Course Optional Materials - Stage 1

Apart from the supplied materials (PhonixPals cards, plain alphabet cards, worksheets, etc.), we also mention some optional materials through the course.

For extra convenience, find them listed below.

*Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links provided may link to the Amazon marketplace. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Table of Contents

Sand Tray

Sand trays are a fantastic tool at this stage of your child’s learn-to-read journey. While optional for the course, I strongly encourage you to check them out. In my opinion, they are a worthy investment.

While sand trays have traditionally been associated with the Montessori system, their use is becoming widespread. Sand trays strengthen pencil grip by stimulating the fine motor skills necessary for handwriting. Not to mention that kids love them! They are fun and even relaxing.

I recommend opting for a sand tray with a lid, so the sand (mostly) stays where it should, along with a wooden stylus. If your child is still too young or struggles with the stylus, she can finger-trace in the sand instead.

AtMini Montessori Sand Tray with Lid – Wooden Sand Trays for Kids Writing Letters and Numbers, Preschool Classroom Must Haves, Kindergarten Learning Tools (Blue)

Montessori Sand Trays
Wooden Sand Tray Toys for Kids – A handmade wooden sand tray measuring 10.2 x 6.3 inches with magnetism, a lid, a wooden scraper, a wooden pen, a packet of blue sand, and 26 cards with upper and lower case letters. Perfect for sensory play, sand table activities, and Montessori classroom essentials.
Safe and Reliable – Our Montessori sand tray is handcrafted from high quality wood with a great feel and smoothness, and the edges are crafted and sanded to be round and smooth without hurting your hands. Ideal for preschool classroom must haves and kindergarten learning tools, very friendly to children’s cute little hands.
Letter Writing as Well as Cognitive – Montessori toys allow children alphabet initiation, learning how to write letters, sand art, and sand tray therapy. Inspire children’s creativity, create in learn, learn in play. Great for sensory activities and homeschool supplies.
Beautifully Packaged Gift – All the accessories are packed in the sandbox and placed inside a beautiful gift box. Great for kids with learning challenges, special education classroom, or as a Reggio Emilia classroom material. Excellent learning toy gift for boys and girls.

Sandpaper Letters

These letters are specially crafted using rough sandpaper, engaging the sense of touch.

Young learners are encouraged to repeatedly trace each letter, allowing its shape to become ingrained in their muscle memory.

While, again, optional for the course, I believe they are a worthy investment.

Didax Lowercase Sandpaper Letters – 28 Tactile Alphabet Cards for Grades Pre-K to 1st – Educational Letter Resources for Young Learners, Orange

Kickstart your preschooler’s educational journey into reading and writing – Help young learners master the alphabet in an engaging and effective way. Designed to captivate young minds, these cards integrate sight, touch, and sound, making the learning of the alphabet not just interactive but truly enjoyable.
Bring letters to life and unlock a world of tactile learning – Touch reinforces every letter’s shape and sound,
Help your child grasp the fundamentals of writing with conf
Sandpaper letters are educator developed, classroom tested, and always trusted for efficacy, durability, and authentic learning value – These cards can be used alongside other Didax manipulatives for preschoolers like sandpaper numerals which help in learning correct numeral formation.

Letter Construction Set

Letter construction sets are engaging and fun to use. They are a great tool for working on letter formation in a playful way.

However, since I provide many other alternatives to engage the senses while working on letters, I consider them completely optional for the course. It’s really up to you!

Learning Resources Giant Magnetic Letter Construction – Alphabet Magnets, Letter Building and Recognition, Learn to Read Activities, Montessori Spelling, Fine Motor Games, Classroom Must Haves

BUILD LETTER RECOGNITION – Colorful magnetic pieces help kids ages 4+ learn uppercase and lowercase letters through hands-on construction, making early literacy fun and engaging.
PROMOTE FINE MOTOR SKILLS – Snapping together curves and lines strengthens hand muscles and coordination, supporting pre-writing development while kids enjoy creative letter-building play.
STEP-BY-STEP LEARNING – Includes 13 activity cards with guided instructions to teach letter formation, giving children confidence as they master alphabet skills in a visual, interactive way.
DURABLE CLASSROOM TOOL – Made from sturdy, flexible magnets designed for repeated use on whiteboards or magnetic surfaces, perfect for classrooms, homeschool, or therapy sessions.
COMPLETE SET FOR SUCCESS – Comes with 60 color-coded pieces, hooks, curves, and straight lines for endless letter combinations, plus an activity guide for structured learning fun.

Playfoam Construction Set

Again, these sets are engaging and fun and work great with children (like mine!) who love hands-on, sensory activities (feeling and working with different textures).

Educational Insights Playfoam Shape & Learn Letter Sounds: Flash Card Set, Preschoolers Learn to Write, Sensory Toys, Ages 3+

SPARK MORE CONFIDENCE! Boost confidence with core learning toys that build the skills kids need for school success
PRACTICE LETTER FORMATION & SOUNDS: Preschoolers & Kindergartners can practice letter formation & sounds with this squishy, squashy, never dries out Playfoam set. Preschoolers simply place their Playfoam on top of the letter on the flash card to practice proper letter formation, then speak the name of the corresponding object shown on the card to practice the sound each letter makes
PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOM ESSENTIAL includes 8 colored non-toxic Playfoam bricks, 13 double-sided letter flash cards
PERFECT FOR 3 AND UP: Playfoam is the perfect activity for sculpting squishy, squashy creations in the classroom or at home at any time! Playfoam is non-toxic and never dries out, so the creativity never ends
THE PERFECT GIFT: Educational Insights toys and games make great birthday gifts for kids, holiday stocking stuffers, Easter basket toys, and back-to-school presents for teachers and students

Jumbo Triangle-Shaped Pencils

These thick, triangle-shaped pencils are fantastic for encouraging proper pencil grip. If your child struggles with holding a pencil correctly, give these a try!

Learning Pencils For Toddlers 2-4 Years–Kids Pencils For Beginners, Toddlers And Preschoolers, Jumbo Triangle Shape With Soft Graphite (8pk+Sharpener)

EASY GRIP & PERFECT LENGTH: The triangular shape of these 6B pencils gives preschoolers a better grip, resulting in more accurate and controlled writing motions. Upgrade your child’s writing experience with these comfortable and easy-to-use pencils
FAT TRIANGULAR SHAPE: These triangular shaped toddler pencils ages 2-4 have a 50% thicker graphite core, making them more durable and less likely to break so kids can keep drawing and writing without having to worry about their pencils breaking
ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY: Our fat pencils for preschoolers are made with premium, eco-friendly, non-toxic soft red wood that is specially designed to be the perfect first preschool pencil. They sharpen easily and last longer than most other pencils
SOFT & CONVENIENT: The graphite in these wide pencils for kids is a 6B, making them softer than most standard #2 or HB pencils. This makes them ideal for beginners, as they require less pressure and reduce fatigue
BONUS PRINTABLE WORK SHEETS: Our thick and big pencils for toddlers comes with lifetime access to downloadable worksheets and blank practice sheets. The unique gridded guides help new and developing writers with proper spacing and builds confidence

Colored Rice/ Pompons

In the multisensory/kinesthetic learning steps included in some lessons, I suggest using colored rice, pompons, beads, and other decorative items as an alternative for the fill-in letter worksheet activities.

This is completely optional. You can always choose a different multisensory activity.

Lattooland 6 Colored Rice Sensory Bin Filler 6 LB (1 LB Each)| Non-Toxic & Child-Safe Montessori Sensory Play for Toddlers | Sensory Table Filler | Color Sorting & Perception | Learning Activity

6 Bright Colors for Engaging Play – Includes 6 x 1LB bags of vibrantly dyed colored rice, perfect for keeping toddlers entertained and visually stimulated.
Non-Toxic & Child-Safe – Made with food-grade, non-toxic dyes that are safe for little hands; ideal for toddlers, preschoolers, and sensory-sensitive children. Recommended age : 18 months and above
Promotes Early Learning – Encourages color recognition, sensory exploration, and fine motor skill development in a playful, hands-on way.
Perfect for Sensory Bins & Tables – A great filler for sensory tables, trays, bins, and tinker trays; pairs well with scoops, cups, and Montessori tools.
Great for Home, Classroom, or Therapy – Suitable for home use, preschools, special education classrooms, and occupational therapy environments.

Iooleem Pom Poms, 0.4inch(1cm), 2000pcs Multi-Colored, Small Size, Pom Poms for Arts and Crafts, Pom Pom Balls, Craft Supplies.

【Suitable Size】This set of 2000 Pom Poms features a small size of 0.4inch/1cm，With a generous quantity and a wide range of options, these pom poms are perfect for all your crafting needs.
【Various Color】The pom poms come in a variety of vibrant colors， include various solid colors, they are wonderful pom poms for arts and crafts. They are white, pink, cream, pink, red, yellow, golden, light green, dark green, Christmas green, blue, dark blue, purple and black.
【Easy to Use and Versatile】These craft pom poms are incredibly easy to work with. They can be easily glued or attached to different surfaces, making them suitable for a variety of handmade projects. From art and craft classes to home activities and festive party decorations, these pom poms are versatile and adaptable.These pom poms are perfect for a wide range of applications. They can be used in DIY projects, holiday decorations, art and craft activities.
【Inspire Creativity and Skill Development】Using these pom poms in your projects can ignite creativity and enhance artistic abilities. They provide a fun and engaging way to express creativity, whether it’s making colorful artwork or adding flair to DIY crafts. Moreover, they promote fine motor skills and encourage hands-on learning. Engaging in crafts with these pom poms can be a great way to bond with friends and family.
【Premium Quality】Our pom poms are made of premium materials. They are soft and fluffy, we promise to provide you a very satisfied product,if you have any doubt, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Hands-on Alphabet Workbook Materials

Letter A

Apple in half.

Letter B

Buttons or bubble wrap.

For extra convenience, use these stick-on buttons.

665 pcs Self-Adhesive Button Stickers for Scrapbooking, DIY Handmade Decorations

Package Includes: 665 pcs assorted color buttons. The size of a single button is 11mm.
Convenient to Use：The self-adhesive buttons do not require glue, you can easily remove the button sticker from the sheet, then stick on your crafts and projects.
Wide Application: they can be used for diy manual craft project, scrapbook or even the decoration in a glass jar.
Products Warning: buttons are of tiny size, which is not suitable for children under 3 years for avoiding accidently swallowing circumstances.

Letter C

Cotton balls.

Amazon Basics Cotton Balls for Skincare, Makeup Removal, Cotton, Hypoallergenic, 200 Count (Previously Solimo)

Letter D

Dot markers, dot stickers, or round manipulatives like counting chips.

DOSEWART Dot Markers for Kids, 12-Color Bingo Daubers, Washable Bingo Markers for Kids Drawing Coloring, Arts and Crafts Supplies Dot Paint Marker Set

12 Assorted Vibrant Colors: The dot marker set includes a variety of bright and washable colors including Moss Green, Brown, Sky Blue, Violet, Green, Orange, Pink, Blue, Yellow, Red, Black, and Prussian Blue, easy to draw their attention while providing a wide range of creative possibilities for young artists.
Washable with no mess: The paints can be easily washed off, which is definitely bonus. Let kids spray their creativity freely yet also leave no mess after fun. Ensuring a stress-free experience for parents, as any accidental spills or marks can be quickly cleaned up.
Great Kids Arts & Crafts Supplies: These bingo daubers can be used for a variety of art and craft activities, including dot painting, bingo daubing, coloring, drawing, dot-to-dot activities, and more, making them a versatile addition to any kid’s art supplies.
Perfect Size for Little Hands: The dot markers are designed with a chunky, easy-grip barrel that is perfect for small hands, allowing preschool kids to easily hold to create their masterpieces. The kid markers are very easy to use with good ink flow. They are going to have a wonderful time making memories and art!
Inspiring Creativity & Endless Fun: Inspire hours of creativity with filled fun with dot markers. Every kid loves playing with these washable dot markers. It’s a great way for my kids to practice fine motor skills, especially when they take the lids on and off. They also make great bingo daubers for adults.

Letter E

Elastic Bands

Charles Leonard Rubber Bands, 1 3/8 Ounce Bags, Assorted Sizes/Colors (56385)

Letter F

Feathers

300pcs Colorful Feathers 2-3 Inches Bulk Feathers for Crafting, Craft Supplies, Art Projects, DIY Crafting, Handi Crafts, Party Decoration (Colorful)

Adequate Supplies: offers 300 Pcs of small-sized goose feathers, each measuring 2-3 inches, making it easy to meet a variety of crafting needs
Versatile Crafting Material: Ideal for creating beautiful handcrafts, enhancing clothing designs, and adding unique touches to personal projects. Great for jewelry making, hat decoration, mask embellishments, and more
Back to Nature: These feathers are selected from natural shedding and carefully colored, Ensure quality consistency in craft creations and personal usefor all craft projects and personal uses
Creative Possibilities：Each feather boasts natural hues and unique patterns, adding elegance and sophistication to any project. Their soft texture and vibrant colors make them a standout material
Widely Used：Lightweight and easy to attach with glue, thread, or other adhesives, these feathers are great for both crafting beginners and experienced crafters

Letter G

Glitter

LEOBRO Glitter, 18 Pack Fine Glitter, Craft Glitter Powder Shake Jar, Multi Assorted Set Extra Fine Glitter for Resin Art Crafts Tumbler Scrapbook Jewelry Making, Body Face Hair Glitter, 15g/ Bottle,

Letter H

Highlighters

Marte Vanci Triangle Shape Washable Coloring Pens Felt Tip for Kids Coloring Book Doodling Graffiti Easy to Clean Bright Color Pen With Carrying Case,Can Write 450M Per Pen (48 Colors)

48 Vibrant Colors: This water-based marker pen set offer 24 brilliant colors without duplication. They are beautiful bright colors and suitable for different drawing especially coloring books, doodling, craft,etc.
Portable Carrying Case: It’s a hassle to collect watercolor pens scattered around. We provide a clear box for you to solve this problem, so you don’t have to worry about. What’s more, the box is easy to bring anywhere, which making it the perfect choice for art supplies.
Pyramid Shape: All coloring pens are triangle shape to prevent rolling on the table. This design is also friendly to little kids and toddlers since the shape is easy to grip.
Washable Markers: The inks are genuinely washable and super easy to wash off, even if you get them on your clothes, hands and furniture.
Gift For Kids: Are you still looking for a washable markers set for your beloved kids. Marte Vanci Washable Coloring Pens have vibrant colors, premium water-based ink and are easy to carry, no-toxic, which is the best gift for your children.

Letter I

Ink Stamp

Kesoto 26Pcs Zoo Animal Stamps for Kids, Self Inking Stamps for Kids Birthday Gift, Farm Party Favors, Teacher Stamps

Letter J

Self-adhesive craft jewels and gem stickers.

MYDBUYSOME 2774pcs Gem Stickers Jewels for Crafts, Self Adhesive Rhinestone Jewel Stick on Gems, Acrylic Bling Heart Stickers, Craft Supplies for Kids

Letter K

Craft keys.

Creaides 20pcs Wooden Key Shaped Cutout Crafts Unfinished Wood Ornaments Gift Tag Perfect for Wedding Birthday Party Home Decoration

DESCRIPTION: Material: Wood. Size: Approx. 1.8×3.94×0.1 inch / 4.6x10x0.25 cm. Made of good quality natural wood , laser cut and polished.
FEATURE: Wooden key shaped design ornaments. Perfect for using as tags, party board, classroom board.
USAGE: Each wood piece was well polished, blank wood slices are ready to be paint and write, you may stain, drill, curve and decorate them as you like.
GREAT DECORATION: You can just used them for decorate your parties, dances, ceremonies or any special occasion. These charming ornaments will surely add festive atmosphere to your birthday, wedding party, Christmas party.
APPLICATION: These key wood tags decor are also ideal for hangers, card making, embellishments, scrap booking, decoupage, sign making and many other art and craft projects. They also will be good props for house embellishments and they will be the best gift for Children.

Letter L

Laces

Letter M

Metal foil or macaroni

2 Cups of Rainbow Pasta Sensory Bin Filler for Sensory Table – Elbow Noodles

Colored PASTA: Bring the magic of colors to your sensory bins with colored pasta. Let your little ones dive into a world of sensory exploration. Bring the magic of colors to your sensory bins with these different themed bright-colored pasta. No coloring will come off on your child’s hands!! DO NOT USE WITH WATER!!!
QUALITY: The Quality of Sensory-N-Stuff pasta is the best quality you will find around and you can reuse it for years to come. We take time to create beautiful Vibrant Colors spread evenly throughout the pasta. You will receive 2 cups of rainbow pasta.
USA-MADE: All of our products are made right here in the USA. This pasta is made in small batches right in our home kitchen.
NON-TOXIC: Our products are all made with natural ingredients allowing parents the reassurance that children can play without unwanted chemicals. NO coloring will come off on your children’s hands. DO NOT USE WITH WATER!!!!
ENGAGING SENSORY PLAY: Enhance your child’s sensory development with this sensory bin filler. Engaging Sensory Play: Enhance your child’s sensory development with this sensory bin filler. The colored pasta provides endless opportunities for creative play.

Letter N

Newspaper scraps

Letter O

Orange Highlighter

Job Orange Highlighter by Schneider

Letter P

Popcorn kernels

Orville Redenbacher’s Gourmet Popcorn Kernels, Original Yellow, 4g Fiber Per Serving, 8 lb.

Letter Q

Paper quarters

(Printable provided with the course)

Letter V

Velcro strip.

Self Adhesive Dots, 1000Pcs(500 Pair Sets) 0.59 Inch Diameter Strong Self Adhesive Dots for Classroom Nylon Sticky Back Hook Loop Strips, Small Circle Dots Stickers Tapes, White

WHAT YOU GET: Includes 500pcs hook and 500pcs loop (1 set = 1 loop and 1 hook, total 500 sets） Diameter: 0.59 inch/15 mm (each round dot stickers )
STRONGER ADHESION AND WATERPROOF: Sticky Dots are made of nylon material and hot melt adhesive with high temperature resistant, very strong self adhesive. Strong adhesive and long lasting, anti-adhesion characteristics.
WORK WELL FOR A CLASSROOM: These circle dots are a staple in classroom. I teach special education so we are always creating task boxes, file folders, and matching activities.
EASY TO USE: Easy to peel off the from the paper roll when you need their work, saving your time. Reusable, durable, and environmental friendly.
WIDE APPLICATIONS: These hook & loop can be attached to most of things, especially for clean smooth surfaces of paper, plastic, glass, leather, metal, etc.

Letter W

Wool

Letter X

Paper boxes and foxes’ pictures

(Provided with the course)

Letter Y

Yellow crayon, highlighter, marker or colored pencil.

Letter Z

Pencil to draw zigzag lines