Alphabet, Vowels and Phonics: Class 1 Study Guide
The alphabet is the key to reading. Each letter has a name and a sound, and together they build words.
The English alphabet has 26 letters, in both capital (A, B, C) and small (a, b, c) forms. The five letters a, e, i, o, u are called vowels. All the others are consonants. Every word has at least one vowel sound.
Each letter has a name (the way we say it in the alphabet song) and a sound (what it says in words). Letter b is named 'bee' but its sound is /b/ as in ball. Learning sounds is the most important step for reading.
Letters, sounds and words
| Letter | Sound | Picture word |
|---|---|---|
| A a | /a/ | apple |
| B b | /b/ | ball |
| C c | /k/ | cat |
| D d | /d/ | dog |
| E e | /e/ | egg |
| M m | /m/ | mango |
Blending sounds
Reading a simple word means saying each sound and then putting them together. Take c-a-t: say /c/, /a/, /t/, then slide them together: cat. The same method works for mat, pan, hen, pin, dog and sun.
m – a – p
/m/ /a/ /p/
map
I see a map.
Writing letters
Capital and small letters are written between lines. Letters like b, d, h and k are tall, and letters like g, p and y go below the line. Practise writing on four-line notebooks, starting at the top for most letters. Use sand trays or finger painting to build muscle memory before using a pencil.
Worked examples and common mistakes
Example: Which letters in 'pen' are vowels? Only e. Example: Blend s-u-n. Sun. Common mistakes: mixing up b and d or p and q (give them a hand trick: make a 'bed' with your fists to see b and d), using letter names instead of sounds when reading, and writing letters backwards. These are normal and improve with practice.
Check your understanding: model answers
1. a, e, i, o, u. 2. hen. 3. For example mango, moon, mat.
✨ Key Takeaways
- The alphabet has 26 letters with capital and small forms.
- Vowels are a, e, i, o, u; the rest are consonants.
- Letters have names and sounds.
- Blend sounds to read simple words.
💬 Questions for Discussion & Reflection
- Write the five vowels.
- Blend the sounds /h/ /e/ /n/.
- Name two words that start with the sound /m/.
Print lined paper for letter writing →