Free Letter of the Week Curriculum: Letter E Lesson Plan for your Kindergarten Homeschool
- Learning Made Easy
- Feb 15
- 8 min read
Updated: Mar 5
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Introducing a child to reading is like building a strong foundation for a house. You don't need to do everything; you just need the right kind of practice, repeated in a simple rhythm.
If you're a parent who is wondering, "Am I doing enough?"
Let me assure you that you can succeed. You are your child's greatest advocate. You are enough, and you already have everything you need to succeed.
This FREE Letter E bundle + 3-day kindergarten homeschool lesson plan is designed to help you teach with confidence, whether you're homeschooling, supporting after school, or teaching in a classroom. It follows a phonics-first approach rooted in what we know works: explicit instruction, repeated practice, and meaningful review.
What's included:
Letter Ee recognition (uppercase + lowercase)
/ĕ/ beginning sound practice (short E, as in egg)
Tracing + writing pages
Hands-on elephant activities (craft + mask)
Games + songs for repetition (the "secret sauce" for mastery support)
Review + quiz + completion certificate
While this post focuses on Letter E, it's part of our complete kindergarten homeschool reading readiness path (Letters A–Z), built to keep phonics simple, systematic, and doable.
Building a Strong Foundation With the Science of Reading
Early literacy isn't about rushing to read words; it's about building the foundations that make reading easier later: letter recognition, letter–sound connections, and early phonics habits.
When children become fluent in recognizing letters and connecting them to sounds, everything that comes next (blending, CVC words, spelling, reading) starts to click into place. That "click" is the brain building strong connections between print and speech.
Why Letter Recognition Is the Key to Phonics Success
Letter knowledge builds future reading success.
Letter-name and letter-sound practice matters because it prepares children for decoding (reading) and encoding (spelling). Extra practice with letters and letter-sounds supports later reading success, even when it's playful and simple.
Phonics works best when it's systematic and explicit.
Research reviews show that systematic phonics instruction is effective and ready for reading instruction. That's why our kindergarten homeschool lessons follow a predictable routine: teach → practice → review → celebrate.
A Proven Kindergarten Homeschool Reading Path
At Learning Made Easy, we use an 8-step phonics roadmap.
Step 1: Ready-to-Learn Letters is the foundational pillar:
Your child should be able to recognize all letters of the alphabet and all initial letter sounds before moving on to our next stage: the Reading Made Easy program. This series builds on the skills learned here. The next levels transition children from recognizing letters to confidently reading their first books.
Reading Made Easy Levels 1 & 2 are designed to follow naturally after the Ready-to-Learn Letters Program. They guide children from letter mastery to reading and decoding more complex words and stories.
The Pillar of Step 1 is:
letter recognition + letter sounds + early writing readiness. This is where confidence and foundational skills begin.
Mastery rarely comes from one worksheet. It comes from steady practice, gentle repetition, and learning that feels safe. Some children need only a few exposures. Others need many. Both are normal. That's why this free Letter E bundle includes multiple ways to practice the same core skills so that confidence can grow without pressure.
There will be days when the '3-day plan' takes two weeks. There will be days when the glue stick ends up on the carpet. That is okay. You aren't just teaching a letter; you're laying the foundation for future reading success!
We are here to support you on this journey. Our Ready-to-Learn Letters program offers 1,000 + FREE worksheets (Letters A-Z) focused on foundational reading skills.
Free Kindergarten Homeschool Worksheets
Accessibility was always part of the mission.
Some days, you need materials right now. Some seasons, you need resources to be free. And sometimes you need a plan that helps you stop second-guessing yourself and start teaching with calm confidence.
These free Letter E resources are here to:
Support parents and teachers
Make phonics feel simple and doable
Protect your child's confidence while skills are still forming
Free Letter of the Week Curriculum: 3-Day Letter E Lesson Plan
📌What You'll Need (Supplies Checklist)
Pencil
Crayons or markers
Child-safe scissors
Tape or glue
A quick note for parents and teachers:
Use this rhythm as a guide, not a rule. You do not need to finish every page. You're allowed to slow down, repeat a day, or skip what your child doesn't need. (Repetition is not failure, it's how mastery forms.)
Day 1: Recognizing Letter E
Focus: recognizing Ee + learning the shape
Unit 5 Lesson 1
Listen to a Letter E song
Color the Letter E (3 coloring pages)
Alphabet character story + discussion prompts
How did Ellie help Andy?
What qualities make Ellie a good friend?
How can we be patient and true like Ellie in our own lives?
Make an Elephant activity (cut-and-paste)
Trace the Letter E (3 tracing worksheets)
Play Letter E recognition games
Listen to Letter Pop
Review flashcards A–E
End of lesson (tiny but powerful):
Keep talking about letter E in real life. Point out E's in books, labels, and signs, and ask your child to find them.
Day 2: Teaching the /e/ Sound + Beginning Phonics
Focus: beginning sound + early writing practice
Unit 5 Lesson 2
Watch a Letter E sounds video
Make an Elephant mask activity
Listen to the Letter E song again
Play letter E games
Beginning Letter E sound worksheet (1)
Fill in the missing letter worksheet (1)
Trace E/e (2 worksheets each)
Write E/e (2 worksheets each)
Letter Pop
Flashcards A–E
Parent/teacher tip:
When practicing the /ĕ/ sound, keep it quick and playful: egg, elephant, empty, elbow—then stop before your child gets tired. Short, happy practice beats long, exhausting practice.
Day 3: Letter E Review + Celebrate Progress
Focus: writing practice + review + quiz + celebration
Unit 5 Lesson 3
Letter E song
Letter Pop
Flashcards A–E
Letter E games
"I Know About the Letter E" worksheet (1)
Color by Letter (1)
Practice writing E and e (2)
Find the Letters (1)
Beginning Sounds worksheet (1)
Unit 5 concept review quiz (1) + completion certificate
Download Your Free Letter E (Early Phonics) Worksheet Bundle
Love these Letter E printables? Get the full (Volume 1) A-E Mega Bundle sent to your inbox. Get all 190 pages Letters A-E, plus the unit 7 review with completion awards so you're ready for the whole month!
How to Know Your Child Has Mastered Letter E and Is Ready to Move On
Before moving on, you're not looking for "perfect." You're looking for comfortable and confident.
Your child is ready to move on when they can:
Point to the uppercase and lowercase letter E/e among 3 letters (without guessing)
Say the /ĕ/ sound when you show the letter
Trace or write E/e legibly enough to be recognized
If one of these still feels shaky, that's completely normal. Repeat Day 2 or Day 3 activities until it clicks. If you need additional practice pages, download the bonus Letter of the Week worksheets for more practice or play some of our FREE interactive letter games. A strong Step 1 foundation makes every next step easier.
If your child is still working toward that 'comfortable and confident' stage, don't worry! Mastery doesn't always happen at a desk. Try a Sensory Bin: Fill a container with rice or dry beans. Hide letters inside. Have your child pick out the uppercase and lowercase E/e from among the letters. This moves the learning from the page to the hands, helping the Letter E/e truly stick.
Ready to move on to Letter F?
You can find the full curriculum, including 31 units and over 1,000 free worksheets, on the Ready-to-Learn Letters Hub.
Explore more FREE Lessons:
Want to skip the printing?
Visit our store and explore offline workbooks and skill builders.
Play FREE Ready-to-Learn Letters Alphabet (Early Phonics) Games
Final encouragement
If you take nothing else from this post, take this:
A strong phonics foundation starts with fluency in letters and sounds.
Not perfection. Not speed. Fluency.
You're doing important work—one letter at a time.
Happy homeschooling (and happy teaching).
💌 Don't Miss a Single Letter!
Join our Learning Made Easy community here to get the next FREE bundle delivered straight to your inbox, plus exclusive teaching tips and early access to our new "Ready-to-Learn Numbers" curriculum and much more!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the "Science of Reading"?
The Science of Reading is a vast body of research from the last 50 years that explains how the human brain learns to read. It emphasizes that reading is not a natural process like speaking; it must be taught through explicit and systematic instruction in phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. Our curriculum uses these evidence-based methods to ensure every child has the tools to become a confident reader.
What is the "Letter of the Week" strategy?
Letter of the Week allows children to focus deeply on one letter's shape and sound without rushing, which supports mastery and reduces overwhelm, especially for kindergarten homeschool learners.
What if my child isn't "getting it" yet?
That doesn't mean you're failing. It means your child needs more time and repetition, which is exactly what these resources are built for. Stay with the letter until your child feels confident.
Choose Your Adventure: Which Format is Right for You?
Curated collections
Visual consistency
Extended reviews and assessments
Easy and ready-to-use. Just open and teach.
The Printed Edition (delivered to you door) Workbooks are Best for families who want a 'grab-and-go' experience. These are the polished, final editions of our curriculum, curated for visual consistency with extra review assessments included. They are bound, beautiful, and ready to teach!
The Digital Workbooks are best for parents and teachers who want to download the entire grab-and-go workbooks without printing lesson by lesson. These digital workbooks are also the polished, final editions of our curriculum.
Free worksheets offer:
Immediate access
Flexible practice
Skill reinforcement without cost
The Free Printable Worksheets: Perfect for immediate practice, trying out a new lesson, or when you need extra reinforcement on a specific letter right now. These are our 'living' lessons—the first versions we shared with the world to ensure no child was left without resources.
Our Skill Builder collection can be used with any of our full-program learning sets. They pair perfectly for extended practices! You may also use these workbooks on their own to build early literacy skills.
Each format serves an important purpose.
At what age should I start early literacy strategies?
Most kindergarten homeschool rhythms begin around ages 4–6. However, you can start "pre-literacy" habits, such as reading aloud and playing with sounds, as early as toddlerhood to build phonological awareness.
How do multisensory tools help with letter knowledge?
Multisensory tools like playdough, sand, and alphabet games engage a child's sense of touch and movement. This helps "lock in" letter shapes and sounds more effectively than passive worksheets alone.
Are these Letter E worksheets really free?
Yes! You can download the full Unit 5 Letter E Bundle directly from this post. For those who want more, the complete Ready-to-Learn Letters Hub contains over 1,000 additional resources.
Research-Backed References & Sources
IES Practice Guide (WWC): Evidence-based recommendations for foundational reading skills in K–3.
National Reading Panel (NICHD): Findings supporting explicit, systematic phonics instruction.
National Center on Improving Literacy: The alphabetic principle + phonics foundations (linking sounds to letters).
Texas A&M: Practice with letters and letter-sounds supports later reading success.
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