How to Teach Letters to Preschool and Kindergarten Students

I remember the first time I introduced the letter A to my group of four year olds... I brought out a basket filled with apples, airplanes, and my husband's (extremely heavy) accordion 😅 I wanted to make it memorable by connecting the letters to things they already know.

Recognizing Uppercase Letters

In my classroom, I’ve always started with uppercase letters. They're easier for kids to draw with straight lines and sharp angles. When we focused on the letter A, we practiced pointing it out in signs around the room.

Each week, we pick a new letter and talk about what it looks like, what sound it makes, and where we’ve seen it before. I keep a collection of cards with pictures that start with the letter we’re working on, and we use them to play simple games like “I Spy” or “Find the Match.” Alphabet posters are also great to have handy!

Teaching Lowercase Letters

Once my students are familiar with uppercase letters, I start introducing their lowercase partners. This part can be trickier since lowercase letters are often curvier and less familiar. For the letter a, I brought in a book filled with animals and had the kids find all the animals whose names start with that letter. They circled armadillo, alligator, and ant (I have them shout out their finds lol).

We also spend time coloring letters. One of my favorite activities is giving my students a big sheet filled with lowercase a’s and asking them to color only the a’s they can find. Lots of fun letter worksheets & activities here you can use.

Tracing and Finding Letters

There’s something special about seeing a student confidently draw a letter for the first time. To help them get there, I use tracing routines during our morning meeting.We “air write” the letters with our fingers, trace them on the carpet, and even draw them in sand trays... These tactile experiences make a big difference, especially for my more active students who need to move while learning.

With the letter A, we played a fun game where I mixed up letters on the board and had the class come up and find all the A’s.

Connecting Letters to Everyday Life

I’ve learned that the best way to teach letters is to try and make them feel real.We talk about how we see letters everywhere (in our names, in books, on cereal boxes, etc). I bring in photos from home, like a picture of my dog named Archie, and use them to spark conversation about the letter A.

Final Thoughts

Teaching letters isn’t just about repetition... it’s about discovery. It’s about watching students make connections between what they’re learning and the world around them. Every letter brings a new opportunity to explore sounds, stories, and surprises. And honestly, I still get just as excited about it as they do.

If you’re teaching letters at home or in the classroom, just remember: go slow, make it fun, and let the kids take the lead now and then.