I’m excited about our emotions and feelings unit, and our free printable today, has an /ĕ/ for excited do-a-dot printable! As usual, this /ĕ/ for excited do-a-dot phonics printable is an instant download and very easy to prepare.
Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links (at no cost to you).
Note: Be sure to read to the bottom of the post where you’ll find lots of ideas for using do-a-dot printables along with at least one free do-a-dot printable for each letter of the alphabet!
Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links (at no cost to you).
Montessori-Inspired Printables at Living Montessori Now
My daughter, Chrissy (a former Montessori child), and I are partnering to bring you a series of Montessori-inspired printables. The printables are typically themed and use a number of Montessori principles (although you don’t need to be a Montessori teacher or homeschooler to use them):
- They use isolation of quality.
- They use photographs or realistic images to emphasize reality. Whenever I can, I’ll tell you the specific name of the object or animal featured on the credits page. This printable has an image of excited children.
- They typically use traditional Montessori colors such as red for consonants and blue for vowels.
- They use lowercase letters, which are what we introduce letter sounds with in Montessori education. (Children tend to pick up the uppercase letters without being introduced if they’re introduced to the lowercase letter sounds.)
- They often feature themed printable versions of Montessori materials.
Free E for Excited Do-a-Dot Phonics Printable
To download the /e/ for excited do-a-dot printable, click here and then click on the file image in the upper right corner of the PDF to save to your computer (just choose where you want it saved).
Tray with E for Excited Do-a-Dot Printable and Circle Punch
Tray with E for Excited Do-a-Dot Printable and Circle Punch
This do-a-dot printable can be used in a variety of ways, depending on the age and ability of the child. A younger child could just use do-a-dot markers, stickers, or some sort of transfer on the do-a-dot page and focus on the /ĕ/ sound, while an older preschooler could trace the letters and build the word “excited” with the Montessori sandpaper letters or movable alphabet. You can also use it to introduce the cursive letter “e.”
For our /ĕ/ for excited do-a-dot tray,I used a Multicraft tray with ¾ inch circle punch, yellow printer paper, glue, and colored pencils. Your child will need to punch out 22 circles for the dots on the letter “e.” I also added the /ĕ/ for excited font card in cursive from our subscriber freebie feelings pack. If you prefer, you can use a variety of tools for transfer activities, such as quick sticks, sugar tongs, or toast tongs.
You could add a tracing activity to the printable. If you laminate your printable, you can use an erasable crayon like the Melissa & Doug Learning Mat Crayons or Crayola Erasable Crayons. If your page isn’t laminated, you could add a pencil or colored pencils. I often do that. For a 2-year-old or other young preschooler who’s not ready to write letters, you can just leave off the crayon or pencils.
Scroll down to see lots of ideas for using our do-a-dot printables for a variety of ages and themes.
“E” for Excited Phonics and Do-a-Dot Activities
Punching out and Counting Circles for Her E for Excited Do-a-Dot Work
This type of activity is wonderful for fine-motor development, increasing attention span, and reinforcing letter sounds. For older children or children who are ready, you can focus on spelling “excited.”
My 4-year-old grandaughter, Sophia, especially enjoyed this do-a-dot tray. First, I showed Sophia the difference between print and cursive “e.” She practiced both in the salt writing tray.
Then Sophia traced the dotted letters on her do-a-dot page. She used triangular grip pencils to trace the letters. Triangular grip pencils are a great way to help young children develop the proper pencil grip.
After that, she used the whole punch to punch 22 circles. She had so much fun with it! First, she lined up the circles by two. When she got to 10, she started lining them up in one long line and counting them after each circle she added.
Completing Her E for Excited Do-a-Dot Page
Then Sophia glued the circles on the do-a-dot letter “e.” This was just a fun activity for her!
For children under age 3, I typically use the do-a-dot printables for vocabulary, hearing the beginning sound of a word, and fine-motor skills. Generally, with toddlers, I’ll just focus on the /ĕ/ sound at the beginning of “excited.”
With preschoolers who are working on their letter sounds, we follow the order shown in this post along with adding the featured letter. I don’t worry about going out of order for the monthly theme.
If you want to know more about how to introduce the /ĕ/ sound, check out my post on how to teach letter sounds using Montessori principles.
I only use printables with children under age 3 that can be used for hands-on work, such as do-a-dot work, scissor cutting (cutting strips), or another type of printable that can be made into a manipulative. Printables when used with manipulatives are great for fine-motor development, work on important skills, and fit with the hands-on activities that are developmentally appropriate for toddlers.
For older children who already know their letter sounds but still enjoy do-a-dot work, I often add the print movable alphabet word building, phonogram work, another hands-on activity to go with the do-a-dot work, and/or cursive movable alphabet and word analysis work. (Note: These examples have more than one type of additional activity, which I like for older children.)
More Social-Emotional Learning Resources
Free Feelings Printables for a Montessori-Inspired Emotions and Feelings Unit
- Free Friendship Printables and Montessori-Inspired Friendship Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Friendship Activities
- Free Friendship Songs and Rhymes {Character Education Resources}
- Free Taking Turns and Sharing Songs and Rhymes {Character Education Resources}
- How to Teach Toddlers and Preschoolers to Take Turns and Work Together
- The Best Children’s Books about Taking Turns and Sharing
- Free Songs and Educational Videos About Managing Frustration {Social-Emotional Learning}
- Free Daniel Tiger Songs About New Experiences {Social Emotional Learning} (1st post in the series, but any order is fine.)
- Free Daniel Tiger Songs About Big Feelings {Social Emotional Learning}
- Free Daniel Tiger Songs About Taking Care of Your Body {Social Emotional Learning}
- Free Daniel Tiger Songs About Growing Up and Being Independent {Social Emotional Learning}
- Free Daniel Tiger Songs About Family {Social Emotional Learning}
- Free Daniel Tiger Songs About Friends and Neighbors {Social Emotional Learning}
- Free Daniel Tiger Songs About Playtime {Social Emotional Learning}
- Free Daniel Tiger Songs About Staying Safe and Being Scared {Social Emotional Learning}
- How to Prepare a Montessori Peace Tray
- Montessori-Inspired Peace Education Activities
- The Best Mindfulness Books for Kids,
- Free Calming Printables and Montessori-Inspired Calming Activities
- Free Yoga Do-a-Dot Phonics Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Calming Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- The Silence Game {Montessori Activity to Develop Self Discipline}
- Free Guided Meditations for Kids {Mindfulness Resources}
- Our Favorite Picture Book about Inclusion and Friendship
- Free Empathy Songs and Educational Videos {Character Education Resources}
Free Feelings Pack
Montessori-Inspired Feelings Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).
Free Do-a-Dot Printables and Ideas for Using Them
I love the versatility of do-a-dot printables! If you’re doing a month-long theme, you could easily change out the type of do-a-dot activity weekly to add interest. Here are four ideas of hands-on activities for any of our do-a-dot printables from my frog do-a-dot printable post (see post for details and materials used).
Just click on an image to go to the post with the related free printable!
Note: I’ve arranged the following gallery in alphabetical order, although some posts have two do-a-dot printables (and two different letters). You’ll find at least one free do-a-dot printable for each letter of the alphabet!
Also, I don’t introduce letters in alphabetical order. You can find out the order in which I introduce letter sounds here. I deviate from that order for our unit studies, though, and focus on a letter that’s simply related to our unit. That’s in addition to our other letter work.
You can see all our free do-a-dot printables with the latest at the top here.
For complete themed alphabet do-a-dot packs, see our Animal Alphabet Do-a-Dot Pack, Spanish Animal Alphabet Do-a-Dot Pack, and Healthy Food Alphabet Do-a-Dot Pack available for purchase in the Living Montessori Now shop.
Learn more about my eBook Montessori at Home or School: How to. Teach Grace and Courtesy!
If this is your first time visiting Living Montessori Now, welcome! If you haven’t already, please join us on our Living Montessori Now Facebook page where you’ll find a Free Printable of the Day and lots of inspiration and ideas for parenting and teaching! And please follow me on Instagram, Pinterest (lots of Montessori-, holiday-, and theme-related boards), and YouTube. While you’re here, please check out the Living Montessori Now shop.
