Walking by the Way

Aug 18 2009

Read to Me & ABC

I have finally pulled myself together and am ready to start posting about the preschool "program" I am using with Simon.

What is it?
This is a literature-based introduction to the alphabet curriculum for preschoolers. Well, it’s not really a curriculum (such stuffy words for such little people don’t really work for me). I guess it’s more of a collection and organization of ideas.

My goals are simple. I want to expose my little guy to great books and introduce him to alphabet sounds while making fun memories together. I also want him to know that he gets special time with mom each day, too (school time isn’t just for big brother).

Each week I will choose a good book to go with a letter of the alphabet. We read the book each day and work on our alphabet notebook, read go-along books, or do some kind of hands-on activity.

Alphabet Notebook
Simon creates one piece of letter art for each letter. We then paste it to the front of a file folder and fill the inside of the file folder with the other learning activities he does that relate to the literature/letter selection of the week. All the folders can be stored in a three ring binder.

You will need 26 regular sized file folders, a three hole punch, and scissors to get started on your alphabet notebook.

Three hole punch each file folder.

Cut the "extra" part off.

Your folder will be ready to add your alphabet art to the outside and your learning activities on the inside. (pictured below: bubbly blue B)

Book Basket
Each letter of the alphabet has "book basket" suggestions. These are not necessary but will enhance your time together. Don’t stress about getting all the books on the list and feel free to substitute with other books you have available to you. Some of the books were selected because they relate to the main literature selection; other books are on the list because they emphasize the week’s letter. Ask your student to find the letter in the titles of the books before you read them. Say the sounds together, too!

Let’s Make a Memory
I tried to include one fun activity for each week. Of course, some of the literature units also have fun things to do. You don’t have to do it all; please don’t try to do it all, but I want to encourage you to try to do one *FUN* activity each week with your student. You will be blessed with these memories for many, many years.

Simon jumping on the J’s during our J week.

Letter by Letter
I will blog about each Read to Me & ABC week that Simon and I have together including all our pictures and projects (with directions and even a supply list for you). I will link them on this post using the alphabet below. I am going to try to stay one month ahead of my readers. I am on week 6, so I think I can do it! Just so you know, I am way too random to even think about going in order.

A is for apple (The Apple Pie Tree)
B is for boat (My Blue Boat)
C is for carrot (The Carrot Seed)
D is for dog (Angus Lost)
E is for egg (Humpty Dumpty)
F is for feathers (Feathers for Lunch)
G is for gift (Ask Mr. Bear)
H is for hand (Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb)
I is for instruments (Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin)
J is for jump (Five Little Monkeys)
K is for kitten (Three Little Kittens)
L is for Ladybug (The Grouchy Ladybug)
M is for moon (Goodnight Moon)
N is for nap (The Napping House)
O is for ocean and octopus (various books)
P is for pig (If You Give a Pig a Pancake)
Q is for quick (Quick as a Cricket)
R is for rainbow (A Rainbow of My Own)
S is for snow (The Snowy Day)
T is for teddy bear (Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear?)
U is for Up! (Great Day for Up!)
V is for vegetables (Growing Vegetable Soup)
W is for water (Mrs. Wishy Washy)
X is for fox (Oh A-Hunting We Will Go)
Y is for yellow (The Yellow Ball)
Z is for zoo (Goodnight Gorilla)

44 Responses to “Read to Me & ABC”

By Jason on Aug 19, 2009 | Reply
Even though I live at the school house and get first hand reports, I love being able to follow along here with what is going on! Reading it in print along with the pictures seems to make it much more cohesive!

Thanks for keeping up on here!

Love you!
By Candace on Aug 19, 2009 | Reply
You are awesome! I just shared this on my blog. I kinda wish Caleb didn’t already know his letters! LOL! I need one more little one to use this with.
By Kristi from NC on Aug 19, 2009 | Reply
I love this idea! I was planning to do something similar with our almost 4 year old. I will definitely incorporate your thoughts…since we are starting next week with “A,” is there any chance you could spill the beans on your A idea ?
By Erin on Aug 19, 2009 | Reply
Love it Ami!!! You have SO many wonderful ideas. I am sort of doing the same type of thing with Rylee this year and we are having SO much fun with it (ours basically though is just lots of activities and books that go with each letter, we aren’t doing any other type of ‘theme’ except for that letter)!! The alphabet folders look AWESOME! I may have to change ours up to do that. That is such a great idea!

Can’t wait to read all about Simons ABC journey!
By Marie on Aug 19, 2009 | Reply
This is wonderful, Ami! You have so many creative ideas! Thanks for sharing this.
By admin on Aug 24, 2009 | Reply
Hi Kristi,

I actually am not *ready* to spill the beans on A. I haven’t decided what to do for Alphabet Art or Let’s Make a Memory. I do know that our book of the week will be The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall. There are lessons & lapbook materials at Homeschool Share for that book. Ami
By Amanda on Aug 28, 2009 | Reply
AMAZING info – thanks! Just received this link from my home-school group. What template do you use for the letters or is it all free-hand? Amanda
By Jennifer D on Sep 1, 2009 | Reply
This is an EXCELLENT idea!! I just started before five in a row and was wondering how to incorporate the alphabet with each book. This is excellent!

Do you know yet which books you will be reading each week ?
By Kyla on Sep 7, 2009 | Reply
I just love the file folder idea for the alphabet notebook! This week we are doing “F”. Emily knows her letters alerady but this is just too much fun to miss out on! Thanks! (Hope to see you soon!!)
By Michelle on Sep 10, 2009 | Reply
Ami, you are so right, we were thinking so similarly! This looks great! We are doing a sport every week, too, as the whole family, and I really recommend it. It was so much fun to hike footballs to each other!
By Deziray on Sep 12, 2009 | Reply
Thanks for posting this it really helps!
By Gae on Sep 15, 2009 | Reply
Wow I have enjoyed reading this.
I am starting the Alpahabet Path with my little girls and will love looking at your ideas for more inspiration.
i hopw to have my own first week( well it took more than one week due to illness) posted by friday.
God Bless
By Colleena on Sep 28, 2009 | Reply
I am so happy to have found your site! I am just beginning our homeschool journey with my 4 year old. I have pieced together Sonlight Core P 4/5 and I also have Before Five In A Row. I absolutely LOVE the ideas you have here and will certainly be using them. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Colleena
By Vee on Oct 7, 2009 | Reply
your suggestions are great! very fresh .

thanks for sharing
By Jennifer Unsell on Dec 12, 2009 | Reply
I love this and it’s just what I have been wanting to do with Camden- only I couldn’t seem to pull it all together in my brain. We have sort of been doing this same thing, just not nearly as organized as you. Thank you so much for sharing this Ami! I look forward to joining in at the new year and using your ideas!

By the way- I love knowing that someone else out their is random and doesn’t go in order either.
By Sharon C. on Apr 25, 2010 | Reply
Hi Amy, I just wanted to thank you again for taking the time to post these. I know it takes time and with you busy family I’m sure it takes even more. Thanks again, Sharon
By Mia on Jun 10, 2010 | Reply
THANK YOU! This is wonderful. I can’t wait to try these with my preschooler!
By Michelle Breum on Jul 6, 2010 | Reply
A good friend of mine will be in charge of a preschool class next year. I’ve bookmarked this to share with her. My kids already know the alphabet. I’m sure my friend will be using some of your awesome ideas!