Domain: NC Foundations for Early Learning: Language Development and Communication (LDC)

Subdomain: Foundations for Reading

Goal: Children begin to develop knowledge of the alphabet and the alphabetic principle.

Skill Progression: Develop knowledge of the alphabet and the alphabetic principle

Age: 54-60 Months

Click here to go to all skills for ages 54-60 Months.

Take pictures of common stores, signs, and products in the community. Determine whether the child can identify the words on the signs or labels. Look at simple first level reading books and see if the child can identify any words.

Show the pictures to the child and see if he can identify the words on the signs or products. Give the child a simple beginning level reading book and ask him to tell you any words he knows.

The child identifies several words from environmental print and a few from books.

As early childhood educators and parents move around the school and community, they can point out words, ask what signs say, etc. They can then spell and sound out the words with the child. Adults can begin to introduce two and three letter words and CVC words that rhyme. These help children learn first sounds that can be interchanged (e.g., cat, mat, sat, hat, etc.) to make new words.