I'm so glad you found this page! If you are looking for a free preschool curriculum for your child, here it is.
What is Read to Me & ABC?
This is a literature-based letter of the week curriculum for preschoolers. Well, it's not really a curriculum (such stuffy words for such little people don't really work for me). It's more of a collection and organization of ideas.
While I was writing Read to Me & ABC, my goals were simple. I wanted to expose my preschooler to great books and introduce him to alphabet sounds while making fun memories together. I also wanted him to know that he would receive special time with mom each day–school time wasn't just for big brother.
How Does This Preschool Curriculum Work?
Each week there is a book to go with a letter of the alphabet. We read the book each day (yes, five times!), and worked on an alphabet notebook. We also read a few go-along books and did a hands-on project or activity for each letter of the alphabet.
Alphabet Notebook
Simon created one piece of letter art for each letter. We then pasted it to the front of a file folder and filled the inside of the file folder with the other learning activities he does that relate to the book we are reading as well as the letter of the week. All the folders were stored in a 3-ring binder for the student to showcase and review.
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 for Read to Me & ABC Preschool Curriculum
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
This was my favorite part of this preschool curriculum! I included at least one fun activity for each week. Some of the literature units include activities, too; please don't try to do it all. Simply choose one memory making activity to do with your student each week. You will be blessed with these memories for many, many years!
Simon jumping on the J's during our J week.
Read to Me & ABC Preschool Curriculum
I have blogged about all 26 weeks below. Simply click on a letter to read the plans.
A is for apple (The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall)
B is for boat (My Blue Boat by Chris Demarest)
C is for carrot (The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss)
D is for dog (Angus Lost by Marjorie Flack)
E is for egg (Humpty Dumpty)
F is for feathers (Feathers for Lunch by Lois Ehlert)
G is for gift (Ask Mr. Bear by Marjorie Flack)
H is for hand (Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb by Al Perkins)
I is for instruments (Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin by Lloyd Moss)
J is for jump (Five Little Monkeys by Eileen Christelow)
K is for kitten (Three Little Kittens by Paul Galdone)
L is for Ladybug (The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle)
M is for moon (Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown)
N is for nap (The Napping House by Don and Audrey Wood)
O is for ocean and octopus (various books)
P is for pig (If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Numeroff)
Q is for quick (I'm as Quick as a Cricket by Don and Audrey Wood)
R is for rainbow (A Rainbow of My Own by Don Freeman)
S is for snow (The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats)
T is for teddy bear (Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? by Nancy Carlstrom)
U is for Up! (Great Day for Up! by Dr. Seuss)
V is for vegetables (Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert)
W is for water (Mrs. Wishy Washy by Joy Cowley)
X is for fox (Oh A-Hunting We Will Go by John Langstaff)
Y is for yellow (The Yellow Ball by Molly Bang)
Z is for zoo (Goodnight Gorilla by Peggy Ratham)
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!
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. š
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 :)?
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!
This is wonderful, Ami! You have so many creative ideas! Thanks for sharing this.
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. š Ami
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
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 ?
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!!)
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!
Thanks for posting this it really helps!
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
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
your suggestions are great! very fresh .
thanks for sharing
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. š
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
THANK YOU! This is wonderful. I can’t wait to try these with my preschooler! š
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!
I just love this idea! My little girl is 3.5 years old and she’s gonna love this. And so am i ’cause i do like just a BIT of structure and this sounds just perfect š
We live in Holland so we speak dutch, i have to adjust the list so the letters match the right words but that shouldn’t be a problem.
Thank you so much for sharing all the things on your blog and especially this idea.
Love from the Netherlands.
I love your ideas! I started doing something similar with my 3 1/2 year old & he begs to do school. The only one not on here is the letter U. Do you mind sharing what you did for that week? Thanks so much!!
Jill,
I just need to get U on there! š I will try to do that SOON!
Great idea to attach a book to each letter. It’s always exciting for kids to see those kind of connections.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I have been doing these activities as a letter-a-week program for my 3 year old all year and we are loving it. She is able to write most of these letters now, knows their sounds and just loves looking through her letter “book” each week. She feels so accomplished. What a wonderful “program.” Thank you for your willingness to share š
Hi! I love this plan!! My baby girl will be 2 in Aug. is that too early to start? should I wait til next year to start this with her? Thanks!
Hi Holly! I think you could start with a 2 year old, but I think it would be more fun to do with a 3 year old! š Ami
This is so incredible! I have been thinking about homeschooling and didn’t know where to start. I found the Homeschool Share site and have read about Five in a Row. I am so excited to start these lapbooks with my almost 3 year old. I believe God led me to your blog and I am so thankful for you sharing all of this information!
Thank you so much for this!
I’m a new preschool teacher, and this is SO helpful!
thank you thank you!
That’s fantastic, Erin! Let me know if you have any questions or need any help! š Ami
Ami, this is a great resource. Thank you for making something fun and EASY to execute! š So many programs belabor the prep work. I sincerely appreciate you making this available free for us to use.
Do you plan to turn your adorable pictures from the top graphic into flashcards? I'd love to have those to use on a pocket chart, or to use on a jump ring for my preschooler/toddler to flip through and remember our units.
You are welcome, Erin! I knew I had to do something simple-ish, or I would never stick with it! š
Thank you so much for sharing this resource! I want to start working with my granddaughter as I watch her everyday rather than daycare. She is only 20 months but very smart. She is already learning her colors and how to count. I think that if I try exposing her to these simple fun activities each day she will catch on. And it can't hurt either way! Thanks again!
This is such a blessing. Thank you!!
Hi Ami,
I was just sitting down to put together our preschool/kindergarten plan for next year and thought I'll just start jotting down books and ideas. I had been on your site (numerous times prior) for something else CM related. I noticed your icon "read to me" so I clicked and VOILA- my entire thought process was on my screen- completed. Simple, straightforward and not overwhelming. You have blessed me greatly today. Thank you for generously sharing your process. Hugs to ya mama! <3
Danielle
I just want to thank you for this. I used this back in 2011-2012 with my daughter, and we loved it. I recently recommended it to a friend who is beginning her homeschooling journey, and I plan to use it again with my son in a year or so. It's a great program.
WOW! so glad I found this on pinterest, what an amazing resource! Thank you, it’s just what I needed! My daughter is turning 4 and we homeschool. š
So glad you found it, Cassie! Enjoy those sweet times with your preschooler, and make some great memories!
This looks fantastic! And I REALLY appreciate that "I" is not for "ice cream" and "C" is not for "cake"! My son can't have those, and it has been hard to try to work around other alphabet activities/curricula that incorporate those items. THANK YOU!!
You are welcome! I never even thought about it, but we do try to eat whole foods as much as possible. I guess it shines through with me V is for Vegetables! š HA
This looks to be an enjoyable format. As an early childhood educator, there is such a push to have young children begin to read as early as possible. Laudable, if they are ready. Hopefully homeschool parents/teachers will remember to review a checklist of skills thst young children need as prerequisites for reading and writing.
It's always fabulous to read to young children. You can check on-line or with your local librarian for a list of suggested titles. Browse the children's section for book tgat you think your child may enjoy or some you enjoyed as a child. Talk about the pictures. Have them point to pictures, ask questions about the characters, what they did or what happened in the story. Ask if they liked the story, why (depending upon their language and vocabulary). Have your child tell you the story.
Remember there are many other important skills for preschoolers to learn. How to share with others.
What is their speech and language like? At 2 can they request wants and express simple ideas by 2 1/2? Do they have a vocabulary of 200 words and can you understand them most of the time? Pay attention to fine and gross motoe skills. Are they walking heel to toe? Are they running and jumping? Can they step up on step, climb up on a chair or couch? Can they pick up small items like Cheerios or raisins and put them in their mouth? Can they stack blocks or put Duplo type blocks together and pull apart? Can they pick small toys or objects (key, spool, ball, spoon, etc.) out of a sand table? Can they hold a jumbo crayon or pencil and mark on paper? Can they assemble a simple shape puzzle with demonstration and minimum help?
Three year olds should have a vocabulary of 400 words. They should be expressing ideas in simple sentences, answering basic questions, asking questions, carrying on conversations. Can they make lines or circles on paper and try to color a simple picture but not yet stay in the lines? Are they asking you questions about something from a story?
Four year olds should be quite conversational and have readily intelligible speech. She may still not use all her speech sounds correctly yet. Most 4 year olds are interested in letters and what letter their name begins with. They may begin to find letters in books or around the home or in public. They may show more interest at making marks on paper, drawing, trying to print letters. Some may be ready to learn to print their first names. Upper case first letter, all the rest lower case. He may want to "read" the stories himself!
If a parent wants to teach a child, the best thing to do is READ.
Best of luck to all!
Mimi
Awesome!!!!my grand babies love it!