ABSTRACT
To communicate spoken language in written form a child must learn that the sounds in words (phonemes) are represented by letters or groups of letters (graphemes). Learning the alphabet thoroughly is vital for a child to learn to read and spell. The alphabet is necessary for many filing systems (dictionaries, reference books, phone books and so on), and therefore it is important that it is learnt in its correct order. Many children may pick up alphabetical order by singing an alphabet song without needing to make direct links to letter shapes. In the initial stages of learning, alphabet sequencing is kept separate from phonological or sound awareness work – although, in time, children need to know the name, sound and sequence for each letter. Many children pick up information about letters from their environment at a young age. Children need to learn to recognise the alphabet in both upper and lower case.
