Directions for Use
Use this ABC Animals book during whole group, small group, or individual instruction to support alphabet knowledge and phonological awareness, two important parts of emergent literacy. Read the book repeatedly over time so students have many chances to connect letters, sounds, and meaningful vocabulary.

As you read each page, point to the letter, say the letter name, name the animal, and emphasize the beginning sound when appropriate. For example: “B is for bird. Bird starts with /b/.” Talk briefly about the animal so students connect the letter to a real word and concept.

Students can participate by finding the letter, matching it to a letter card, tracing it, listening for the first sound, clapping syllables, or comparing animal names that start with the same sound. Keep expectations flexible so all students can join in through speaking, pointing, choosing, eye gaze, or AAC.

For AAC users, model simple words such as letter, animal, same, different, look, and like. Students can also use their keyboard with word prediction to type the first one or two letters of the animal word and watch to see whether the word or animal icon appears in the predictor buttons. Use the SEARCH FEATURE on the device to get step by step navigation support to "find the animals." (available on most common robust AAC systems.) This helps connect letters, sounds, spelling, vocabulary, and AAC navigation in a meaningful way.

This resource works best when used again and again in short, engaging lessons that build confidence with letters, sounds, and words.

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