How to Learn the English Alphabet
To gain a handle on English, one must first learn the alphabet, as letters are the fundamental building blocks of the language. If you are teaching your child the alphabet, it is a good idea to help your child get started before he or she enters school. Going to school after staying at home with mom can be a harsh transition for many children. Helping your child learn the alphabet might ease the transition.
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Instructions
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Learn the alphabet song. This traditional teaching method still remains one of the most productive ways to teach the alphabet. Children respond naturally to sounds, and applying an academic lesson to a song they can sing along to makes the lesson fun. The alphabet song will also help your child memorize the alphabet more easily. A link to the alphabet song can be found in the Resources section.
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Repeat the sounds. Go through each letter alphabetically and pronounce the sound that the letter makes. Have your child repeat each sound you make. To help your child associate the letter with the sound, say the letter, then voice the sound.
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Write the alphabet. Many children are visual learners, and having your child write down the alphabet helps him place a picture to the sound. Learn the letters in small batches. For example, teach him A through D one day, and E through H another day. Hold his hand to guide him as he writes each letter. Practice both upper case and lower case letters.
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Practice recognizing the alphabet with alphabet flash cards. Navigate to BeginningReading.com (link located in Resources section below) to print out free flash cards. Hold up flash cards one at a time to help your child practice the alphabet. These flash cards also have pictures on them to help him associate letters with objects.
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Identify signs around you. The alphabet lesson continues throughout the day. When you take your child to the store, point out letters in signs. For example, when passing McDonald's, show him that McDonald's starts with M. This way, he will understand that letters are everywhere, and begin to identify them on his own.
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Tips & Warnings
If you have a CD with the alphabet song, play the song while driving. Encourage your child to sing along. This will help him remember the alphabet easily.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit http://morguefile.com
