poem so accurately describes, spelling and the English language in general can be tricky, illogical things, even for perfectionist porcupines with a penchant for vocabulary with pizzazz.
Is it any wonder then, that learning to read and to spell accurately can be challenge for children? There are all sorts of great resources that teach phonics and phonograms, but there seems to be some words that simply defy every rule. I prefer a multi-pronged approach when helping kids to learn these important skills. Phonics and phonograms provide a basic framework from which to begin decoding written words, reading aloud helps them to associate the printed word with its spoken sound, engaging with words and letters through various games and activities keep learning fun, and different sensory experiences with words and letters reinforce learning, and account for differences in learning styles.
That is why I am so excited to present to you this week’s paramount pick, the Melissa and Doug See and Spell. It parcels puzzles, pictures, and pleasantly painted letters together into one package that is perfect for play, practice, and just plain fun!
The Melissa and Doug See and Spell comes in a large, open topped wooden box measuring approximately 36 cms long, 23 cms wide, and 4 cms high. The box itself is divided into two compartments. The small compartment houses over 60 lowercase, lightweight wooden letters that are painted red, orange, green, yellow, blue and purple. The large compartment contains eight double-sided rectangular wooden plates. Each plate features a brightly painted picture of an object on the left, with the word cut into the wood on the right. Kids match the letters to the letters in the cut out word, in puzzle fashion, to spell words. All words are either three or four letters, and range in complexity from the simple (e.g. cow) to more difficult words like “fish” and “bear”, that include consonant blends and double vowels. The puzzle aspect is perfect for preschoolers. Not only does it make using the “See and Spell” a fun activity akin to doing a traditional puzzle, but it also “self-corrects”.
Since only the correct letters fit into the spaces on the plate, kids can learn to recognize, read, and spell words without having to ask a parent or sibling whether their work is accurate. Feeling the letters and the grooves in the plates can also help tactile learners with alphabet recognition.
As you know though, one of the things I always consider in selecting my paramount picks is whether the toy can be used in different ways, and whether it encourages free play and creativity. The Melissa and Doug See and Spell certainly does both. There are so many different things that you can do with the set, beyond the basic puzzle and spelling activities. At the earliest stages, the letters can be used to sort into colour groups, or to identify letter sounds. Next, as children begin to recognize letters, you can ask them to find an “f”, or find a letter that makes the sound at the beginning of “frog”. You can also set out a mix of a few different letters (for example, “b’s” and “g’s”), and ask your child to sort them. Preschoolers will also enjoy laying out the letters in alphabetical order. As children begin to gain a better grasp on letters, the See and Spell can be used for more difficult sorting activities, like dividing “b’s” and “d’s”, and separating consonants from vowels. We have also used the letters to match them with a mat of upper case letters (if you don’t have a mat of upper case letters, you can make one easily by writing out the upper case alphabet on a sheet of construction paper).
The letters that are included in the set are also an excellent way to practice spelling words with five to seven year olds. Spelling the words with the letters introduces some novelty into spelling practice, and also eases the frustration some kids feel when being asked to combine the task of spelling with the physical task of writing the letters. It’s also fun to use the letters to spell out children’s names at the table, or to place other words around the house. Wouldn’t you like to wake up to the word “love” spelled out on the bathroom counter?
If that is not enough, the letters are great for art and craft activities too! We’ve enjoyed putting them under paper and doing crayon rubbings with them, as well as placing them on top of paper, and tracing them.
As you can see, the Melissa and Doug See and Spell is spectacular. It is a playful way for practically every child to practice early literacy skills such as letter recognition , word recognition, to spelling, and it is packed with all sorts of other potential uses too. With so much to offer, it’s plain to see why it is being presented to you as one of my paramount picks!
The Melissa & Doug See and Spell is regularly priced at $26.99, but until September 9, 2011, you can purchase it for the pleasing price of $22.95.
Can you spell “great deal?”!
Is it any wonder then, that learning to read and to spell accurately can be challenge for children? There are all sorts of great resources that teach phonics and phonograms, but there seems to be some words that simply defy every rule. I prefer a multi-pronged approach when helping kids to learn these important skills. Phonics and phonograms provide a basic framework from which to begin decoding written words, reading aloud helps them to associate the printed word with its spoken sound, engaging with words and letters through various games and activities keep learning fun, and different sensory experiences with words and letters reinforce learning, and account for differences in learning styles.
That is why I am so excited to present to you this week’s paramount pick, the Melissa and Doug See and Spell. It parcels puzzles, pictures, and pleasantly painted letters together into one package that is perfect for play, practice, and just plain fun!
The Melissa and Doug See and Spell comes in a large, open topped wooden box measuring approximately 36 cms long, 23 cms wide, and 4 cms high. The box itself is divided into two compartments. The small compartment houses over 60 lowercase, lightweight wooden letters that are painted red, orange, green, yellow, blue and purple. The large compartment contains eight double-sided rectangular wooden plates. Each plate features a brightly painted picture of an object on the left, with the word cut into the wood on the right. Kids match the letters to the letters in the cut out word, in puzzle fashion, to spell words. All words are either three or four letters, and range in complexity from the simple (e.g. cow) to more difficult words like “fish” and “bear”, that include consonant blends and double vowels. The puzzle aspect is perfect for preschoolers. Not only does it make using the “See and Spell” a fun activity akin to doing a traditional puzzle, but it also “self-corrects”.
Since only the correct letters fit into the spaces on the plate, kids can learn to recognize, read, and spell words without having to ask a parent or sibling whether their work is accurate. Feeling the letters and the grooves in the plates can also help tactile learners with alphabet recognition.As you know though, one of the things I always consider in selecting my paramount picks is whether the toy can be used in different ways, and whether it encourages free play and creativity. The Melissa and Doug See and Spell certainly does both. There are so many different things that you can do with the set, beyond the basic puzzle and spelling activities. At the earliest stages, the letters can be used to sort into colour groups, or to identify letter sounds. Next, as children begin to recognize letters, you can ask them to find an “f”, or find a letter that makes the sound at the beginning of “frog”. You can also set out a mix of a few different letters (for example, “b’s” and “g’s”), and ask your child to sort them. Preschoolers will also enjoy laying out the letters in alphabetical order. As children begin to gain a better grasp on letters, the See and Spell can be used for more difficult sorting activities, like dividing “b’s” and “d’s”, and separating consonants from vowels. We have also used the letters to match them with a mat of upper case letters (if you don’t have a mat of upper case letters, you can make one easily by writing out the upper case alphabet on a sheet of construction paper).
The letters that are included in the set are also an excellent way to practice spelling words with five to seven year olds. Spelling the words with the letters introduces some novelty into spelling practice, and also eases the frustration some kids feel when being asked to combine the task of spelling with the physical task of writing the letters. It’s also fun to use the letters to spell out children’s names at the table, or to place other words around the house. Wouldn’t you like to wake up to the word “love” spelled out on the bathroom counter?If that is not enough, the letters are great for art and craft activities too! We’ve enjoyed putting them under paper and doing crayon rubbings with them, as well as placing them on top of paper, and tracing them.
As you can see, the Melissa and Doug See and Spell is spectacular. It is a playful way for practically every child to practice early literacy skills such as letter recognition , word recognition, to spelling, and it is packed with all sorts of other potential uses too. With so much to offer, it’s plain to see why it is being presented to you as one of my paramount picks!
The Melissa & Doug See and Spell is regularly priced at $26.99, but until September 9, 2011, you can purchase it for the pleasing price of $22.95. Can you spell “great deal?”!
Precociously Yours
Darla Porcupine
Darla Porcupine
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