There is something very pleasing about using letter tiles. They are tactile and often create a happy clink when you use them. Using letter tiles in a session leads to a sense of satisfaction and fun; positive emotions that will help beginner learners as they start on a journey towards literacy.

Alphabetical order

• Grab a small handful of tiles and place them on the table.
• Move them around and place them in alphabetical order.
• Think of words that start with each letter.

Letter sorts

• Grab a small handful of tiles and place them on the table.
• Move them around and sort them into vowels and consonants.
• Order the two groups into alphabetical order.
• Think of words that start with each letter.

Note: You can use letter tiles in an online session using a document camera.

Phonics is sometimes stressful for beginning learners. Letter tiles can make it fun and relaxing. Mistakes are easy to make but even easier to change.

Spell what you hear

• Pour the letter tiles out on the table and turn them face up.
• The tutor makes a sound.
• Learner listens and finds the tile(s) that corresponds to the sound.
• Learner can self-correct if directed to change a tile or add a tile.

Note: You can use letter tiles in an online session using a document camera.

There is something very pleasing about using letter tiles. They are tactile and often create a happy clink when you use them. There are so many ways to use them to build words, words and more words.

Word families

• Choose a word family and create the base using letter tiles, e.g., -ing.
• Grab a set number of letter tiles and place them on the table .
• Create words by placing one or more tiles in front of the base letters.
• Challenge each other to make as many words as possible.
• Think of sentences that you could use each word in.

Word Scramble

• Take seven random letter tiles and place them on the table.
• How many words can you make out of these tiles?
• Write all your words down.
• Compare your list with other players.

Word Pyramid

• Pour out all the letter tiles and place them face up on the table.
• Create a word pyramid by starting with a one-letter word at the top, then a two-letter word below that, then a three-letter word and so on.
• See how far you can go.
• Write all your words down.

Note: You can use letter tiles in an online session using a document camera.

There is something very pleasing about using letter tiles. They are tactile and often create a happy clink when you use them. There are so many fun games you can play as a warm up or to lighten things up at the end of a session.

Boggle variation

• Make a 4×4 grid with random letter tiles.
• See how many words you can find in the grid.
• Challenge each other to make as many words as possible.
• Write the words down.

Simon says

• Pour out all the letter tiles and place them on the table.
• Tutor asks for a particular type or word, for example:
  • part of speech
  • number of syllables
  • word with double letters
  • description (e.g. something orange, something you eat)
• Learner creates a word with the tiles.

Crosswords

• Pour out all the letter tiles and place them face up on the table.
• Create a crossword with as many words and letters as you can.
• See how far you can go.
• Write all your words down.

Note: You can use letter tiles in an online session using a document camera.