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Matching Words

Matching Words is the first activity in See and Learn First Sentences.

Why do this activity?

Matching Words is the first reading activity in See and Learn First Sentences.

This activity will:

  • introduce your child to a selection of new written words - both in a picture book and as individual words
  • help your child to recognise the individual written words

Is this activity suitable for my child?

This activity is suitable for your child if he or she has already completed See and Learn First Written Words and See and Learn More Word Pictures or you are aware that he or she:

  • has a beginning sight-word vocabulary
  • is able to understand and use phrases with 2 ‘key’ content words.

Please remember to read the See and Learn First Sentences guidance before you start on this activity.

Right-click (or control click) to download and save these activity instructions as a PDF file [PDF, 0.3MB].

What do I need?

Materials

Vocabulary selection

Work through the sets of books and words in the order listed on the Matching Words record sheet.

When you have completed Matching Words with the first set of 4 words, move on to the next activity (Selecting Words) with those four words.

When you have completed the Matching, Selecting and Naming activities with the first set of words, introduce the next word set and book into the Matching Words activity, and so on.

How do I do it?

  1. See and Learn - reading and language activities for children with Down syndromeRead the First Sentences book together:
    • Look at the pictures and read the words to your child.
    • Encourage your child to participate, for example pointing to words as you read them.
  2. See and Learn - reading and language activities for children with Down syndromePlace the baseboard in front of your child.
  3. See and Learn - reading and language activities for children with Down syndromeShow the first word card to your child. Point to the word and read it to him/her.
  4. Ask "where's .....?" and encourage your child to look at the baseboard to find the matching word.
  5. See and Learn - reading and language activities for children with Down syndromeHelp your child to find the matching word by guiding him/her to the correct word.
  6. Help your child to place the word card on the baseboard, and read the word to him/her again.
  7. See and Learn - reading and language activities for children with Down syndromeRepeat steps 3-6 with each of the word cards in turn.
  8. See and Learn - reading and language activities for children with Down syndromeWhen your child has matched all four word cards onto the baseboard, praise him/her.
  9. See and Learn - reading and language activities for children with Down syndromeAsk your child if he/she would like to read the First Sentences book again.

 

What else could I do?

  • When using this activity, take turns matching words.
  • Show your child how the individual words on the word cards match the words in the First Sentences books by putting them next to one another.
  • Put the word cards in a bag, or offer your child a choice of cards as you hold them out in a 'fan' before you match them.
  • Make your own pairs of larger matching word cards, using cardboard and felt-tip pens. Stick the cards on the wall with a reusable adhesive. Give your child the second card and ask him/her to go and stick it on the matching word, or alternatively, ask your child to take the matching word off the wall.
  • Help your child practise matching the picture cards (used in the Selecting and Naming activities) to the First Sentences word matching baseboards used in this activity.

Recording your child's progress

Note the date, activity and words used on the First Sentences session record.
On the Matching Words record sheet:

  • the first time you use each set of words and baseboard, record the date in the 'first used in activity' column
  • when your child matches all of the word cards on the baseboard without your help, record the date in the 'matched without help' column

When should I move on to the next activity?

When your child can match a set of words by him/herself consistently (i.e. several times), he/she is ready to use this set of words in the next activity - Selecting Words.
Complete the first three of the First Sentences activities (Matching Words, Selecting Words and Naming Words) with this set of words before introducing the next set of words in Matching Words
When your child has completed the first three First Sentences activities for all four sets of words, he/she is ready to move on to the final activity, Matching Sentences to Pictures.