Help My Child to Read Series: What’s the Alphabetic Principle?

Help My Child Read Series: What’s the Alphabetic Principle?

Photo Credit: dmelchordiaz

A few months ago, I wrote a post entitled, The Matthew Effect and Literacy – What’s the Connection? In it, I explained how the phrase, “the rich get richer and the poor get poorer” relate to literacy development. Early reading experiences are fundamental to literacy development and further academic success.

 Today, I’m writing about the alphabetic principle.

In order to understand the development of literacy, you have to know about the alphabetic principle.

What is the alphabetic principle?

The alphabetic principle is the understanding that words are made up of letters and letters contain certain sounds. Thus,

WORDS have LETTERS and letters make SOUNDS

The sounds made are predictable. Formal instruction of the alphabetic principle for typically developing children may begin sometime in preschool or even kindergarten.

Why Should We Care About the Alphabetic Principle?

Children who demonstrate understanding of the alphabetic principle will more likely have an easier time decoding words. They realize that if they blend the letters together (or sound them out) they will make words. When they learn the predictable patterns between sounds and letters, they will be able to sound out words and read.

Stay tuned for some more great posts in my Help My Child to Read Series.

Kimberly Scanlon, M.A. CCC-SLP is a speech language pathologist, an author and a mother. As the owner of Scanlon Speech Therapy, LLC, a unique boutique practice in Bergen County, Kimberly embraces individuality and treats the whole person. Her goal is to spread compassion, hope, and some speech, language and literacy tips one moment, one person at a time.  Her first book, My Toddler Talks: Strategies and Activities to Promote Your Child’s Language Development and her second book, Learning to Read is a Ball are available for purchase at online at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.