4/30/2018

Now I Know My BPDs: 6 Strategies for Recognizing Reversible Letters

If you’ve worked with students who are beginning to read and write, you’ve likely found yourself explaining the difference between b, d, and p.

Why are these letters so often confused? Not only do b, d, and p have similar names and shapes, they also sound alike. Making the distinction is crucial, because students need to automatically recognize and retrieve these letters for accurate reading and writing.

Here are six activities for working with students to differentiate between these letters and sounds that teachers can share with their students and families to help keep their skills sharp this summer.

1. Air-Writing

As necessary, teach or review the letters b, d, and p one at a time. Say the sound of the letter clearly, without adding a vowel sound to the end (e.g. /b/ instead of /buh/). Have students say the name of the letter and air-write it as they say the sound. Personalize the activity by air-writing names that contain these letters, then have students pair up and see if they can guess the letter their partner is air-writing.

2. Letter Search

Create a “letter search” for students. Give them a sheet of paper with multiple b, d, and p letters arranged randomly in a grid. Instruct students to circle all of the b letters, highlight the d letters, and trace the p letters with a marker. You can vary this activity by having students search for letters to match sounds presented (e.g. Circle the letter that says /b/). Students can then tally the letters they found.

3. Sorting

Give each student paper bags labeled with b, d, and p, along with a stack of word cards starting with each letter (e.g. dip, bug, pen). Students should read each card and sort it into the correct paper bag based on the initial letter. For students who are still learning to read, have them walk around and find objects that start with b, d, and p (e.g. ball, desk, paper). Can they match these objects with the right letter?

4. Letter Tiles

Display a word with the first letter missing (e.g. _in) and give students letter tiles for b, d, and p. Say the target word (e.g. pin) aloud. Students should choose the tile to complete the word and then write the word. An added challenge is to include words in which adding two or three of the letters could make a real word (e.g. _ig: big, dig, pig). Consider using words with consonant blends as well (e.g. blob, plan, drip).

5. Bingo

Play a game of Bingo using boards filled with the letters b, d, and p. Students can cover a square by matching the initial sound of a word to the correct letter (e.g., bed, cover b). A variation of this is for students to find the final sound (e.g., bed, cover d), or use words with beginning or ending blends (e.g., play, cover p).

6. Circling, Highlighting, and Tracing

Have students complete a letter search using a text related to the curriculum. Ask them to circle all of the b letters, highlight the d letters, and trace the p letters with a marker. The same can be done with a student’s own writing. As students work on building editing skills, this may be a great way for them to check their work.

We’ll continue to provide simple, at-home activity ideas to promote literacy this summer. By exploring these diverse methods, you can discover what works best for your family, making reading a fun and integral part of your children's daily lives. Together, let’s foster a love for reading that will last a lifetime.