Successfully and Effectively Teach Alphabet Learning and Beginning Reading Skills!

A Comprehensive Alphabet Learning/Early Reading Program

How Does the Program Work?

1. Connecting to Literature -  The program uses well-known literature selections as a base for introducing each letter of the alphabet.  This helps connect the enjoyment of listening to the stories to the importance of learning to read (starting first with learning the alphabet and their related sounds).

2. Creating a Meaningful Reason - Introducing the alphabet in the context of using the alphabet and sight word readers gives the children a much greater understanding of why they are learning the letters (to read) rather than in isolation.  The readers also provide a powerful tool in modeling the reading process to the children.  All the sample pages from the alphabet/sight word readers are displayed below.

3.  Using Auditory Stimulus - Currently I am working with a music specialist to develop an alphabet/action song CD related to the emergent readers outlined below.  This will be a powerful tool to  teach the alphabet and their related sounds.  This will appeal to the auditory learners.

4.  Using Visual Stimulus - Research has shown that the children learn the alphabet letters and sounds more successfully if they are associated with a picture or visual image.  Each letter has a craft follow-up activity related to it for the purpose of incorporating this for visual learners.  For example, the activity displayed to the left would be completed after reading the alphabet and sight word reader Color Magic which introduces letter "m" for mouse within its story context.

8.  Teaching Printing in a Systematic Fashion - When developing the program many avenues were looked at.  The reason for sequencing the alphabet in the manner suggested was to ease into printing the letters more successfully.  Although every effort has been made to sequence the letters in this fashion, it was difficult to coordinate the themes, emergent readers and literature to coincide exactly as suggested.  You will notice deviations throughout the program.  The vowel sounds have been introduced near the beginning of the program so kindergarten teachers can begin introducing related word family groups early in the school year. The first letter introduced is “c” because it becomes the base of printing other letters.  The base for learning to print the letters is outlined below:

Letter “c” turns into        “a”, “e”, “d”, “o”, “g” and “q”

Letter “l” turns into        “t”, “i”, “j” and  “k”

Letter “r” turns into          “n”, “m”, “h”, “b” and “p”

Letter “v” turns into          “y”, “w” and “x”

Extra letters         “f”, “s”, “u” and “z”

More Information on Alphabet Learning

More information on the program can be found in the link below.  This document outlines the literature books, sight words and word families used in the program.

More Information on the Program

Sample Plan from the Colors Theme Unit

This would be taught in conjunction with using the "Color Theme Unit"

Focus Letters
“e” for egg and “m” for mouse

Literature Connection to the Alphabet and Sight Word Readers

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh

Related Printable Alphabet and Sight Word Readers
Extraordinary Eggs reader - Introduces letter “e” within the story context and is a concept book on colors.  A sample of the predictable chart is displayed above.  The children would be actively involved in completing the book by coloring each egg as directed.

Sample Page from the Reader - Predictable Chart

Color Magic sight word and alphabet reader is a retelling of the story Mouse Paint.  It introduces letter "m" within the story context and is a concept book about color mixing. A photograph of the big book is displayed to the left.

Sample Page from the Reader
Note:  also available in black and white and big book version

Focus Sight Words
Focus sight words in Extraordinary Eggs - "is" and "this"
Focus sight words in Color Magic - "and" and "in"

Related Alphabet/Action Songs (still in the process of being developed)
Extraordinary Egg and Macey the Marching Mouse

Focus Word Family
Focus on the "ut" and "am" word families.

Suggested Themes and Letter Sequence

Theme 1 - Weather - Letters "c" for cloud and "u" for umbrella
Alphabet and Sight Word Emergent Readers - Cool Clouds and Under the Umbrella
This could be taught in conjunction with introducing the calendar at the beginning of the year.
Sample Page from the Reader  - Cool Clouds

Sample Page from the Reader bw - Cool Clouds

Sample Page from the Big Book color - Cool Clouds

Under the Umbrella Sample Page
Predictable Chart

Related songs:  Cool Clouds and Extraordinary Egg

Theme 2 - Numbers and Apples - Letters "a" for apple and "t" for tree. 
Alphabet and Sight Word Emergent Readers - Apples in the Meadow and Falling Apples

Number recognition and one-to-one number correspondence would be the focus in this theme.  The literature selections and readers are concept books based on numbers.  Colors and color words would also be introduced at this time.

Apples in the Meadow Reader Sample Page
Big Book Color Sample Page

Falling Apples Sample Page

Related Songs:  The Apple Tree and The Tree Song

Theme 3 - Colors Theme - Outlined Above

Theme 4 - Character Education
This is a short mini-theme that would only last a week.  The retelling of the books "The Queen's Feet" would focus on the character virtues of self-control/compromise and "Rainbow Fish" on sharing.
Alphabet and Sight Word Emergent Readers - Retelling of the literature selections The Queen's Feet (found in the All About Me theme) and Rainbow Fish (found in the Ocean theme) focus on the letters "r", "f" for rainbow fish and "q" for queen. 
Sample Page from the Reader

Sample Page from the Big Book Color Version

Rainbow Fish Retelling Emergent Reader Sample Page
Related Songs:  I Reckon I Like Red, Funny Friendly Fish, The Queen's Feet

Theme 5 - About Me - Letters "h" for hands and "n" for nose
Alphabet and Sight Word Emergent Readers - Helping Hands and Noses

My Hands Sample Page
Sample Page from the Reader

Sample Page from the Big Book Color Version
Noses Reader Sample Page
Also available in black and white
Related Songs:  Helping Hand and The Noses Song

Theme 6 - Family and Pets - Letters "d" for dog and "i" for iguana
Alphabet and Sight Word Emergent Readers - Dogs, Dogs and The Best Pet
Dogs, Dogs Reader Sample Page
The Best Pet Reader Sample Page
Also available in black and white
Related Songs:  Doggie Dance and I Wanna Iguana

Theme 7 - Zoo and Shapes - Letters "g" for gorilla, "z" for zoo and zebra, "k" for kangaroo and "l" for lion.
Alphabet and Sight Word Emergent Readers  - Zoo Escape retelling and extension from the book "Good Night Gorilla" and Zoo Animal Babies
Color Sample Page of the Reader
Kangaroo Babies Reader Sample Page
Related Songs:  Groovy Gorilla, The Kangaroo Kick, Leo the Lion, Zebra at the Zoo

Theme 8 - Five Senses - "b" for brown bear and "p" for polar bear
Alphabet and Sight Word Emergent Readers - Retelling of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?
Brown Bear Retelling Sample Page
Polar Bear Retelling Sample Page
Related Songs:  Brown Bear Boogie and Polar Bear Polka

Theme 9 - Ocean - Letters "o" for octopus and "w" for whale
Alphabet and Sight Word Emergent Readers - Exploring the Sea with Ollie Octopus, Whale Watching and Whales
Exploring the Sea With Ollie Octopus Sample Page

Big Book Color Sample Page

Sample Page from the Reader

Big Book Sample Page