How to Say Your “A, B, Cs”
You would think teaching your ABCs would be as easy as ABC. It’s really not. There are so many variations, accents, and rules that don’t follow rules. When working with littles, we want to be sure we are teaching them how to sound out letters properly.
If not, you will spend more time unteaching the wrong way before moving forward. Learning is actually hindered. Let’s learn it correctly the first time. Watch the video to learn more.
Here’s a couple tips to keep in mind when teaching your preschool student:
If you’re just starting your homeschool journey and wondering how to introduce the ABCs, you’re in the right place! In this video, Melissa Jenkins walks parents through a simple, effective way to teach the alphabet by focusing on the most prominent sound for each letter—starting with short vowel sounds and clipped consonants.
Why We Start with Short Vowel Sounds
When teaching children to read, it’s important to begin with the sounds they’ll use most often. That’s why Melissa focuses on short vowel sounds first:
- A = /ă/ as in apple
- E = /ĕ/ as in egg
- I = /ĭ/ as in igloo
- O = /ŏ/ as in octopus
- U = /ŭ/ as in umbrella
These are the basic building blocks of early phonics and decoding. Mastering them early sets a strong foundation for reading success.
The Power of “Clipped” Consonants
A common mistake when teaching letter sounds is adding an extra sound at the end—what we call a “schwa” sound. For example, saying “duh” instead of a clean /d/ can confuse young learners when they start blending sounds to form words.
Melissa emphasizes the importance of “clipping” the sound—pronouncing it as crisply and cleanly as possible:
- B = /b/ (not “buh”)
- D = /d/ (not “duh”)
- T = /t/ (not “tuh”)
Each letter is introduced with just one sound—the most common or prominent one. Children will learn the other sounds later, once they’ve built a solid foundation with the basics.
- G = /g/ (hard /g/ as in goat – they will learn soft g later)
Keep It Simple, Keep It Consistent
This method is all about clarity and consistency. By focusing on the most-used sound and keeping it short and clear, you’re helping your child connect the letter to its sound quickly and accurately. It’s a small adjustment that makes a big difference in early literacy.
Watch the Video
In the video, Melissa models exactly how to say each letter sound and shares tips for how parents can practice at home. Watch it a few times, try it along with her, and use it as a reference while you teach your child.
