Teaching The Alphabet
The alphabet must be strategically taught with purposeful, thorough planning.
Young children need to know alphabet letters and sounds; in fact, knowledge of the Alphabetic Principal is crucial for a young child to become a successful reader. The Alphabetic Principal is simply the idea that a letter or groups of letters represent a spoken sound. Once young children understand the letters and their predictable sound(s), they are able to apply that knowledge to the decoding of words.
The best way to teach the alphabet is to teach letters (upper & lowercase) and sounds together, but have the emphasis of accountability on the uppercase letter. I like to introduce my letter using my focus wall above. I introduce everything I can about the letter including the name, the sound, mouth positioning using Lindamood LIPS picture cards (I know there are cards available on TPT). I like to use the signing cards from signingtime.com, but there are many free cards available if you google it!
I use the pocket chart that is made by Really Good Stuff that is available on Amazon for $29. (I actually bought 2 sets so that I could keep all of my letters in a bag as this set copies A-M on one side of the card and N-Z on the other. This drove me crazy because I am an organized filer that wants everything ready to go.
One of the resources that I could live without is the alphabet tubs from Lakeshore (also available on Amazon. I use these tubs not only with my focus wall, but with many beginning sound games. I know they are a little pricey, but I started by trying to find my own objects at dollar stores and more and it was adding up really fast so I decided to use some of my budget and just bite the bullet. I do not regret it, because I have now had them for 20 years and they still look as good as new!
The sticks of course are from Handwriting Without Tears, The little letter books are from Rigby Books, and Hameray Publishing. The Alphabet Zoo program is mine that I have used for 25 years. It has evolved throughout the years and I now own a beanie for each letter (thanks to ebay). The letter chart above the focus chart is how I practice the letters and sounds before the new letter introduction. Now, I am doing and A-Z uppercase anchor and so the letters are in order. When I begin my letter focus weeks, I will turn the letters to lowercase and place them in the introduced order. That way, the letters will be ready for me to arrange as we learn to decode words.
Our podcast, The Alphabetic Principal offers more insights on how I use my focus wall to teach the alphabet.
In the podcast I speak of some great books that talk about the Alphabetic Principal, the anchor of uppercase letters, and suggestions of how to set a solid foundation with your students for future reading success.
This book is the one that was developed by the government to end the so-called "Reading Wars" of the '90s. The other one is the Consortium on Reading or CORE. The older version (the much cheaper one) is the one I love! Actually I have not looked at the updated version.
All of thematic units contain great alphabet games. Here are a few products, specific to alphabet that you will enjoy. The Falling Leaves Game is FREE!
Also available at Teachers Pay Teachers!
This adorable set of Upper and Lowercase Alphabet Handwriting Worksheets will be just the support your early learners will need to reinforce alphabet letters and sounds. Contains one sheet for each alphabet letter, with upper and lowercase practice. *Some letters provide animal choice as requested.
Also available at Teachers Pay Teachers!
These adorable headbands compliment the Animal Alphabet materials that provide a consistent anchor to help teach alphabet quickly!
Also Available at Teachers Pay Teachers!
Quickly increase rote knowledge of important early skills by constructing and using "Power Pockets!"
This product includes instruction on construction and daily use. It also includes the practice cards for Alphabet Letter Knowledge, Segmenting Knowledge and Sight Word Recognition (Entire Wonders List as well as Level 1 and 2 Dolch Words are included), number buttons, and pocket label.
Also Available at Teachers Pay Teachers!
Letter sound cards make great wall or anchor cards.
This adorable set of letter sounds cards will be just the anchor your early learners will need to learn their alphabet letters and sounds.
***These cards contain three decorative versions for choice. And an additional version that states the animal only, not the name.
*Some letters offer more than one choice as requested.
Also Available at Teachers Pay Teachers!
This set includes the materials to organize a word wall. Also tips for extension and use, a personal student-size alphabet/word dictionary, alphabet chant, and an alphabet poster are included.
Sight words include both yellow background/red (based on reading research) and white background/black color choices. Words include all Kindergarten Words from the "Wonders" Series", color words, and the first three level Dolch Words.
Also available at Teachers Pay Teachers!
Perfect Alphabet Posters Sound Cards to create that anchor for future phonics success.
Have you been looking for just the right alphabet posters sound cards? Well look no further. Kids love these catchy songs, sung to the tune “Miss Lucy Had a Baby.” Why are they all the same tune? Well that is the hook! You know how a song gets stuck in your head and it won’t go away? Kids quickly learn their letter sounds using this unique format.
This set of cards match our product
This companion packet contains alphabet and picture cards that are suitable for a word wall, nearly 200 high-frequency word cards, student size word wall cards, and a chant to promote letter-sound knowledge.
These cards will look great as your anchor alphabet displayed around the room or can be compiled as a book. Two fonts to choose from.
© Kathy Crane
Follow For Updates and Freebies!
Be alerted as products are updated and/or added to. Get Special Freebies.
Also available on Teachers Pay Teachers!
Your early learners will love these "Developmentally Appropriate" and easy to prepare games that is the secret sauce to alphabet instruction.
Also available at Teachers Pay Teachers!
Description
These alphabet lessons are developmentally appropriate and designed to teach early learners confidence with the alphabet.
The alphabet activities are based on reading research and national standards; they have been classroom tested by thousands of five and six year olds! The objectives, rationale, and/or language objectives are clearly stated for your added confidence. The material section is clear and concise to make lesson preparation a breeze! Remember to file all of the materials together in a file folder to make the preparation even easier the next time the lesson is delivered!
Building Letters: Students explore letter formation and analyze the similar features that letters share.
Write The School: Finding and writing Alphabet letters in a familiar environment.
Bus Stop: Recognizing letters of the alphabet and enjoy some Recess Time!
Letter Match: Matching uppercase letters on a Coconut Tree.
Alphabet Relay: Naming uppercase letters at a fast pace as a team competition.
Letter Treasure: Building toward automaticity of uppercase letters by playing an active game of letter discovery.
Don't Eat Pete!: Naming alphabet letters at a fast pace. But Don't Eat Pete!
The Cookie Jar: Drawing and naming alphabet letters to avoid the mouse!
© Kathy Crane
Follow For Updates and Freebies!
Be alerted as products are updated and/or added to. Get Special Freebies.
Also Available at Teachers Pay Teachers!
Develop alphabet letter naming fluency by playing this fun-fast pace letter gathering game.