DIY Letter Sounds Practice Mat
This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. View our full disclosure policy here.
What do I love more than finding treasures at the dollar store? Teaching letter sounds to early learners! Well, perhaps I love them both the same. At any rate, the dollar store has truly been my ally in raising up good readers in a fun way!
Creating this DIY Letter Sounds Practice Mat was something that came to me my first year of teaching kindergarten. I have to tell you that I have used it with all of my students and my own children ever since! Some times I create one that is seasonal and matches the time of year or season that we are in, and sometimes it’s just a regular, good for the whole school year, practice mat!

DIY Letter Sounds Practice Mat
You can easily create a mat for yourself by using a dollar store shower curtain.
Step#1
Fold your dollar store shower curtain in half and cut. Tip: It helps to have somebody holding it tightly for you while you are cutting.

Step #2
Lay your practice mat on a flat surface. Tip: Use a small piece of tape in each corner to secure it to the floor while you write the letters on it.

Step #3
Use either colorful markers or a sharpie to write each letter of the alphabet on your practice mat.


- Letter Sound Object Match
You can prepare objects a head of time that are chosen by you. Children are to place each object on the practice mat that has the same beginning sound as each letter on the mat. Tip: I have collected most of these pre-selected items from the dollar store.

- Letter Sounds Scavenger Hunt!
This is so fun! I send my children out into our home school room to find objects that have the same beginning sound as the letters of the alphabet.


Teaching early readers can be the most fun and rewarding job as educators! This DIY Letter Sounds Practice Mat tutorial is a fun way to bring some new energy into teaching letters and sounds – it is certainly one of our favorites.
Looking for more practice with beginning sounds? Grab our beginning sounds printable pack!
Want unlimited access to even MORE of our activities and resources? Join us in the Print and Play Club!
Your planning will be so much easier with instant access to:
- hundreds of printables
- every TKC resource
- video lessons
- a digital games vault
- Pre-K and TK Scope & Sequence
- a PLAYlist of fun songs AND activities
- professional development
- additional teacher resources…
Be sure to request an invitation so that you don’t miss your chance to be part of the best early childhood club around!
- Gingerbread Write the Room Activity - December 1, 2023
- Roll and Graph Christmas Math Activity - November 27, 2023
- Editable Ice Cream Sight Word Game - May 29, 2023