Let me tell you a quick story.
When my youngest son was three, he knew exactly one letter.
By the end of pre-K? He had learned four.
But then he hit kindergarten… and in just one month, he knew the entire alphabet—uppercase, lowercase, the whole thing.
What changed?
Not the curriculum.
Not the teacher’s instruction.
Not a magical “Letter of the Week” routine.
He developed a huge crush on his teacher. And in his sweet little mind, the best way to impress her was to learn the alphabet. Fast.
It had nothing to do with lesson plans, and everything to do with motivation.
Here’s the truth: Children don’t learn just because we teach.
They learn when something feels important to them.
If we want the alphabet to stick, it has to connect to their world.
And if we’re paying attention, we can help build that bridge. Here's how:
1. Start with their name.
The first letter a child typically connects to is the first letter of their own name.
This is a great place to start. Build from what matters most to them—their name, their siblings’ names, even their pets’ names.
2. Make letters part of their play.
Instead of pulling out flashcards, integrate letters into child-led activities.
Have magnetic letters available in the block area. Put clipboards and paper in dramatic play. Let them “write” grocery lists or signs for their games.
3. Observe their interests, then follow up.
Are they interested in dinosaurs? Trucks? Spiderman?
Add books, labels, and writing opportunities connected to that interest.
When we follow a child’s cues and connect learning to what they care about, we don’t have to push so hard.
The motivation is already there, we just need to make space for it.
Cheering you on,
Stacy
