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Favorite Games to Help Teach Literacy and Language

I have always loved working with students. Whether I am working with students with special needs, or students who are

Favorite Games to Help Teach Literacy and Language

I have always loved working with students. Whether I am working with students with special needs, or students who are

I have always loved working with students. Whether I am working with students with special needs, or students who are in general education classrooms, my goal is always to build a love of learning. Throughout my educational career, I have implemented so many strategies that I have been able to observe from coworkers and wonderful teammates! One thing that I have learned is to incorporate games during academic tasks and lessons. The first reason is that this makes the lesson fun and creates an easier path to the learning objectives. Another reason to incorporate games and play within lessons is to help teach a long love of learning! In this post, I will share some of my favorite games for teaching and enhancing literacy and language!

literacy games (7)

literacy games (6)

literacy games (5)

The use of games within the classroom is so important. I have written past blog posts about using play within all grade levels. Play is something that I am passionate about using with all learners. There is so much we can work on and target as an educational team. Language development, literacy skills, and social skills are only a few domains that can be targeted with games and play! The following are just a few from each that can be targeted:

Language:

  • Following Directions
  • Describing
  • Receptive and expressively labeling colors
  • Categories
  • Answering leveled “wh” questions
  • Answering leveled yes/no questions
  • Engaging in conversations
  • Positional concepts
  • Sequencing

 

Literacy:

  • Beginning sounds
  • Letter sounds
  • Sentences
  • Comprehension

 

Social:

  • Turn Taking
  • Winning & Losing
  • Engaging in conversations and answering questions
  • Deductive Reasoning
  • Executive functioning skills
  • Generalization of functional language skills
  • Requesting
  • Following peer manding

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This list of games and activities is ever-growing. If we had more time to create a list of all of our team favorites, it would be much longer!

  • Headbanz
  • Blurt!
  • Candyland
  • Zingo
  • Puzzles
  • Bingo
  • Junior letter silly soup
  • Alphabet mystery box
  • Lakeshore alphabet folder game library
  • Find a spot sounds game
  • Alphabet island (a letter and sounds game)
  • Letter panda
  • Candyland
  • Monopoly chance
  • Mr. Potato Head
  • I Spy
  • Guess Who
  • Go Fish

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Picture of Heather Hoeft, B.S., M.Ed., LBS1

Heather Hoeft, B.S., M.Ed., LBS1

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