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Studies have shown that the more accurately and the more quickly a child can identify the letters of the alphabet, the better he will read. For this reason it is important to make sure your child knows his letters completely before beginning to read.
Introduce the letters a few at a time and out of order. You will probably have been playing around with the letters for some time anyway, spelling out words you see or reading alphabet books. My oldest daughter knew about half her letters before I started teaching them to her. If your child doesn't know any yet, start with one letter, both the capital and the lower-case version. There are, of course, many ways to teach the letters. I'm showing you the one I used, but feel free to make your own decisions.
Start by making flash cards for the two letters. Make a number of each-maybe five or even ten of each letter. Say, "This is the letter B. There are two ways to write the letter B. This way is called the capital B. It's used at the very beginning of sentences or to start special letters like your name." (The letters of a child's name are very good letters to start with, since you will eventually be able to show him how to spell his name.) Write his name with the capital letter. Then write some other words with the lower-case version. Point out the lower-case letter and tell him the lower-case letter starts ordinary words. He won't remember all this, but that's okay. Just repeat the information when you introduce new letters, and later, when you're making sentences, the information will make sense to him.
Now give him the pile of letters. Set out one of the capital letters. Ask him if he can find all the letters that look like this one-all the capital B's. Let him make a pile. If one of the letters is wrong, say, "Oops! That's a lower-case letter. Let's make a new pile for the lower-case letters." You may have to do a few for him. Say, "Let's see: is this a capital B? No, it's a lower-case B." (Put it aside.) "Is this a capital B? Yes! Let's put it in the pile."
Do the same thing with the lower-case version. When he can do that, let him sort into two piles. Set out one lower-case letter and one capital letter. Ask him to put all the lower-case letters in one pile and all the capital letters in another. Demonstrate a few. Remember, this should be fun. If he makes a mistake, it's not a problem. If he seems too frustrated or bored, he may not be ready yet. Put it away and come back later, especially if he's younger than five. You might try sitting and sorting the cards by yourself when he's playing nearby. Talk to yourself about what you're doing, but ignore him entirely. Sometimes this drives kids crazy and they come over to watch. Eventually, many kids want to try too. If you're really sneaky, you can seem reluctant-the Tom Sawyer trick. "Well, I don't know. This is Mommy's game. I'm not sure you're old enough...."
During this time, talk about the sounds the letters make. Do this by naming things that start with the sound. Make a list on a big piece of poster board. Let your child make a collage of things that start with the letter. This will get him ready for phonics. If the letter makes more than one sound, you can tell him about it, but don't worry if he forgets.
After he has mastered this letter, and can name it-capital B and lower-case B-introduce another letter. Let him play with these two letters in the same way. Each day, give him the first letter you worked with. Then take it away and give him the second letter. After he has completely mastered both, and can name them on the first try on a new day-without having been told the letter that day-you can let him sort the two letters. Give him the capital and lower-case versions of both letters and let him sort them into four piles. If that's too hard, let him try sorting just the capital versions of each, or back clear up to one letter at a time. It's important that he proceed at his own pace. We want him to feel as successful as possible all the time at this stage.
There are many fun ways to play with letters. Here are some you can try, depending on your child's interests, and your patience.
1. Make letters out of clay. This is harder than it looks, so you'll want to help.
2. Cut letters out of magazines and make a collage.
3. If he's old enough, draw a large letter on a piece of construction paper. Show him how to trace around the edge with a crayon. Trace again with another color. Keep going until you have a pretty letter. This is called rainbow writing.
4. Another thing to try if he's old enough is sugar writing. Write the letter in sugar and let him trace over it.
5. Make felt letters he can trace with his fingers. Try other textures too.
6. Make your own alphabet book, adding each letter you learn, and draw or cut out pictures of words that start with the letter. Your child can do this himself. When you get to the first letter in his name, put his picture in the book.
7. Luisa May Alcott's father had his children make the letter shapes with their whole bodies. How could you make the letter C with your body? Try a capital A! Let your child help you think of ways. Is there more than one way? This is a major giggling game!
8.Try fingerpainting the letter-you don't have to worry about holding that pesky pencil. Pudding is fun to fingerpaint in and it's safer if your child sticks his fingers in his mouth.
9. Draw the letter on a huge piece of banner paper and then let your child walk, crawl, or dance the shape of the letter.
10. Go for a walk and look for things that start with that letter.
11. Try making sentences using as many words that start with the letter as possible. It's okay if they're silly. Try making them into a book.
12. Write giant letters with sidewalk chalk.
13. Make letter-shaped sugar cookies.
You get the idea. Learning the alphabet, phonics and writing doesn't have to be all boring worksheets and flashcards. Anything that is fun and focuses your attention on the shape of the letter or the sound it makes will work. Your child will look forward to reading lessons because they are fun.