English // Phonics & Word Reading

Knowing all letters

Recognise and name all uppercase and lowercase letters of the alphabet; name the letters in order and use letter names to distinguish between alternative spellings

Ages
4 to 6
Type
Method
Builds on
1 topic
Leads to
6 topics
Standards
4 codes

Quick check

Can the learner point to any letter — capital or small — and tell you its name? And can they say the alphabet in order from A to Z?

Ask this to see whether the topic is secure.

Topic // Mastery

What mastery looks like

What a learner can do once this topic is secure.
  • Name all 26 letters in both cases when shown in random order
  • Recite the alphabet from A to Z
  • Use letter names to explain spelling choices (e.g. 'Is it c or k in cat?')

Topic // Map

Where this fits

What to learn first and what this topic opens up, with the reason for each link. Required links come first.
  • RequiredMust come first
  • HelpfulHelps, but not essential

Before this

1 topic
  • Understanding printRequired

    Phonics & Word Reading // Ages 4 to 6

    Must understand print direction before letter identification matters

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Knowing all letters

Ages 4 to 6 // Method

Leads to

6 topics
  • Single Letter SoundsRequired

    Phonics & Word Reading // Ages 4 to 6

    Must recognise letters before learning their sounds

  • Reading High-Frequency Words by SightRequired

    Phonics & Word Reading // Ages 5 to 8

    Need to recognise letters to read sight words

  • Tricky wordsRequired

    Spelling & Word Study // Ages 5 to 8

    Need letter recognition for exception word spelling

  • Using a Dictionary to Check SpellingsRequired

    Spelling & Word Study // Ages 7 to 11

    Dictionary use requires alphabetical order via letter recognition

  • Hieroglyphs and PapyrusHelpful

    History // Ancient Egypt // Ages 5 to 7

    Understanding that letters are symbols representing sounds provides a framework for grasping how hieroglyphs encode language differently

  • Scribes and the Rosetta StoneHelpful

    History // Ancient Egypt // Ages 7 to 9

    Knowing how the English alphabet maps symbols to sounds enriches the study of Champollion's decipherment of the hieroglyphic code on the Rosetta Stone

Topic // Standards

Curriculum standards

Codes for the curriculum statements this topic maps to. Each publisher owns its standard text.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects
RF.K.1.d
The national curriculum in England: Key stages 1 and 2 framework document
Eng_App1_Y1_01Eng_Y1_WT_04Eng_Y1_WT_05

English // Phonics & Word Reading

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