Kea
letter formation
Kea Learns Her Letters
Kea was a small green bird who was learning her letters — just like you. She could not read yet, and that was perfectly fine. She had a friend who helped her: you. Every letter you drew on your page, Kea got to learn too.
You picked up your crayon and made a big letter S — a curvy snake shape. Kea peeked over and tried it too, wobbling her wing along the same curve. “Sss,” she chirped. “That’s the sound it makes!” You showed her, and she learned.
Kea didn’t mind if your letter was wobbly or big or leaning sideways. She said a wobbly letter is a brave letter. What mattered was that you made it with your own hand, and that she got to follow along. Two friends, one crayon shape.
Letter after letter, you drew and Kea learned. M like a mountain. O like a round window. T like a little post with a hat. Each time, Kea tried it after you, and each time she got a little braver, because you went first.
At the end, Kea fluffed her feathers proudly. “Look how many letters I know now — all because you taught me!” You had learned them by drawing them, and Kea had learned them by watching you. That is the very best kind of learning: the kind you share.
Reading together with a grown-up? A card for the grown-up
For the grown-up: ask one question, then wait. When they answer, add one word to what they said. Tap the button when they have said something — that is one turn each, a circle. Nothing is recorded or kept.
Let them finish it
Say “Draw the letter and Kea …” and stop. Let them finish it.
Now wait. Count slowly to five in your head. Their answer is worth the quiet.
Circles together: 0
The SnapTots ensemble
Kea is one of the friends in SnapTots. Each friend shows you one idea by how they act; meet them all and you have the whole subject.
