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Matching First Written Words

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

Why do this activity?

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

This activity will:

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

Is this activity suitable for my child?

This activity is suitable for your child if he or she has completed the previous See and Learn First Word Pictures step or you are aware that he or she:

  • understands 50 or more spoken words/signs
  • is able to match pictures with a set of four words.

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

What do I need?

Materials

Vocabulary selection

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

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

When you have completed the first three of the First Written Words activities (matching, selecting and naming) with the first word set, introduce the next word set and next book(s) into the Matching First Written 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 Written Words book(s) together:
    • Look at the pictures and read the words to your child.
    • Encourage your child to participate, for example by helping turn the pages.
  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. See and Learn - reading and language activities for children with Down syndromeHelp 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. When 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 Written Words book(s) again.

What else could I do?

  • When using this activity, take turns matching words.
  • Make your own matching game using card and felt-tip pens, including your child's name and other familiar names, for example brother's or sister's names, or pet's names.
  • Show your child how the individual words on the cards match the words in the First Written Words 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 practice matching the First Written Words picture cards (used in Activity 2 and Activity 3)  to the First Written Words word baseboards used in this activity.

Recording your child's progress

Note the date, activity and words used on the First Written Words session record.
On the Matching First Written 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 First Written Words.
Complete the first three of the First Written Words activities (Matching First Written Words, Selecting First Written Words and Naming First Written Words) with this set of words before introducing the next set of words in Matching First Written Words
When your child has completed the first three First Written Words activities for all four sets of words, he/she is ready to move on to the final activity, Matching First Written Phrases to Pictures.