X is in box: Building Phonemic Awareness and Letter Identification

How to Use This Book

• Show the cover and point to the title.
  
  • Have students locate all the X letters in the title and trace over them with a finger while saying the letter name and sound:
    • "X says /ks/!"
  • Reinforce the idea that each letter has two forms—uppercase (X) and lowercase (x). Show both forms in the title.

Letter Recognition & Phonics Activity:

• Tell students that the story shows different words that have the /x/ sound in them.
  

  • Encourage students to listen for the /x/ sound in the middle or at the end of words (e.g., fox, six, mix)

   

• Point out how the letter "X" in each word is red.

  • Ask: Why do you think the author made it red?
  • Discuss how the red X helps readers focus on the letter and recognize its sound.

Comprehension & Discussion:

• Talk about page 20.

  • Ask: How is this picture different from the rest?
  • Why do you think the author ended the story this way?
  • Did you like the ending? Explain why or why not.