| Literacy Training: Alphabet Recognition |
Context: |
| By the time many children come to school, they are able to sing the alphabet song. Some are even able to recognize the letters in their names. Beginning readers need to learn how to visually recognize letters of the alphabet. They also need to be able to name letters quickly and easily. Learning the alphabet is more than being able to "recite" the alphabet or sing the alphabet song. Children need to be able to identify and name all 26 uppercase and lowercase letters. |
Goals: |
- To understand the importance of the alphabetic principle
- To demonstrate how to support children's developing abilities to identify alphabet letters
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Materials/Preparation: |
| Paper, glue, and buttons |
Activity: |
Children who know the letters of the alphabet have more success learning about letter sounds. Teachers have different ways of teaching the alphabet. Some teach a letter a week; others teach the more common letters before the less common ones (for example, m and t before q and x); and still others teach using children's names or words from favorite books. While there is no consensus on the best sequence for teaching the letters of the alphabet, many agree that the important concepts to learn include:
- Letter names
- Letter shapes or forms
- Letter sounds
Talk with tutors about the importance of understanding how the classroom teacher teaches the letters of the alphabet. Most teachers will appreciate tutors helping children recognize letters by making tactile letter shapes.
Invite tutors to use the buttons to form the first letter in their names. As tutors work, invite them to model how they would talk with children about forming letters. Encourage them to use words such as line, curve, and round, and to talk about how their letters are alike and different. Both A and V contain two straight lines, for example. Running their fingers over the buttons helps reinforce the shapes of the letters.
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Key Questions and Points to Remember: |
- Teach children letter names, shapes, and sounds.
- Understand how to make learning the alphabet a concrete experience for children.
- Make learning the alphabet more relevant for children by using the letters in their names.
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Developed by LEARNS, a partnership of the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory (1-800-361-7890) and Bank Street College of Education (1-800-930-5664). For additional activities or assistance, please call. |
