Letter I Coloring Page

Point out that the capital I looks like a tall post with a hat and shoes. Coloring takes about ten minutes, and the narrow shape is quick to fill. Then say the short sound together and hunt for I words such as itch, in and igloo. Hit New version for another page. Teachers can print a class set and string them with a banner about who is in the room.

I is easy to draw but easy to mistake for a lowercase l or the number 1, which is why many children find it confusing in print. The capital with its serifs, the top and bottom bars, helps tell them apart. The narrow body is also a good test of staying inside lines. I is also the word for oneself, so it appears early in reading. J comes after.

Crayons work well for the youngest, because the narrow center is easy to color. Try coloring the top and bottom bars one color and the center post another. For a variation, ask the child to color the bubbles in a pattern, such as red then blue, to build a sense of repetition around the tall letter.

Why does I look so plain compared with other letters?

It is a single vertical stroke with two short bars. That simplicity makes it quick to color, but also easy to confuse with lowercase l, so name both when you introduce it.

What are good words for the short I sound?

Igloo, insect, ink, itch and iguana all start with it. Have the child say each word while touching the I, and ask which sound they hear first. Then try a few words that start with other letters.

Is I useful for a name banner?

Yes, in names like Ian, Isla or Ivy. Its narrow shape makes a gap in a banner, so print it at the same size as the other letters and space it evenly.