Note: I'm still sorting through photos and examples of all our Alphabet Projects from the year and will continue to update the links periodically. Thanks!
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Plus a few notes about learning letters . . .
Al Suroor uses the Jolly Phonics curriculum. In KG1, we take a somewhat more "organic" approach, introducing one letter every 1-2 weeks using the motions, books, and songs that come with the Jolly Phonics teaching kit.
A typical schedule for introducing new letters/sounds looks something like this:
Sunday: Find the new letter in our Jolly Phonics big book and write it on the whiteboard. Introduce the letter sound and motion, along with a song/poem. Tape the letter on the carpet and practice "walking" the letter while saying/hearing the sound.
Monday: Walk our letter again. Go on a "letter hunt" around the room (i.e., find it on the Word Wall and in the Phonics Station).
Tuesday: Phonics review game, followed by Starfall demo of current letter. (Students then use Starfall independently as a Listening Center and during ICT.) "Letter Box" containing objects with the same beginning sound. For example, when learning about R, our box contained different lengths and textures of ribbon, a red nose, a rainbow word card, and raisins, among other things. I want the objects in the box to incorporate a variety of senses, and to lend themselves to independent explorations during centers. Alphabet Projects in the Art Center.
Wednesday: Find and circle the letter in a poem or song. Finish alphabet projects and sort word cards using beginning letter sounds.
Thursday: Review and assessment.
Of course, during centers we also incorporate additional writing/reading activities, often with a phonics-driven focus.
However, I also believe strongly in the importance of context. Just because we have a specific phonics focus each week does not mean we ignore all other letters! Rather, we incorporate this required curriculum in as natural and learner-centered a way as possible. Truth be told, I was skeptical of so much direct phonics teaching at this young age, but the results have been remarkable. Turns out, there is a way to find a healthy balance of administrative mandates and personal preference :)
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