Here are some of the ways we've used the ABC's at home:

"Kind" was the word one of my daughters chose for "k" to help represent words
that communicate thoughts, emotions, and feelings at school.
We have been working with her to build a vocabulary that helps her accurately
communicate thoughts, feelings, and emotions with peers, her teacher, and us at home.
This also becomes a good starting point for self-awareness conversation.

"Elephant" was a word my other daughter helped choose to learn  "e" sounds.
She has been working on identifying letters and their sounds.

Each child is working on a different skill, but by following the same format of one card
per letter, they can proudly display their work side-by-side.

For both children, the one letter a week concept has led to many extension activities. Some of the activities they have done:

• Reading books with titles or topic of the given letter/word
• Art projects (making nests for "n", making owls for "o", etc.)
• Practice new words/sounds/information with other children via play and/or conversation
• Reflective thinking
• Curiosities and questions about new words, ideas, and concepts

ABC Activity Extension

The ABC's take us well beyond pre-reading skills

and simple songs. Once our children and students know the ABC's, the options are endless!

Let's explore ways in which we can

use a basic concept to branch across

multiple learning opportunities!

The ABC's works as a great place to start a new topic, or break a large unit of new information into smaller pieces. Forming an ABC list for a subject area can serve as an inspiration for the teacher, or a brainstorming session for students. Use it to explore a new culture, learn a new language, or dig a little deeper into a subject area of interest! 

(I find myself going back to the ABC's each school year as I work with my children at home to build vocabulary, write, read, and understand new concepts.)

What we have below is just barely the tip of the iceberg as to what you can do with the ABC's. However, the concept transcends itself across ages, content, and meaning. Enjoy! Be inspired and share what direction you have or will take this in!

“ABC's of Community” - (first month of school? new words to use at home with the family?)

A – attitude, acceptance

B - believe

C – communicate, communication, compassion

D – diversity, determination

E – expression, excitement, empathy

F - faith

G - gathering

H - honesty

I – individuality, independence, interdependence, include

J - joking

K - kindness

L – laughter, love

M – meaningful, mindful

N – nonviolent

O – optimism, outgoing

P – patriotism, passion, persevere

Q – quest

R – respect, reassure

S – support, strength

T – trust

U – understanding

V – value

W – worthiness

X -

Y – yin-yang

Z – zen

“ABC's of Emotions/Feelings” - (self expression? vocabulary building? used in conjunction with community building?)

A – anger, agree, anxious, angry, admirable

B - brave

C – cautious, cooperative

D – dismal, dishonest, disappointed, determined

E – embarrassed, exhausted, empathy

F – frustrated, friendly

G – gitty, generous

H – happy, honest, humor

I – invaded, included, intuition

J – joking, joy, jubilent

K – kind

L – loved, lonely

M – mad, mischievous, mindful

N – nervous

O – optimistic, outgoing

P – patient, powerful, pessimistic, proud, persistent, passionate

Q – quiet

R – relaxed, respected

S – silly, serious, sad, small, scared, strong, selfish

T – tired, teased, thankful, truthful

U – unsure, unaware

V – victorious

W – weak, worrisome

X -

Y – yearning

Z -

More possible ABC directions:

“ABC's of Literacy”

“ABC's of Japanese”

“ABC's of Spanish”

“ABC's of Algebra”

“ABC's of US History”

“ABC's of Meteorology”

“ABC's of Music”