Letter Knowledge

Posted: March 1, 2021

Letter Knowledge is the ability to recognize and name letters (upper and lower case) and produce the sounds they make.  Discriminating between letters (i.e., ‘b’ vs. ‘z’ vs. ‘k’) and knowing the corresponding letter sounds is vital in decoding, visually and verbally.  To read words, children must understand that a word is made up of individual letters.

To help your child develop letter knowledge:

  • Use lots of fun reading and writing activities.
  • Look at talk about different shapes (letters are based on shapes).
  • Talk about letters and how some are similar in shape (e.g., I, H, F, E, T or W, M, N, V).
  • Read ABC books.
  • Point out and names letters in books, signs, and labels.
  • Draw letters in the sand, snow, or shaving cream.
  • Paint letters on paper with brushes.
  • Form letters using play dough.
  • Talk about and draw the letters in your child’s name.
  • Talk about the sounds each letter makes.
  • Sing the Alphabet Song.