Early literacy skills begin with letter exploration and experiences in the preschool classrooms. In 2023, the Marion Independent Preschool Program adopted the “World of Wonders” Literacy Program for their preschoolers. This curriculum builds foundational skills through systematic phonics, phonemic awareness, and other key components. The program also has activities that are cross-curricular which includes social-emotional development, science, math, and music. There are plenty of opportunities for differentiated instruction, including English Language Learners, while engaging children’s interests in each lesson and activity.
One of the unique features the program teaches is “A letter a Week”. This style of teaching allows students to spend five days learning and exploring the letter. We start the week out by learning the letter and the sound it makes. We like to connect it with a visual and an action to help recall the sound. Next, we try to find the letter in our names or our peers' names. When we identify the letter in names, we also determine if it is an uppercase letter or a lowercase letter. During that week we usually have a “Question of the Day” regarding if we have the letter in our name or not.
After identifying the letter, both uppercase and lowercase, connecting a sound, and an action to the letter, we also practice writing the letter. While we are learning to write the letter we are using terms such as slant lines, pull down, push up, curve forward, and curve back. We are learning to write left to right, top to bottom, and working on our three point finger grip. Not only are students learning about the letter, but they are getting a chance to see it, hear it, say it, and write it.
When the week is finished, students are walking away with at least five days of learning and exploring a specific letter. They have had many opportunities to see the letter in a variety of print, make a craft for their binder about the letter, and have the chance to not only learn their name, but peers' names too!
