Tips and Flips for b and d

b and d Tips and Flips: Activities for Helping Children with Common Letter Reversals

As children embark on their journey towards reading and writing, they encounter challenges along the way. One common stumbling block is distinguishing between similar-looking letters, such as lowercase b and d. These are easily reversed. Many young learners struggle to differentiate between these two letters, causing confusion or frustration. In this blog post, we will explore fun and effective strategies and activities children can engage in to confidently tell the difference between b and d.

Understanding the b and d Challenge: 

The letters b and d appear similar to young learners, as they share a similar basic shape. This similarity can often lead to letter reversals, which is a normal part of early literacy development. It’s important to approach this challenge with patience and provide children with tools to overcome it.

Multi-sensory Cues for b and d:

One effective way to help children differentiate between b and d is by multi-sensory cues. The goal in Orton Gillingham is to “see it, say it, hear it, feel it, and ‘do’ it.” This involves using kinesthetic, visual, auditory, and tactile techniques! These cues can be simple yet powerful. Connect visual cues with auditory sayings, tactile tracing, and kinesthetic actions to tell the difference between b and d!

Visual Cue for b:

To begin, imagine a baseball bat. The letter “b” in formation starts at the top with a straight line down (the bat), bounces up, and has a round belly (the ball). Show your child the visual. Have your child envision someone taking a bat and hitting the ball. Model it and then let them pretend to take a bat and hit a ball! Encourage them for their great swing-wow! High fives are great here!

Auditory Cue for b:

Model for your child and say the mnemonic, “Take the bat, bounce up and hit the ball.”
For a shorter, more concise focus use this alliteration: “Bat, bounce up, ball.” This models the formation of the letter b for handwriting, which helps with recognition later.

Silly voices for the auditory sayings are encouraged to keep learning light, joyful, and fun! Your child can use a whisper voice, whisper-shout, character voice, baby voice, silly voice, or a voice of choice! We decide together which voices we are going to use in my online live class: Letter Reading and Writing Reversals: Tips and Flips (b, d, p, q, m, w, n, u) . Sign up for a live b and d class here or request a time that works for you: https://outschool.com/classes/letter-reading-and-writing-reversals-tips-and-flips-b-d-p-q-m-w-n-u-etc-Z0pNHwoA?usid=MTfmSwl5&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link

Tactile Activity for b:

First, say the mnemonic rhythmically while tracing your fingers in a “b” formation over various soft materials, such as a b-b-blanket, sand tray, or playdough. You can also trace the b’s on this worksheet and then use a plastic needlepoint canvas as an overlay for the texture to be recorded in your child’s fingertips.

In our flexible schedule online class, your child can choose any tactile tool, but also has the option of using a tacscreen over the letter on the screen to ensure proper formation and get tactile input at the same time. Check it out here:
https://outschool.com/classes/flex-orton-gillingham-inspired-letter-readingwriting-reversals-ecqwQq72?usid=MTfmSwl5&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link.

Finally, have your child go on a scavenger hunt to find 2-3 items that start with /b/ to trace their fingers over! Have your child tactile trace the letter “b” in correct formation while saying the mnemonic three times rhythmically.

Kinesthetic Action for b:

Show your child how to use large motor movements to form the “b” in the sky three times! Continue to use the phrase, “bat, bounce up, ball” to guide the formation. Variations or exaggerations of size (big, tiny, medium) while skywriting promote the engagement of different muscle groups and keep it interesting. Use two hands with palms touching to skywrite across the body and involve crossing the midline. Crossing the midline promotes the coordination and communication of the left and right hemispheres of the brain for an extra boost! 

Visual Cue for d:

Think of how to open a door. Ask the child, “Do you run right into the door? No!  How do you get through the door?” To make it fun, pretend there are special treasures behind the door. Ask them if they could imagine any cool treasure behind the door, what it would be. Then have them show you how they would get through the door…That’s right! You have to grab the doorknob to open up the door!

Auditory Cue for d:

Model for your child and say the mnemonic, “Around the doorknob, to open UP the door, and all the way back down.” For a more concise focus use this alliteration: “doorknob, door, down.”

Another auditory cue for d is a short story for how you take a dog for a walk! The c-collar goes first around the dog’s head, then UP the leash, and all the way back down.” You can then turn the circular part of the d into the dog’s head. Below is an example from one of my online learners!

Tactile Activity for d:

Trace the d in correct formation, going around the circular portion, up the long line, and straight back down 3 times on a sensory surface. See tactile activity ideas in the Dyslexia Connection portion of the blog!

Kinesthetic Activity for d:

Skywrite the letter d three times in various sizes. First try sticking out one arm and writing in the sky with your finger. Then try holding your elbow and skywriting. Finally, hold your wrist or finger and skywrite in a small movement! Remember to say the phrase each time!

Fun Ways to Differentiate b and d:

Another trick for learning directionality for b and d is “Mr. B-D Eyes!” These glasses can be printed, cut, and colored to wear around the house! Some learners even put them on their stuffed animals and send pictures to our online class! For extra practice, print in black and white and let your learner color the glasses (or draw b’s and d’s on the corresponding sides!) before cutting and constructing them. As your child looks and points from left to right, another reminder is that b comes before d when we sing the alphabet. So, point left to right and say or sing a-B-c-D while looking at the glasses. Please feel free to comment below with a picture of who wears your B-D glasses! Here’s one from a friend online!

Differentiating b and d with the “bed” tool

Children can use the cool tool sheet below as a reference for how to make a “bed” with their hands. “B-b-bed” starts with /b/, the letter b, like the left hand with the thumb up. “Be-d-d-d” ends with /d/, the letter d, like the right hand with the thumb up. The hands mimic the shape of the word, and consequently the letters. Children can discreetly pop their thumbs up in the classroom as they get older to double check a letter visually.
Engage in fun and friendly quizzes. Make a b or a d, and your child can use the cool “bed” tool to remember which letter it is if recall is not immediate. Learners are welcomed to trace b and d on the cool tool until filled. They are also invited to color the bed and hands on the worksheet and keep the tool for further reference.

Letter Hunts:

For extra practice, encourage learners to use their sheet to find b and d letters in books, newspapers, or magazines. This activity reinforces their understanding of the letters in different contexts. They can use a magnifying glass or highlighter as a cool tool to spot and circle their letters.

Repetition and Reinforcement for b and d

Consistent repetition is key to helping children internalize the distinctions between b and d. Incorporate daily exercises and games that focus on identifying, writing, and pronouncing these letters. Repetition reinforces the visual and auditory aspects of letter recognition, making it easier for children to recall the correct formation.

Make it fun!

Fun, Interactive Games for b and d

Children love the creative, interactive games on nearpod.com that are used during our flex classes. In Time to Climb, children answer b and d reversal questions to help their character reach the top of a mountain to fun music! There are also enjoyable and rewarding memory and matching games to accompany the tracing sections of the nearpod interactive sessions.

Join our flexible schedule class with videos, worksheets, crafts, activities, online games, and email interaction at your convenience here: https://outschool.com/classes/flex-orton-gillingham-inspired-letter-readingwriting-reversals-ecqwQq72?usid=MTfmSwl5&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link

Please comment below if you would like to access a free sample of a nearpod quick games! The kids tend to have so much fun with these! Fun practice is practice that lasts!

Join our live, interactive real-time class here: https://outschool.com/classes/letter-reading-and-writing-reversals-tips-and-flips-b-d-p-q-m-w-n-u-etc-Z0pNHwoA?usid=MTfmSwl5&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link

Conquering b and d Letter Reversals Together

Helping children distinguish between lowercase “b” and “d” requires patience, practice, and engaging activities. By employing visual cues, kinesthetic learning, repetition, and reinforcement, parents, educators, and caregivers can support children in overcoming this common literacy hurdle. Remember, every child learns at their own pace. Keep it fun, encouraging, and in cyclical review until you are sure your child has tools that work specifically for them!  When they start to get it, always ask, “How did you know?” This can give great insight into which tips and tools are most helpful for YOUR unique, individual child.  

Have a joyful learning journey.

Tell me below which tips stuck out the best for your loving learner!

Rest and be blessed.

Created with joy,

Stephanie Joy

Letter reversals, Orton Gillingham