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How to Help Preschoolers Learn the Alphabet

According to the National Early Literacy Panel, there are six preschool literacy variables that directly relate to later literacy development. These include alphabet knowledge, phonological awareness, rapid automatic naming of letters, rapid automatic naming of objects, writing and phonological memory. Early childhood educators can help young children to learn important alphabet/letter- and sound-recognition skills through well-crafted classroom lessons. These lessons should be interactive, hands-on and use a child- or learner-centered approach.

Things You'll Need

  • Images of the alphabet letters
  • Laminated tracing letters
  • Markers
  • Paper
  • Picture books
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Instructions

    • 1

      Design specific learning goals and objectives. These should be detailed statements, such as the children will identify the letters A through G, each student will write the first letter of his or her name or the children will make the correct sound for the letter L when shown the image.

    • 2

      Choose an appropriate hands-on or interactive activity to match the learning objectives and goals. For instance, trace a letter on a laminated template. Use washable/wipeable tracing templates or make your own by writing capital letters on a piece of card stock with a marker and laminating. Give the children washable markers and allow them to experiment making lines over the letter. Ask the children to name the letter and the sound that it makes while tracing. When each child finishes, wipe the letter clean and start over.

    • 3

      Write letters on paper with markers. Provide the children with blank paper and a variety of dark or bold marker colors. Ask each child to write the letter of the week, his or her first name letter, or start with the letter A. Add a new letter each day, allowing the children to practice writing each one.

    • 4

      Hold up letter images to identify. You can purchase alphabet visual aids or make your own with paper and a marker. Ask the children to identify the letter and its sound, and point to at least one object in the room that begins with the letter. Make a list on a dry-erase board or large piece of paper of the words that the children name.

    • 5

      Read a picture book with simple words to the children. Stop at each page and ask the children to identify a few different letters: Look for short, basic words such as "cat," "dog" or "me."

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