Some children may already know the ABC's, having learned them in order to sing the traditional ABC song. However, the transition from merely calling letters to actually associating them with specific sounds begins in this important developmental year. Children are developing motor, language and vocabulary skills, all of which involve the alphabet.
Knowledge of the alphabet is essential for reading and writing. Children must know the alphabet to understand phonics, the sound-based method of reading instruction. Students progress from letter-naming and recognition to sound production, then reading. At the same time, kindergarten students are also learning to write the alphabet, then words and short sentences. When children know the alphabet proficiently, their reading and writing skills will improve rapidly.
Knowledge of letters directly affects a child's ability to read fluently. Although students pronounce words by sounds and not letter name, they will be able to decode (sound out) words more quickly if they automatically recognize letters and know the corresponding sound. The letter should be an instant cue to the sound.
Letter-naming ability also affects comprehension. Readers who do not develop the skill to name and know letters automatically will struggle to understand what they are reading. Students will spend so much time on decoding that the meaning is lost. If children still have difficultly with phonological skills by third grade, they may be at-risk for failure in reading as well as other subjects.