What are some cool ways you teach the alphabet in your preK classrooms?

Question

Looking for fun, unique ideas that parents could also do at home. Thanks!

Answer 1

i have done many of the listed items but one that has had the most success is the following....we made a classroom alphabet book...using half size posterboard and magazines, newspapers, and other ads we cut out items for each letter we are working on for the week and add pages to our book each week....i usually start the pages with the capital and lower case letters properly written on the pages and maybe one item and then on a daily basis children are allowed to find and add other items to put on the pages....i also encourage each child who wants to in making their own alphabet books either the same way or by drawing the items to add to each page(with parent help as needed)

Answer 2

Children learn letters that have personal meaning for them, so each child will learn the letters in their first name, first. Therefore, you really need to individualize a lot. Make sure their cubby is labeled with their name. Have a sign in sheet and encourage them to find their name "Johnny, you name starts with J. Do you see a on the list? Let's look for that J together."
Sometimes for a transition activity I hold up name cards and ask the children who is next. When a child correctly identifies a name I say "Good! You read Mary's name. How did you know this says Mary? Oh, because you saw the M and Mary starts with M! Great!" As I am talking about the M, or course I am pointing to the M!
I also emphasize letter sounds. When I say a word, I draw out the initial sound: "r-r-r-ribbon. Ribbon starts with the r-r-r sound so I know this says ribbon!"

Answer 3

I have a great photocopy master book where the kids make a 'thing' to go with every letter/sound. It is called Crafty Ideas (& something else). It is from Seelect Education. I guess you are in America so I dont know if they post overseas. It is great, my class have never become bored as each craft activity is different. They dont need lots of things to be made either. Glue, felt tip pens, pencils...
I put the link below...email them and see.

Answer 4

Here are some ideas I found through some internet research...hope this helps:)
1. Spell out and “read” street signs, such as “stop” together.

2. Look for vowels in the newspaper. Circle them. Sound them out together.

3. Practice writing the alphabet. Purchase learning workbooks that focus on the alphabet. Say the letter sounds together, as your child writes out the letters.

4. Compile word lists for each letter of the alphabet. A words... ant, at, apple, etc.

5. Look for children’s poetry that features alliteration. Read these poems together stressing the repeated sounds.

6. Purchase learning toys for your child that feature the alphabet letters and sounds.

7. Make a habit of saying the letter sounds as you say the alphabet. (A is “a” as in at, B is “b” as in bat, etc.)

8. Teach your child to recognize simple frequently used words. (Words such as go, to, at, the, of, in, out, etc.)

9. Help your child learn to write his/her name.

10. Encourage your child to “read” picture books to you. This promotes a love of reading. Never tell your child he/she is not really reading, if they say they are reading.


Most of all, show enthusiasm with the child. Practice the alphabet with them whenever you can, and make sure you're enjoying yourself, because you are spending time with your child and also if you are having fun, so will they!

Answer 5

they can play games..at school..and at home..teaching how to spell..&& learn letters at the same time..maybe this..point to something..lyke a desk..&& word it out for them..see if the can guess the first letter..then point to another thing..that might begin with the next letter or that word.."desk"...so it would be e..keep doing that till you hve spelled the whole word out..but in the begging tell them to keep trck of the letters..you can do that by saying.."so what was the last letter..."...&& if they dnt guess it..tell them..later on..they will get better at it..&& be spelling..&& knowing the alphabet..but start w/ small words..lol..hope this helps..i just thought it all up as i went along..=]

Answer 6

There's the ABC song
We taught them phonetically.... "The sound of A, the sound of A, (then use short 'a' three times)" and so on and so forth.
You can associate an animal with the letter... Arnie Alligator-A,A,A! Benny Bear... B, B, B. Callie Cat... C, C, C. and so on.

Answer 7

My son hates it when I sing the alphabet song, but he loves reading Chicka, Chicka, Boom Boom. It's a story about the alphabet going up a coconut tree.

Answer 8

Sing it to them in a fun catchy tune or make your hands into the letters as you sing them.

Answer 9

sing it to them or watch it on a video. or say a word that goes with the letter.like a for apple

Answer 10

dance sing put fist abive fist & say abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz