What is the Alphabetic Principle?
- How “phonemic awareness and knowledge of letter-sound correspondences come together in the practical application of reading [and spelling]” (definition from Teaching Word Recognition: Effective Strategies for Students with Learning Difficulties)
- It is the understanding of the relationship between their awareness of sounds (phonemic awareness) and knowledge of letter sounds (phonics).
How do I help my students build the Alphabetic Principle?
- Use letters as you’re working on phonemic awareness skills
- Example: “Which letter would you expect to see at the beginning of the word ‘sock’?”
- Manipulate letters at the beginning, middle, and end of words
- Allow phonetic or invented spelling
For more detailed information and examples of activities to do with your students to build the Alphabetic Principle, visit the original source linked below.
