The ability to name letters in a variety of settings (and not in alphabetical order) is one of the strongest predictors of later reading success. Being able to sing the alphabet does not necessarily mean that your child understands what the letters mean. Preschoolers need to understand:

• letters have names.
• letters represent sounds.
• letters are used to create patterns to form words.

Research indicates:

• A young child's knowledge of the alphabet and ability to rapidly and automatically name letters is a strong predictor of later reading success (NELP, 2004).
• Many letter names provide information about the sounds they represent (Torgesen, 1998).
• A child is highly motivated to learn the letters of their own name (Share & Jaffe-Gur, 1999).
• Children who can instantly recognize the letters of the alphabet are able to focus their attention on other literacy tasks (Hall & Moats, 1999).
• Letter knowledge is a predictor of phonological growth and sensitivity across the year (Burgess & Lonigan, 1998).

Increasing letter knowledge in the classroom...

Increasing letter knowledge in the community and at home. . .