Are you in search for some useful tips for teaching and learning the alphabet? Learning the alphabet is one of the most important achievement for your little one. Whether you are a parent or a teacher, there are quite a few effective and easy ways to teach the alphabet.
You can start teaching your child as early as they are three years old (with simple, fun and playful activities) and then progress with more complex but still engaging resources. You can introduce the letters in different sequence. For example, you may start with the upper case ones first and after you have taught all of them, you can proceed with the lower case letters. This method is more appropriate for kids aged three to four (PreK) as the upper case letters have more straight lines and therefore are easier to recognize and remember. Also, you could start with ABC sequence or you may choose to introduce your child’s name’s first letter as a start.
Another way to introduce the alphabet is by teaching both capital and small letters. In this case, it would be better if you start with the upper case letters first and then continue with the corresponding lower case letter. Again you can choose the ABC order or start with the easier more frequently used ones (especially if you plan to incorporate reading short/CVC words while teaching the alphabet). Well, here are some tips for teaching and learning the alphabet in an effective way.
1. Introduce the Letter
Introduce the upper case letter by sounding it out and showing the way it is formed. You can do it in several ways. First, you could draw it in the air (your child coppying it). Another option is to show it written on a sheet of paper. You can then use paper clips, crayons, popsicles, model cars or whatever you have at hand to form the letter with them). And last, but not least sound out a word/words starting with this letter.
2. Use Poems, Chants or Songs
Find some poems, chants or songs about the letter you are learning at the moment. They are fun and engaging. Moreover, they use rhymes and beautiful rythms that help children learn the letter naming. They also help learn the sound/s they make and turn the whole process of learning into an amusing experience.
3. Find the Letter
Letter Scavenger Hunt is another useful activity that you can use to introduce the upper case letters. You may write different letters on a sheet of paper. Then, ask the child to circle, color, cover with a block/car etc. the letter you are learning at the moment. You can start with letters that are visually quite different (for example, A, S, O etc.). Then, proceed with a more complex task includucing letters that have similar shapes and can be easily confused (for example E, F, T etc).
4. Letter Tracing
Other tips for teaching and learning the alphabet are letter tracing and letter formation. Letter tracing and letter formation is something that cannot be skipped when learning the letters. Of course, visuals are really important. But the physical practice of writing helps for remembering the shape of the letter. It also improves fine motor skills, together with focus and concentration and refines children’s hand muscles and coordination. There are many different options for tracing to choose from. These are different fonts and they all have their advantages. You can download some free tracing activities from here.
5. Coloring worksheets
Let’s continue with our tips for teaching and learning the alphabet. Coloring is a wonderful activity with numerous benefits. It develops concentration and patience as well as the fine motor skills. It promotes and brings above the surface the hidden artistic abilities in kids. Absolutely helpful for relaxation and that is why this type if activity is suitable as tan end – of – the – day exercise. There are different types of letter coloring activities. The one that I find the most beneficial is coloring the letter we learn in one color. All the other letters will have another color. This way we also practice letter recognition. After that you can repeat the same exercises with the lower case letters.
6. Sorting activities
Sorting activities is another efficient way to learn, practice or revise the letters. They help for the development of the executive function skills. These are the ones that help for the development of memory, improve attention span and problem – solving abilities.You can do this activity in two different ways. If you have introduced both upper and lower case, your kid can sort between these. If, not – sorting will be between different upper case letters. For example, N and not N, or Nn and not Nn.
7. Picture Scavenger Hunt
Your little ones will love this activity. This is how to do it. Find drawings or draw a few pictures starting with the letter you are learning. Then add some more that start with a different letter. Your kid needs to circle, cover or just point out the ones that start with a particular letter. Better still, find or draw black and white pictures, so that only the correct pictures will be colored.
8. Flashcards
Flashcards are a great way for young learners to acquire new knowledge, including the alphabet. Flashcards come in different forms and varieties. They can be black and white or in color. They can feature only the letter or the letter and a picture/pictures starting with it. They can or cannot have the word written on them. You may make your own flashcards using ideas onfrom the Internet or you can purchase or download tsome free ones. Here is cute free option.
9. Alphabet Stories
Alphabet stories are a great way you learn the letters as well as words starting with this letter. You can make up a story yourself if you are a creative type of person. If you are not in your element there, try to find some for your little one. Story tellying/reading is something whose benefits are undoubtable and will contribute to child’s development in so many ways. You can only read the story, paying attention to certain words. If your child is ready, you can try reading together and then on their own. Here is a short alphabet story with letter tracing.
