FREE Alphabet Song and Strategies!

Who Remembers the "ABC" Song? 

Everyone! Of course, this song is ingrained in our brains. If the traditional alphabet song has been so powerful in our lives, why not multiply its effects by 350? That's what I've tried to do with my music. Today, I'd like to share a chant called "ABC Fun" that introduces (or reviews) each letter, sound, and example in two minutes. It's part of my Early Reading and Phonics Time sets. Feel free to use it every single day in your classroom!

Research Basis

• In a landmark study, the National Reading Panel (2000) found that direct, explicit, systematic phonics instruction is the best way to teach children how to read; in other words, instruction should directly explain phonics concepts in a logical, systematic order. 
• John Hattie, author of Visible Learning: A Synthesis of Over 800 Meta-Analyses Relating to Achievement found that "phonics instruction" is the #22 most effective strategy in teaching children. Direct instruction is #26. This song can also be used for as an intervention for learning disabled students (#7), or for acceleration for young learners (#5). In addition, formative evaluation through asking children to restate letters and sounds is the #3 most effective teaching strategy. 

Ways to Use the ABC Chant

​You can do several things to maximize learning in your classroom:

• Tell your students to learn something new every time they sing, and ask what they noticed. One may say, "h" says /h/. Another may notice that "apple" has two p's and an 'le' ending. Daily "ah ha's" will help to build knowledge for all children.
• Point to ABC charts and chant in a different order. For instance, children may ask to go backwards, starting with "z, /z/, /z/ /z/ zebra." In this way, you're giving children choices as they practice their letters and sounds.
• Point to a chart and say the letter sounds only. 
• Use a simple assessment to find out what students know, and what they need to learn. Simply point to each letter, and ask for its name and sound.
• Connect to writing. Ask children for the sounds they hear it words. For instance, sound out b-a-t for "bat." Find the letters that make the sounds in the ABC chart. 
• Make it INTERACTIVE! I have 2 ABC games on the amazing Boom Learning platform. In the ABC Practice set (HERE), children practice the chant out of order. HERE is a matching Letter Quiz. If you're new to the Boom platform, I've included lots of information in the product descriptions. You'll also see a link to try these for free at the top of those descriptions. 
• Please try some of my music/practice sets to help promote reading success in your classroom! You can find this song commercial-free on the Early Reading, Alphabet, and Phonics Time sets below. Note that you can now try all my music videos FREE for 30 days, at HeidiSongs! Heidi and I have teamed up to give you nearly 1,000 videos that teach all subjects through music. You'll see my music sets throughout the site, with my entire catalog at the bottom.

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