10 Dictation Sentences For Kindergarteners [PDF Included]

Dictation is a helpful technique for teaching spelling since it allows kids to use their abilities in a “real world” setting. Simply put, you recite a phrase or sentence that includes their spelling terms, and the kids repeat and write it down.

Dictation aids in the development of short-term memory. Before jotting down important words or entire sentences, students practice retaining them. Dictation is a wonderful review activity. Dictation makes kids psychologically and analytically strong. Therefore, this article will discuss the peripheries of Dictation for kindergarteners. Have a look below.

Dictation sentences: Helping kindergarteners with spelling and more

One of the primary issues with traditional spelling education is that children learn the terms on a list but frequently forget how to write them the following week, which is frustrating and disappointing. 

Writing significant creative phrases might be difficult when you’re initially learning to spell! It’s very hard for kids who haven’t acquired automaticity to focus on all components of writing a phrase at once—spelling, mechanics, imagination, word choice, and grammar.

However, using new knowledge in a meaningful way, such as by composing sentences efficiently, is one of the most used methods to make it “stick.” This is why dictation comes across as a powerful tool. 

This article will help you walk through the five simple steps for dictation and how to go about it. Read more.

1. Dictate a sentence aloud

You will recite two to five sentences or phrases every day, depending on your kid’s ability, only using words that your kid has previously learned to spell. Inform your student that he must concentrate because you’ll only say the statement once.

2. The student repeats the sentence

Reiterating the sentence will assist your student in remembering it in short-term memory long enough for him or her to write it down. Give them a few seconds to even a few minutes to carefully repeat that sentence. You could ask each child to get up and say the sentence aloud. If the child is unable to repeat the sentence you have dictated, it is then important to work on their memory power. 

3. Your child writes the sentence.

Even if you notice your child making a spelling mistake as he writes the sentence, do not correct him. In fact, it’s better to keep your gaze away from him when he’s writing! This helps him focus on what he’s doing without feeling watched or criticized, enabling him to “own” the spelling process. After the following stage, there will be an opportunity for spelling correction.

4. Your child double-checks the phrase she just wrote.

In this phase, your child reads aloud or to herself her writing. This is an excellent opportunity for your learner to practice self-correction. She should examine herself by asking herself the following questions: Is it safe to say that I spelled everything correctly? Did I use correct capitalization and punctuation?

5. Before reciting the next sentence, double-check the previous one.

If you find a misspelled term, then this is critical teaching time. You can ask the student to bring their notebooks one by one, and you can have a detailed look at each. Now is the time you can tell them and help them correct their mistakes. It could range from spelling errors to punctuation errors or capitalizing mistakes. 

Dictation sentences for kindergarteners

Students enter kindergarten at various levels. You will most likely have some children who are keen to learn about phrases and others who are not. And that’s okay. Teaching sentences with phonics at the start of the school year will help all students.

  1. Can you please play a tune?
  2. It will snow all winter.
  3. Can I get a cat home?
  4. She sang a song.
  5. He broke a bone.
  6. We will fish at the lake tomorrow.
  7. My mother will cook some lunch. 
  8. I will now cross the street.
  9. It’s almost time to wake up.
  10. The mangoes are ripe now.
10 Dictation Sentences For Kindergarteners pdf

Engaging dictation activities: Get a hang of spelling

Activity 1- Story dictation

Nina in a Jungle

Nina was walking through the jungle when she came across a big cow. The cow was eating some leaves from a tree. Nina asked the cow what her favorite season was. The cow replied, “I love all seasons, but my favorite is winter.” Nina then asked the cow what her favorite food was. The cow said, “I love all fruits, but my favorite is the apple.” Nina then asked the cow what her favorite color was. The cow said, “I love all colors, but my favorite is blue.” Nina then asked the cow what her favorite thing to do was. The cow said, “I love all things, but my favorite is to eat.”

Nina then asked the cow if she could have a ride on her back. The cow agreed, and Nina climbed on. The cow took Nina for a ride through the jungle. Along the way, they came across a river. The cow stopped and let Nina down. Nina asked the cow if she could have a drink of water. The cow said, “Sure.” Nina drank water from the river and returned to the cow’s back. The cow took Nina to her favorite place in the jungle, a clearing where there was a big tree. The cow said, “This is my favorite place in the jungle. I come here to eat leaves from the tree.” Nina then asked the cow if she could have a ride back to her house. The cow agreed and took Nina back to her house. Nina thanked the cow and said, “Thank you, Cow, you’re the best! It was the best ride of my life.” And then she went inside her house.

Dictation words:

  • jungle
  • cow
  • leaves
  • tree
  • season
  • winter
  • food
  • fruits
  • apple
  • color
  • blue
  • things
  • eat
  • ride
  • climbed
  • river
  • drink
  • water
  • place
  • house
  • best
  • Thank you
  • inside

Activity 2- The Puppet Show of Annie and Rose

My favorite Animal

Hello, my name is Annie. I am 5 years old, and I love animals. My father is a farmer, so we have many animals on our farm. Our farm has cows, ducks, chickens, pigs, horses, dogs, and sheep. But my favorite animal is a cow named Rose. Rose is a beautiful black and white Holstein. I love to watch her graze in the pasture. She is so peaceful and serene. When I am having a bad day, all I have to do is go sit by her, and I feel better. She always makes me smile. Rose gives us milk every day. Her milk is very tasty and healthy. I love milk.

Do you?

My mother makes yogurt, cheese, butter, and ice cream from that milk. It is very delicious. I drink milk every day before going to school. It gives me the energy to play and learn. It also makes my brain sharp. Milk helps me in learning tables easily. You should have milk too. The mother says it is good for the mind, body, and soul.

Which is your favorite drink? Let’s write down your favorite drink in the notebook.

I sit on Rose’s back whenever I am in a playful mood. She took me for a ride across the farm. She has a golden bell tied around her neck. So whenever she moves- the bell rings. Ting! Ting! I love the sound of the bell. It is like music. Very calming and soft.

Do you like music? Which is your favorite song? Let’s write down the name of your favorite song in the notebook.

I think I should go now. It’s time for me to go to school. So goodbye! It was lovely to meet you all.

Dictation Words

  • Annie
  • love
  • animals
  • father
  • farmer
  • animal
  • farm
  • cows
  • ducks
  • chickens
  • pigs
  • horses
  • dogs
  • favorite
  • Rose
  • beautiful
  • black
  • white
  • watch
  • graze
  • pasture
  • peaceful
  • serene
  • sit
  • feel
  • smile
  • mother
  • everyday
  • tasty
  • healthy
  • playful
  • mood
  • back
  • ride
  • Golden
  • bells
  • neck
  • rings
  • sound
  • music
  • calming
  • soft
  • Goodbye
  • lovely
  • meet

Activity 3- Tell a Friend

This is a very simple activity in which the teacher will make teams of two students per team. Every team will be given 5 minutes, where one friend will tell the other friend about their favorite vegetable. Then, while one friend narrates, the other will write down the spellings of all the vegetables used in the story. After completing the activity, the teacher can review their work, decide whether to reward the kids, announce a winner, or review the sheets for internal activity marks.

Conclusion

The objective of dictation is to continue improving an individual’s reading and writing abilities. As parents and educators, one can suggest to the learner that he/she is undertaking something that may be challenging at first but will eventually become easy as you are certain that they succeed and emphasize that some tasks require extra effort. Your objective isn’t perfection; it’s merely to assist your child in expanding his abilities bit by little and step by step.

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