What does ABC book read aloud time look like in your classroom? As a new reading specialist, my students begged for Chicka Chicka Boom Boom daily! I had the book memorized. However, each time a letter climbed up the tree, I wondered if they were increasing their letter recognition knowledge? Ever had a similar thought?
Do you wonder if those engaging alphabet books you are reading aloud teach your students the letter names and sounds?
If so, keep reading! I’ve included easy, helpful tips and tricks PLUS 5 activites to maximize your ABC book read-aloud time!
Why is ABC Book Read Aloud Time So Valuable?
- They help students learn letter sequence.
- They allow students to associate a sound with a letter.
- They build vocabulary and world knowledge.
- They appeal to at-risk readers who are ready to dip their toes into the waters of reading.
Tips for ABC Book Read Alouds
Begin with reading the alphabet book in its entirety so your students can enjoy the illustrations and language.
Afterward, pick one or two letters to focus on. Introduce the letter and have your students say the letter name aloud. Point out the shape of the letter in the ABC book. For example, if you’re reviewing the letter T, you would say, “This is the upper case T. It has a straight line up and down and then crosses at the top.”
Then trace the letter with your finger. Have students sky write the letter with their arms.
Next, say, “This is the lowercase t. It is smaller than the uppercase T. It also has a straight line down but crosses in the middle.
Show your students the uppercase alphabet letter card for T. Ask them the name of the letter. Repeat with the lowercase card. Then hold them up side by side and say, “These uppercase and lowercase letters match. They both show T.
For additional review, have your students find the letters in the classroom, complete a Dab a Dot ABC worksheet, or do one of the activities below.
5 Activities to Do After Your Alphabet Book Read Aloud
ONE | Create It
Create letter charts using the words and pictures from the alphabet books you read.
For example, after reading “Into the A, B, Sea” we brainstormed sea animals and listed them under the correct letters.
Other great animal ABC books include:
ABC Animal Jamboree by Giles Andreae
TWO | Touch It
“Touch Think Learn ABC” is the perfect alphabet book for multisensory learning. It’s an interactive board book that has raised letters that students can touch and trace.
Don’t have enough copies for everyone in your class? (Or don’t want everyone to handle the same copy?)
Give students a fun way to form their letters by placing hair styling gel into small plastic bags that zip shut. Students will love writing on the outside of the bag and then erasing. This multisensory alphabet activity is a great way to incorporate a quick handwriting lesson into your read-aloud time.
THREE | Write It
Have your students create their own alphabet books using patterns from your ABC Book read-aloud time.
“A, My Name is Alice” is a great alphabet read-aloud that follows a familiar pattern. Your students will love meeting all the characters, including Barbara, the bear with balloons for sale in Brazil. After reading, students can create similar patterned books.
FOUR | Read It
Have students read printable mini alphabet books. Your students will love having their own book to read!
These alphabet book printables build confidence while teaching directionality, one-to-one correspondence, and beginning word sounds. They are a great way to apply/practice the skills your students are learning. Need these? You can find them in my TPT shop HERE.
FIVE | Look for It
Books like “ABC: The Alphabet from the Sky” incorporate a fun and engaging way to identify and search for letters within the illustrations.
The author of this book used satellite imagery and computer technology to discover “accidental letters” all over the world: in roads, rivers, buildings, lakes, and more. Your students will love finding the letters on each page!
Need more ways to teach letter recognition?
Now you no longer have to worry if D beating E to the top of the coconut tree will teach your students their letters! These five tips and tricks for alphabet book read alouds should have students well on their way to becoming letter recognition experts.
Interested in finding out more about teaching alphabet recognition. Check out these related blog posts:
Grab Your Free Alphabet Arc Mat
Grab my free alphabet arc to teach letter and sound recognition HERE.
Not sure what an alphabet arc is? Don’t worry; this FREE resource will tell you everything you need to know to incorporate into your daily routine.
