Teach children the alphabet using repetition. Display alphabet posters, sing songs, use physical items or pictures to relate the phonetic sound each letter makes and have students practice writing the letters over and over. Repeat these activities frequently to help them learn the order of the alphabet, understand how to write the letters and eventually how different letters combine to form words.
Work with numbers in the same manner as the letters of the alphabet. Start with single digit numbers and use manipulatives to teach the value each number represents. For example, use LEGOs or other small objects to help children count out what each number means. Have students practice writing numbers on worksheets and identifying them using flash cards. Make your own set of flash cards by drawing a set amount of simple objects such as hearts or stars on one side and the corresponding number on the other.
Combine the two topics of letters and numbers in an alphabet book assignment. Have each child make a book with each page representing a letter in the alphabet, including a corresponding picture and page number. For example, on page eight have your students write the letter "h" in both capital and lower case form, draw or paste a picture of an object starting with "h" and write the page number "8."
Assess student retention of the material in one-on-one sessions. Evaluate the student's ability to complete tasks such as counting to a certain number, identifying numbers and letters on flash cards, writing various numbers and letters and identifying the letter sounds that start words associated with objects. Have students participate in a variety of activities to evaluate their skills and comprehension in these areas.