The ABCs of Literacy:

From the moment a child begins their journey through education, the alphabet becomes their trusty companion. Learning the names of letters and the sounds they represent lays the groundwork for reading and writing proficiency. Just as one cannot construct a house without a solid foundation, literacy cannot flourish without a solid grasp of these fundamental building blocks.

Bridging the Gap Between Spoken and Written Language:

Understanding letter names and sounds acts as a bridge between spoken and written language. When children learn that the letter "A" makes the "ah" sound, they're not just memorizing abstract symbols; they're connecting the dots between the spoken word they hear and its representation on paper. This connection forms the basis of phonemic awareness, the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds in spoken language—a skill essential for reading success.

A Systematic Approach to Teaching Letter Names and Sounds:

I have found that teaching letter names and sounds is best done using a multisensory systematic approach. I used what I learned in my Orton-Gillingham trainings to develop such a plan. The pacing is two days for each letter with a spiral review but can be used as a letter - a - day pacing with both days of the lesson done in one day. It is intended for a beginning of the year resource to introduce students to the alphabet, alphabetic principle, phonemic awareness and letter-sound correspondence. It is a simple lesson plan that can be filled out and used in small groups as an intervention or as a whole group for the first 26 days of school to introduce students to these concepts.