How to Use the Literacy Support Kit (LSK) Alphabet Resources
Introducing the alphabet early while explicitly teaching phonemes one by one has multiple purposes and is grounded in research about how children learn to read and write.
Early Familiarity with Symbols
Teaching the alphabet gives kids an immediate sense of the symbols they will encounter in reading and writing. It helps them recognise and name letters, which is a foundational skill. This is like giving them the “cast of characters” in a story—they know the players even if they don’t know their roles yet.
Learning the alphabet is an important skill in early literacy development. Students need to be taught that alphabet letters have both a sound and a name If the student has very little awareness of initial phonemes [the sound a letter makes], a picture alphabet can be a good starting point.
Building Confidence: Knowing the alphabet provides a sense of achievement and gives kids a starting point to engage with written language.
Stage 1
Available materials
- Picture Alphabet 1-pictures only
- Picture Alphabet 2- pictures with lowercase alphabet letters included
- Picture alphabet 3– with upper case alphabet letters included
Process
Cut out and laminate the alphabet cards of your choice.
Give the student Picture Alphabet 1 pack and request that it be placed in a rainbow formation [the pictures are numerically ordered]. The student says the picture followed by the initial phoneme sound [ e.g. alligator ‘a’, bear ‘b’]. When the student has mastered this process,s you can move to Stage 2.
Stage 2
Give the student a Picture Alphabet 2 pack and request it be placed in a rainbow formation. Repeat as per Stage 1. The student says the picture followed by the phoneme sound. By using Picture Alphabet 2 the student is learning that sounds [phonemes] are associated with a letter shape [graphemes]
Stage 3
Give the student Picture Alphabet 3 and request that it is put down in a rainbow formation. The student can continue to say the picture and the sound only. or can also be taught the name that is associated with each letter [e.g.’ apple ‘a’, ‘ay’, bear ‘b’, bee]. Alternatively, the student can be taught to start reciting the alphabet [e.g. Ay, Bee, Cee etc]
Moving on: A picture alphabet is a tool is normally used for a short time with young/severely dyslexic students. Move the student to using a wooden alphabet when the student is ready.
Stage 3b
Give the students Picture Alphabet 3 and the Letter only alphabet cards and ask them to put the picture cards in a rainbow pattern and then match up the letter cards, each time saying the letter name as they do so.
As an interim alternative before moving on to wooden letters, once the rainbow has been made with the picture cards, you could then give the letter cards to the students one at a time in random order. They could match them up with the picture cards and place them over the top of the picture cards.
Moving on
A picture alphabet is a tool normally used for a short time with young/severely dyslexic students. When the students are ready, move them to using a wooden alphabet.
Wooden alphabet letters are recommended because they can be placed back to front and upside down, it is a good way to detect and practice the correct letter orientation. Some students will require many repetitions to automate the correct letter orientation, and often, extra cues are required to support them to automate these.
Tips for Success
Success with the Literacy Support Kit comes from consistency, patience, and encouragement. Here are some key tips to help students feel confident, stay motivated, and make steady progress on their literacy journey.
- Stay Consistent and Patient: Consistent practice and patience are crucial, particularly with students living with significant learning difficulties.
- Celebrate Small Wins: Recognise each achievement, no matter how small, to build student confidence and motivation.
- Personalise the Approach: Adjust activities based on the student’s needs, using games and alternative materials to keep learning fun and accessible.
Contact Us
For more details on the Literacy Support Kit or how it can complement other literacy programs, please contact us with your questions.