Learning the Alphabet

kitty · anonymous user Joined: 06 Apr 2012 Posts: 2

The Alphabet might seem a simple thing, but to write the letters correctly a child has to notice and copy the orientation of the letters.

I use a trick my mom taught me when I was learning to write.
The capital letters are the "parents" and the small letters are the "children". Some of the letters, capital A, H, I, M, O, Q, T, U, V, W, X, Y, "look at the reader", capital B, C, D, E, F, G, K, L, N, P, R, S, look to the end of the alphabet where Z is capital J and Z, look toward the front of the alphabet where A is. The "baby" a looks at its "mom" or "dad" as does "baby" d, g, j, q, y, z. "Baby" b, c, e, f, k, n, p, r, s, all look the same direction as their "parent". "Babies" h and t look toward the end of the alphabet. "Baby" m, o, u, v, w, x, Look at the reader just like their parents do.

This makes more sense when one looks at the alphabet.
The capital A faces the reader and its "baby" a looks at its "mom". The Big B looks at its "baby" b who is watching the Cees ect.
Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz

My mom used a discussion format with the full alphabet on a wide lined primer tablet. She went letter by letter telling or asking where the "mom" and "baby" were looking with asides, or questions about what they might be saying to each other or the letters next door.
This helped me focus on the orientation of the letters, while engaging my imagination and creativity.
This technique helped me to learn to write. I use it as well.
Children often discuss letter families and neighbors as they practice their letters. This builds many connections in their brains. ^_^

teacherman · anonymous user Joined: 02 Mar 2012 Posts: 12

For the majority of Dyslexic students I've worked with through the years I've discovered that it is much easier for them to recognize the alphabet if it is viewed upside=down. Check out the 2/12/12 entry on the PI Blog http://pireading.com/page_18.html to see a dyslexic first grader take the PI screener.

Teacherman

yumimumi · anonymous user Joined: 05 Oct 2012 Posts: 11

It's interesting the way you have explained this to me as I have always found it difficult to see things from my sons point of view, As I have recently started homeschooling I think it would benefit us both if i understood how he views the alphabet, In order for me to teach it to him correctly. I didn't think there was as much information about teching kids with dyslexia until I joined the form. I will be sure to try the 'upside down' technique to see if this helps him! Thanks for the advice.

yumimumi · anonymous user Joined: 05 Oct 2012 Posts: 11

Thank you for the link Teacherman this has some great tips for me to try with my son when we are homeschooling him. I have bookmarked the site for future referance. You mentioned some students found the alphabets easier to understand when reading it upside down. Has any study been done to prove this is effective to use as a teaching method?

Lokysweerse · Post subject: Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2012 9:41 am

Thank you for the link Teacherman this has some great tips for me to try with my son when we are homeschooling him. I have bookmarked the site for future referance. You mentioned some students found the alphabets easier to understand when reading it upside down. Has any study been done to prove this is effective to use as a teaching method?

teacherman · anonymous user Joined: 02 Mar 2012 Posts: 12