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Volume 2 Issue 3
April 5, 2004
A Is for April -- and Alphabet!
WELCOME! to Education World's Early Childhood Newsletter. Each month, I'll share some ideas
on a familiar teaching theme. Hopefully you will find a new activity idea or two -- or a new twist
on one of your old favorites! Since I know you are very busy, I'll be short and sweet -- like most
of activities I suggest.
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It's April! I know for
sure because the showers (to put it nicely) are pounding outside my window. The mud's getting muddier,
the puddles deeper, and the potholes are approaching the size of my car. I'm convinced spring has
arrived where I live!
A is for April -- and for ALPHABET, a building block of written language. As we spend time teaching
letters and the alphabet, we teachers must remember to communicate exactly what we expect from children.
I became painfully aware of the need to communicate clearly when one of "my" kindergartners
was having difficulty identifying letters, even the letters in his name. His mother claimed Michael
"knew the alphabet," and, in fact, had sung it to her that morning. While I was working
to help Michael point to specific letters when several were shown, and say the names of letters
presented in random order, his mother thought saying the alphabet in order was the objective. I
had not been clear; I had not held up my part of the partnership.
A few days ago, I was asked to gather ideas for someone who hoped to teach an illiterate adult
to read. "Don't spend too much time, just jot down an idea or two," I was told. Where
did I start? I started with alphabet books! The wide variety of today's alphabet books assures high-interest
selections for just about anyone -- adults and children -- and provides an immediate vocabulary,
usually in a structured format. The learner in question is a parent, and hopefully will, in a short
period of time, be able to share some alphabet books with her child.
For many children, alphabet books provide a kind of first dictionary. I remember one child heading
to the bookshelf in the kindergarten classroom. He found the alphabet book he remembered, thumbed
through the pages and gleefully shouted, "I found my word!" That boy was already learning
to use books for reference. Wow! I love remembering that -- and remembering him.
Happy April!
Anne Guignon
Editor, Early Childhood Education Newsletter
Coming Next Month: May Flowers
Say, Sing, Chant the
Alphabet
Children are learning the names of the letters; the order of the letters; and a pattern -- an organizational
scheme that will become very valuable when using dictionaries, telephone books, and so on. Reinforce
the alphabet itself by
-- singing the alphabet song together.
-- marching to the cadence of a chanted alphabet.
-- popping up from a crouched position when a letter is called.
Giant Alphabet
Make giant-size letters for the classroom. With children, arrange children's bodies to form letter
shapes. Some letters may need only one child, other letters will demand more. Trace around the bodies
onto large sheets of craft paper, let children paint the letter shapes. Cut out the letters and
display them in the classroom or around the school. This could also be a fun home activity. Parents
and children can work together to make initials for each family member.
Family Involvement: Grocery Store or Mall Walk
Put children to work on shopping trips. Armed with a small notebook or clipboard with the letters
of the alphabet listed in order, children will cross off letters as they find them on containers
and signs.
Family Involvement: An Alphabet Scavenger Hunt
As a home activity, cut out three samples of each alphabet letter from newspaper and magazines (consumable
items, not books) and present them in booklet format (one or two letters per page). You can specify
capital and/or lower case letters. Children will find different fonts (type styles), sizes, and
colors -- all things to talk about. Let parents know that the objective is not a beautiful booklet
or finishing the task in record time, but spending time together with words and letters.
April is School Library Media Month. National Library Week is also celebrated in April. And April
20 is National Library Workers Day. What's all that mean to you? It is an opportunity -- to visit
a library with your class and encourage families to visit libraries too. And to thank a library
worker!
Family Involvement: Title Search
During a library visit, parents can challenge children to find books containing specific letters
in the title. (Bonus here: Children learn to identify "titles" as well as find letters.)
And don't forget Earth Day and the national Arbor Day. Learn the names of trees in your area and
make an ABC book about those trees. Learn Earth Day's three R's: reduce, reuse, and recycle.
Visit the following Web sites for more alphabet-related
materials and activities.
Alpha Bites has something for everyone: For every letter of the alphabet, you will find books;
recipes; poems, finger plays, and songs; related art projects; and math, language arts, science,
and social studies activities.
http://www.alphabet-soup.net/alphabite.html
The Child Fun Family Web site offers ideas to reinforce letters of the alphabet. A quick and easy
one: N is for name. Check it out!
http://www.childfun.com/modules.php?name=
News&file=categories&op=newindex&catid=6
Planet Mom's Alphabet Ideas contains suggestions for and links to toys, books, and online activities
to stimulate alphabet and letter learning.
http://www.learningplanet.com/parents/mom/
alphabet/alphabet.htm#books
From Mrs. Eberhardt's Kinders come hands-on alphabet activities for parents and children. (Teacher-made
Web pages like this one are great ways to connect with families. Try creating one yourself!)
http://myschoolonline.com/folder/0,1872,34939-
145423-38-54376,00.html
A lesson from the Texas Department of Health -- "Let's Read! Eating the Alphabet: Fruits and
Vegetables from A to Z" -- utilizes the book by Lois Ehlert in an integrated lesson about fruits
and vegetables in context with the alphabet is presented. You'll find many great ideas to adapt
this lesson for your specific situation.
http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/kids/lessonplans/
chap10_1.htm
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