How well do you know your letters?

Most children can sing the ABC song.  And, most initially sing it elemeno instead of L, M, N, O.  They will learn soon enough.   Singing the letters is one way to know a letter, naming it. Knowing a letter by the name includes seeing a letter and saying, oh that's a 'z'.  A letter can be shown and the child is asked,  what's this letter? Naming a letter also includes being able to identify a specific letter out of a group of letters.

That is one way, and the easiest way to know a letter.  A letter is also known by the sound it makes.  That's the letter 'z' and it says, /zzzzzzz/.  It's important to attach a word to the word so the child has some familiarity.   The letter 'z' makes the /zzzz/ sound as in your name, Zoey.  A fun thing to do once they know what sound their name begins with is to ask what other words begin with /z/.  As you talk you can say Oh that starts with /z/ just like your name, Zoey. What else starts like Zoey?

The the third way to know a letter is by word, beginning sound.  So, we know what a z looks like, we know it says, /z/ and now we can say, it is at the beginning of the word zoo or zipper.  (As you choose names for future children you might think about additional words that start with the same letter. Z is limiting.   Just kidding!)

Typically children learn all three ways at the same time.   But many times they learn the name but not the sound or word association.   I have heard children say, Oh that's in my brother's name, it says /p/.  It's very easy to say, That's right, that's the letter 'p'.

Don't feel like you have to quiz your child on all the ways to know a letter.   Just be aware.  If your child says, Oh that's an 'L', just add yes, it says, /l/, it's in your name.

If your child's teacher says they don't know the letters, be sure and clarify with, Do you mean they don't know the letter name, the sound or a word association?  They will be impressed...or not.

There is a lot to learn in the first few years children are on this earth.
 It's amazing when you stop and think about it!