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Alphabet and letter knowledge

Alphabet and letter knowledge includes knowing the names of the letters of the alphabet and their corresponding sounds

Alphabet letter

Knowledge of letter names and shapes is a strong predictor of success in learning to read. Knowing letter names is strongly related to children's ability to remember the forms of written words and their ability to treat words as sequences of letters. Source: Reading Rockets

Learning objectives for children and corresponding strategies for library staff

Birth to 12 months

Not applicable

12 - 24 months

Not applicable

2 - 3 years

Literacy learning objectives for childrenEducator strategies to support children's learning

For children to:

Recognise that there is a connection between words and pictures.

Label familiar objects in books.

Invite children to name objects in pictures.

Have environmental print (e.g. "Exit" sign, labels, print on packaging) of different kinds visible in library space.

3 -5 years

Literacy learning objectives for childrenEducator strategies to support children's learning

For children to:

(Begin to) identify some letters (e.g. the first letter of their name).

Guess the beginning sound of some words.

Draw attention to letters on the page.

Finger point to some words in books as you read them aloud.

smiling librarian reading a story book to a group of small children

Storytime at Blacktown City Libraries

Ideas for storytime

  • Picture books that focus on letters:
    • Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault 
  • Point to the title on the cover of the book and ask if anyone knows a letter 
  • Repetition of words and letters
    • Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
    • SHOUT! Shout it out! by Denise Fleming
  • Books with alliteration allow for multiple opportunities for letter recognition and familiarising the link between the letter and the sound
  • Choose a letter of the week to focus on during storytime