Tired of teaching the SAME LETTER of the alphabet all week long? Research suggests there's a better way! Many preschool teachers introduce the alphabet one letter a week, but what if there was a method that kept kids engaged, maximized learning, and didn't waste valuable classroom time? It is letter cycling! Let's explore why letter cycling might be the perfect fit for your preschool classroom.
What Exactly IS Letter Cycling?
Letter cycling involves teaching the alphabet by repeatedly cycling through all the letters in various orders throughout the year. Unlike traditional preschool methods, that teach the alphabet from A-Z, and often one letter per week, letter cycling introduces the letters out of order and at several different times throughout the year, ensuring frequent revisits to each letter. This approach is designed to help children encounter and engage with letters multiple times, reinforcing their recognition and understanding in different contexts. Be sure to read to the bottom for how we use letter cycles at Moving Little Minds.
Letter Cycling Vs. One Letter Per Week
Research indicates that children learn the alphabet in various ways...there is no universally perfect order for introducing the letters. The key is repeated exposure and meaningful interaction with each letter through engaging, multisensory learning! . Studies have shown that children benefit from seeing and using letters in multiple contexts, which helps to solidify their understanding and recall. To learn more about specific research related to children and letter acquisition, read our blog post, 5 Myths About Teaching the Alphabet.
Teaching one letter per week, a common practice in many preschool classrooms, can indeed be effective. It provides focused time on each letter, allowing children to explore its shape, sound, and usage comprehensively. However, this method also has its drawbacks, as it significantly slows down the acquisition of alphabet knowledge and phonics skills. By spending a week on each letter, it can take an entire school year to cover the alphabet, potentially delaying broader literacy development and student potential.
A Real-Life Example: Abby
Consider a little girl named Abby, in a 4 year old classroom. In a traditional classroom setting where each letter is taught for an entire week, Abby would be spending two full weeks learn the letters 'A' and 'B'. Since children typically learn the letters in their names first, it's very likely that Abby already knows these letters. This method could lead to two weeks of wasted time for her, as she would be revisiting letters she already understands instead of moving forward with new learning opportunities. In her old classroom, she likely would have already mastered these letters, and the two-week review is a missed opportunity for growth (and likely engagement).
With letter cycling, Abby would encounter all the letters of the alphabet in a shorter span, repeatedly and in various contexts, ensuring she remains engaged and continuously learning. This method respects the diverse knowledge levels within a classroom and allows each child to progress without unnecessary delays.
The Advantages of Letter Cycling
Letter cycling offers a faster-paced and more integrated approach. Here are some key benefits:
Rapid Exposure: Children are introduced to all the letters quickly and repeatedly, which helps to prevent any delays in alphabet knowledge.
Varied Learning Contexts: Letters are presented in different orders and contexts, helping children to recognize them in diverse settings and use them more flexibly.
Engagement and Retention: Repetition in varied contexts keeps children engaged and aids retention. They are less likely to forget letters when they see them often and in different scenarios.
Effective Assessment: By using student assessment patterns and research, teachers can gain insights into each child's letter recognition and phonics skills, allowing for more tailored instruction.
Is Letter Cycling for All Age Levels? Let's Break It Down by Age Level
While beliefs certainly differ on this matter, at Moving Little Minds, we believe that departing from the traditional “One Letter Per Week” method is particularly effective in the 4’s and TK classrooms. This is a critical stage of cognitive and literacy development, and children have immense learning potential. Their brains are wired to absorb new information rapidly. Letter cycling taps into this potential by making the most of their valuable learning and brainpower. Now, let's explore all age levels.
Two-Year-Old Children:
The primary focus for two-year-olds is to create joy in reading and exploring the alphabet. Research shows that repeated interactions are invaluable during this stage. This makes it an excellent time to introduce the letters of the alphabet in a fun and playful way through exploration, books, and environmental print. One of the greatest ways to explore the alphabet is by exploring letters in students’ names. Teaching children the concept that their name is valuable and made of letters encourages engagement and value! Some children may begin to recognize the first letter of their name (or more) because it is meaningful and important to them. The goal at this age is play with letters and make learning fun, therefore, we personally believe that name exploration and introduce one letter per week is perfectly acceptable. The "One Letter Per Week" method is likely beneficial, as the early repetition is key. Many children at this age only attend school 2-3 times per week and need the continuous exposure.
Three-Year-Old Children:
Three-year-olds often show increased interest in letters and may begin to learn letter names and sounds. This age group can benefit from a more structured approach to letter recognition. We typically suggest starting the year by celebrating each child's name and the letters within it, fostering a sense of personal connection to the alphabet. This can be followed by a rapid A-to-Z exposure, introducing one letter per day to give a broad overview of the alphabet (and teach them the Moving Little Minds Letter Sound Motions - see link to purchase below). Finally, transitioning to a slower pace of one or two letters per week outside of alphabetical order can help solidify their understanding and allow for deeper exploration.
Four-Year-Old Children:
As mentioned earlier, at 4 years old, letter cycling is the way to go! At this age, children benefit from a more structured approach to learning letter names, sounds, and letter forms (the science of reading proves it)! By repeatedly exposing children to all the letters, assessing, evaluating, and cycling again, teachers can tailor instruction to meet their individual needs. This method makes the most of their cognitive development and helps them build strong foundational literacy skills.
How Moving Little Minds Recommends Using Letter Cycling in 4’s Classrooms:
Names Games: (celebrate each name in the classroom, which an emphasis on letters in names)
Cycle 1: Introduce Letters A-Z (one per day). This can be in sequence with the name celebrations or after name games.
Cycle 2: Focus on 2 Letters Per Week (based on the Orton Gillingham order)
Cycle 3: Review Groups of Letters (4-6 at a time)
Cycle 4: Assess and reteach commonly unknown letter names and sounds based on student data
If you're looking for a way to accelerate alphabet acquisition, maximize learning potential, and foster a love of letters in your classroom, letter cycling might be the perfect solution for you. Ready to embark on this exciting journey of alphabet exploration? We encourage you to explore the resources and strategies outlined above and discover the magic of letter cycling!
Looking for a Curriculum that Uses Letter Cycling for Success?
Check out Moving Little Minds Literacy Curriculums!
Learn how we teach alphabetic knowledge, phonological awareness, and pre-writing skills through instruction and play! NOTE: The curriculum follows the alphabet introduction orders mentioned above
Shop Moving Little Minds Alphabet Motions Cards
Teach letter names and sounds through body motions!
What makes these unique? So many research-proven benefits!
Teaches sound through movement. Multisensory learning created multiple pathways to the brain.
Uses embedded mnemonic (an image in the shape of a letter), which has been proven to help learners link the letter sound to the letter shape.
Teaches the name and sound together through song (both multisensory and proven as best practice through research)!
Includes sample lesson and suggested letter cycle. PLUS - video modeling the motions!
Be sure to check out our free resources!
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We believe that every child deserves a bright future, and this begins with a strong foundation in early literacy skills. At Moving Little Minds, we are dedicated to providing research-based literacy activities in fun and engaging ways! By merging instruction with play, we ensure that children are reaching their full potential and embark on their educational journey well-prepared for the future! Let's build those KEY emergent literacy skills together.
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