Learning the alphabet is about more than just singing the ABC song. That’s just the starting point.
When a child only knows the letter names, they might say:
👉 “That’s A!”
…but not know that A says /a/.
For those kids who only know the sounds, they may struggle to connect those sounds to actual letters on the page.
Teaching children the letter names with the letter sounds (phonics) will truly build the foundation for reading, writing and speaking. Without this combination, children will struggle as they get older.
Strong early readers learn:
- What the letter is called
- What sound the letter makes
- How it looks in words
That combination is what unlocks reading and speaking, and will eventually strength writing ability.
The good news though, is that it doesn’t have to take long for each lessons, you don’t need much time to prep, and you don’t need any fancy material or equipment.
You can fit your teaching into real life, tiny, and playful moments
Let’s look at how to do it in the following steps.
Actionable Steps:
#1. Start Really Small
When you’re first starting out or when you see your child is struggling, don’t keep pushing forward or they’ll feel overwhelmed and shut down. Instead, try the following.
If your child or students feel overwhelmed, start with just:
- Start with 1–2 letters at a time
- Focus on teaching in 30–90 second practice bursts
- Engage your child in one playful activity
Progress doesn’t come from doing more.
It comes from consistently doing little bits at a time.
#2. Have Some Fun
Play games with your little one, like having them say the letter , then have them touch it so that they develop a connection to it, and then have them sound out the letter.
Kids learn best when they can use their bodies. This kind of a game allows them to visually see the image, use movement when touching the letter and hear it you and your child say the letter name and sound.
CLICK HERE to see the video of me playing this game and another one with my toddler. Notice that I had to deviate from this game a bit because he’s just starting out but this is the goal. So go with the flow and enjoy the learning process with your child.
#3. Make Those Connections
You don’t need a structured lesson or specific location to teach your child. Instead, connect your lessons to the real world so that you can integrate it into everyday moments. This make it more real for your child and allows you teach your child on the go. You can do this in the following ways:
- Look at the letters on the cereal box.
- Point out signs while driving.
- Use toys while playing with your child. See the video for for how to do this.
These strategies are perfect for children who need this connection and for parents who are busy.
Recap:
Let’s recap really quickly. Today, we looked at the following:
- The reason why it’s important to teach letter names and sounds together for early learners.
- Ways to make teaching your children more fun: start really small, have some fun, and make these connections.
Free Resources:
To help you along this journey, check out the goal-setting resource in my FREE Education Resource Library.
Teach your little ones how to make good choices with the following FREE Resource:
Next Steps:
If you found this video beneficial, would you do me a favor? Share this with your family, your friends, your loved ones, your co-workers or someone who you think could benefit from this. Thank you!
You’re welcome to join us inside ADHD and Autism Self Regulation by CLICKING HERE or on the fallowing image.
I’ll see you next Friday at 5:30pm PST.
Until I see you next time, remember to create, experience & teach from the heart.
Take care,
Charlotte
Disclaimer: I’m a teacher and a parent. I’m not a medical professional, so please don’t take this as medical advice. The advice that I provide in my videos and online are strategies that I have used in my own class or at home that have worked beautifully.
