How to Teach a Child to Read With Letters in the Alphabet

Do you want to know how to teach your child to read, with letters in the alphabet? As a parent, you want your preschool child to know as much possible to give him that head start. Where do you start? Learn how to teach a child to read with letters in the alphabet. This is the best gift you can offer a child's future teachers.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Index cards
• Magic Marker
• Simple Alphabet Books with cd or cassette (optional)
• Internet
• Wiki Sticks, Beans, or Noodles

1. 
   A Child Learns All Letters In the Alphabet Have a Name

   First, teach the letters in the alphabet. Begin with the alphabet song. Either find audio or sing without it. After awhile, he too, will sing along. This song helps a child understand that all letters in the alphabet have a name. This is the first major step in how to teach a child to read.

2. 
   Continue simple with how to teach a child to read. Write letters in the alphabet on cards .

   Make alphabet cards. Use magic markers and write one letter in the alphabet on each card. Don't try to do them all in one day. Try a letter a day. Add this card to all of the previous letters the two of you have already learned. The journey of how to teach your child to read should not be rushed through. Allow time for your child to learn letters in the alphabet over several weeks.

3. 
   Games Teach Letters in the Alphabet in a Fun Way

   Make letters in the alphabet a game. Make two cards for each letter, an uppercase and lowercase. Turn the cards over and have your child play "Memory" where he or she matches the upper and lowercase letter, then tells you the letter name.

4. 
   Audio is a great tool when practicing how to teach a child to read.

   When considering how to teach a child to read, find audio tapes or cds of simple alphabet books. Have your child follow along, or track, while listening to the book. Make sure to stick with alphabet books. Once he/she has listened several times, point to a letter and see if he can tell you the letter.

5. 
   Computer Games are Perfect to Nourish the Beginning Reader in Letters of the Alphabet

   Find computer games or websites. Starfall.com is the website I used when I taught first grade. It works wonders for teaching a preschool child to read. This website offers games and reading online books. Any Jump Start computer game works well, too.

6. 
   Test a Child While Learning How to Teach a Child to Read

   Once your preschooler has the letters in the alphabet down, test him/her. Write several upper and lowercase letters in random order, mixed up, across one line of paper. Hand it to the child and see if he/she can name them. This is called Letter Naming Fluency and children in kindergarten are tested on this in the beginning, middle and end of the year. This process is part of the DIBELS testing program (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills.)

7. 
   Bring in Other Items for Different Learning Sytles

   Once a child has the letters in the alphabet down and may be missing several letters, use things around the house, such as beans, wiki sticks and noodles. Let him form the letters with the items. Remember, kids, just like adults have different learning styles and may need to "feel" the letters. All different learning styles learn to read in various ways.

Tips & Warnings

• If the child gets frustrated, get away from it. Learning How to teach a child to read should be fun for you and the child.
• If you use audio books, games or websites, make sure it isn't too hard. This will discourage the child and he will be frustrated, and not want to read.

Resources

• Starfall
• How to Teach a Child to Read, Beginning Phonics

[athome]

on 3/20/2009 from a former teacher I think this is great advice. 5*

[amylaine]

on 1/29/2009 Great advice.

[2plus2]

on 1/21/2009 Great idea, I need to work with my daughter on this. She recognizes some letters but not all. Thanks for some ideas to do this.

[ManyMusings]

on 1/20/2009 I personally think reading is the forefront to any kind of learning. It is a priority in our home. We have taught the love of reading to our children from day one. Great article. 5*

[ManyMusings]

on 1/20/2009 I personally think reading is the forefront to any kind of learning. It is a priority in our home. We have taught the love of reading to our children from day one. Great article. 5*