Letter Formation Cards
Download this alphabet card set for your whole class and small group instruction, with helpful letter formation stroke patterns.
Alphabetic knowledge refers to knowing the letters by name and understanding alphabetic order.
Naming and forming upper- and lowercase letters both in and out of order
Naming and forming upper- and lowercase letters both in and out of order, and demonstrating knowledge of alphabetic order
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Alphabetic knowledge is a robust predictor of future reading success (National Early Literacy Panel, 2002). Letter names are the stable labels that distinguish letters from one another. Knowing how to recognize letter names is one of the skills that is predictive of future literacy skills.
For many students, alphabetic knowledge begins at home with informal instruction from a parent or caregiver. All students, and especially students who are at-risk, benefit from explicit instruction in alphabetic knowledge. Some students may require intensified instruction to ensure successful development of the key pre-literacy skills necessary for future literacy success.
Consider using an embedded mnemonic to teach the alphabet. These are visual supports with key words embedded in the letter’s form. For example, the letter < a > would resemble an apple to remind students of the grapheme-phoneme correspondence. Research indicates that teaching with an embedded mnemonic alphabet makes it easier for students to learn letters and sounds.
Research also indicates that the “letter of the week” approach is not fast enough. Consider using an accelerated rate to teach letters, and cycle back to review as needed.
“The primary purpose of assessment is to improve student learning.”
Growing Success, 2010, p. 28
Assessment of alphabetic knowledge is a powerful way for educators to support improved student outcomes. A variety of sources of insight into students’ alphabet knowledge, including early reading screening and diagnostic assessments, can be used as assessment for learning to drive evidence-based systematic and explicit instruction.
Since alphabet knowledge is a critical skill that predicts future reading skills, assessing students’ knowledge and understanding can be done through early reading screening. Many evidence-based screening tools include letter naming fluency subtests for young students, giving an indicator of which students are at risk to have reading difficulty. Educators may also find a diagnostic assessment useful to specifically pinpoint letters that should be taught.
Download this alphabet card set for your whole class and small group instruction, with helpful letter formation stroke patterns.
In early instruction, many educators wonder if we should teach letter sounds or letter names first. Dr. Timothy Shanahan unpacks this issue.
Reading expert Linda Farrell works with Reese to master the name of every letter. Learning the name of every letter is a critical pre-reading skill.
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Funding for ONlit.org is provided by the Ministry of Education. Please note that the views expressed in these resources are the views of ONlit and do not necessarily reflect those of the Ministry of Education.
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