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An ABC chart (or alphabet chart) is a great resource for teaching and reinforcing letter and sound recognition. It can be used to help children learn the names of the letters, pronounce them correctly, and recognize the different shapes that make up each letter. With its simple format and colorful design, the chart makes learning fun for kids!
The Alphabet Chart Printable For Kids
Using an alphabet chart is an excellent way to introduce the alphabet and its sounds to young learners. It provides an easy visual reference for children to understand the names of each letter and how they look.
Many alphabet charts are available on the web, but if you want a free alphabet chart, you can find the best ones on Canva. Here, you can find an editable alphabet chart template perfect for little learners. It includes all the alphabet letters in both uppercase and lowercase, along with fun illustrations that are sure to keep your child engaged.
Free ABC Chart Printables
These templates are completely free to download and print using Canva! But first, you need to sign up for an account.
Instructions:
- Choose your favorite ABC chart and open it in Canva. It’s free!
- Customize it with different graphics or text if you prefer.
- Download and print at home or order the print from Canva!
Each printable is free for personal use. Feel free to stick it to your wall or store it in your home or classroom!
Tip! Introduce letters by their sound first. This will help them recognize the letter and its corresponding sound.
How to Use an ABC Chart
Here’s how you can use the ABC chart printable to teach your child the alphabet:
- Introduce the letter by its sound first. For example, the sound we will learn today is /a/. Get them to make the /a/ sound many times.
- After practicing the sound, teach them the letter by pointing to the chart. We spell the sound /a/ with the letters Aa.
- Introduce the vocabulary on the chart that goes with that letter. For example, this is an apple. Apple begins with /a/. A, apple, /a/.
Other Letters Included:
- Aa – apple – /ă/
- Bb – ball – /b/
- Cc – cat – /k/
- Dd – dog – /d/
- Ee – elephant – /ĕ/
- Ff – fish – /f/
- Gg – goat – /g/
- Hh – hat – /h/
- Ii – igloo – /ĭ/
- Jj – juice – /j/
- Kk – kite – /k/
- Ll – lion – /l/
- Mm – mouse – /m/
- Nn – nest – /n/
- Oo – octopus – /ŏ/
- Pp – pizza – /p/
- Qq – quarter – /kw/
- Rr – rainbow – /r/
- Ss – sun – /s/
- Tt – turtle – /t/
- Uu – umbrella – /u/
- Vv – violin – /v/
- Ww – watermelon – /w/
- Xx – box – /ks/
- Yy – yellow – /y/
- Zz – zebra – /z/
Quick Tip! The letter X can be difficult to teach. We recommend teaching the /ks/ sound that X makes at the end of words like box, ax, fix, fox, and ox, as the /z/ sound it makes in the word “xylophone” is rarely used. For this reason, it’s best to leave the letter X as the final letter to teach.
Other Ways to Use the Alphabet Chart
Here are some activities you can do with the alphabet chart:
- Trace the letters on the chart with the child’s finger.
- Practice writing the letters of the alphabet in upper and lower case.
- Once they become familiar with the shape and sound of each letter, have them begin to write words that start with each one.
Tips for Teaching the Letters of the Alphabet
The following are some excellent learning methods to ensure your child can say and write the alphabet more quickly and easily.
Prioritize Most Frequently Used Letters
Spend more time on high-utility letters; these are the letters that occur most frequently. The letters A, E, T, I, O, N and S are the most common letters in English. Other common letters include H, R, D, L, and U. Letters such as Z and X are important to know but rarely used, so use your time to prioritize the letters that occur most often in text.
Provide a Multisensory Experience
When you practice the letter and sound, have the student trace or write the letter in sand to engage the other areas of their brain. By doing this, they are not just learning the sound but how to form the letter.
Our Pick
Preschool Kids Sand Tracing Tray
- Write letters and numbers and make sand art
- Includes 26 uppercase and lowercase alphabet letters
- The stylus gives the children a feel for real writing!
- Contains white sand safe for kiddies aged 3+
- Box made from solid beechwood and includes a magnetic lid
Use the Alphabet Chart Daily
Every day go through the letters A-Z following the same process, saying the letter name, the vocabulary word, and the letter sound, for example, A, apple, /a/. It’s ok to learn the letters before the learner studies each of them in detail!
Choose Pictures That Have the Letter Sound
One of the most powerful ways to help children learn the alphabet is to associate the sounds they hear with things that begin with that letter. In this printable, kiddos look at the pictures and circle the ones that correspond with the letter sound. For example, the letter is Tt, and they circle the tiger, table, and teddy but not the queen. They will make some mistakes and may need parental help at first, but it’s good practice because it still enables them to apply what they have learned!
Make Short Words From Letters They Know
Once the child has mastered some of the sounds and letters, it’s time to move on to making words. Start with consonant-vowel (CV) words such as a-t, at, and o-n, on. You may also do consonant-vowel-consonant words (CVC), such as cat, pod, and sun, although it may be difficult for them. Model to the learner how to do it first by sounding out the individual letters and blending them. Try the next one together before they try to do one themselves.
Dictate the Sounds to Them
Once they become more comfortable with letter sounds, you can challenge them by asking them to write the sound instead of the letter. For example, if you say /a/, they should write Aa. You can also do this with short, simple words like at. Say the word and sound out its parts a-t. Have the student write it down. Practice breaking the word into its parts together. Finally, the learner may be able to practice breaking down the word sounds on their own. This is a great way to practice their phonemic awareness and help them learn how to spell words in the future.
In Conclusion
Learning the alphabet is essential to reading and writing – a foundational skill that will help your child succeed in school. With an ABC alphabet chart, you can make learning fun! The colorful design helps engage kids and keeps them interested in learning all about letters. The chart also serves as a great visual aid, allowing your child to match the letters with their sounds and vocabulary words. With everyday practice and patience, using an alphabet chart can help your child gain a firm grasp of English in no time! Good luck!
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Caitriona Maria is an education writer and founder of TPR Teaching, crafting inspiring pieces that promote the importance of developing new skills. For 7 years, she has been committed to providing students with the best learning opportunities possible, both domestically and abroad. Dedicated to unlocking students' potential, Caitriona has taught English in several countries and continues to explore new cultures through her travels.
