When teaching children how to print the uppercase and lowercase “c,” the important distinction is the size of each letter. Talk to children about tall letters and short letters. Teach them a verbal pathway that they can recite to help them remember how to form the letter “c.” Use the phrase, “Pull back and around” as you model how to print the letter. Provide opportunities for children to trace the letter first, moving towards printing it independently.

In addition to traditional pencil and paper tasks, have children use other tools such as fingerpaint, sand or salt trays, juggling scarves, whiteboards, and chalkboards to practice printing. Teaching them to form letters properly will assist them with their speed and efficiency when they begin writing longer pieces, like sentences and paragraphs. Forming letters automatically will free up their energy to focus on the content of their writing.

Have children associate the letter “c” with words that begin with the sound. For example, they may choose objects like cats, cookies, or cars. Have them create their own visuals by filling a block letter “c” with pictures of the objects. For young children who are just beginning to learn letter sounds, focus on the hard “c” sound.

Other visual children can reference when learning their letters and sounds is an individual alphabet book. Each page contains one letter, displaying the uppercase and lowercase formation. Children can then add pictures to the page that begin with the letter’s sound.

To provide further practice learning the sound the letter “c” makes, have children engage in matching activities. For example have them match the letter “c” to items like cows, cakes, and crayons. You can also use coloring activities, where children color only the pictures that begin with the letter “c.”