Teaching the Alphabet

Here is how I introduced the alphabet. What you'll need:

• 26 manila folders (or large sheets of construction paper)
• felt tip pen
• large envelope or a 27th folder (to keep cut letters and pictures in)
• magazines to cut up
• scissors
• glue

Write one letter of the alphabet on the front of each folder. For letter recognition, cut out the large letters from titles of articles in magazines. Show one to your child and tell them the letter. Then let them glue it on the outside of the folder. Once they have learned the letter names, show them a letter and ask what letter it is, or let them find the folder it goes on. Letting your child do the glueing can be time consuming, messy, and frustrating, but it is really part of the learning process and the more they do it, the better they will get at it!

After your child know the names of letters (you don't have to tackle all 26 at one time), cut out pictures that your child will be able to identfy. The conversation might go something like this:

• Mom: What is this?
• Child: Bus
• Mom: That's right. Bus. B..B..Bus. Bus starts with the letter 'B'.

After you've been doing this awhile and your child is learning the sounds of the letters, the conversation would change to:

• Mom: What is this?
• Child: Bus
• Mom: That's right. Bus. B..B..Bus. What letter does bus start with?
• Child: B

Then find the B folder and let your child glue the picture inside the folder. Each time you open a folder have your child name all the pictures in the folder. Try to only get 1 of each item, unless you find a really neat picture that just has to be included! As your child gets older include him in the selection of pictures.

We would only average 10 pictures at a time and usually only about 3 times a week.

Hint #1: If you don't have magazines, ask relatives and friends for old magazines, purchase them at a second hand store, or request a free catalog from a place like Oriental Trading (once you're on their mailing list they'll send you catalogs forever!).

Hint #2: You will find that some magazines use thicker paper than others. It is much easier for children to glue pictures from these magazines as the thinner paper tears easier when wet with glue.