Read about why you should teach ABC order in your classroom.
Alphabetical Order – Yes, You Should Still Be Teaching It
Hey there! Today, I’m here to chat about something that is often overlooked – teaching alphabetical order. We all learned it in grade school, from A to Z, but have you ever wondered why it’s such a critical skill? Let’s dive into why alphabetical order is still a must-have skill for every student. Hint, its not just phonics, decoding, and spelling – although those are very important! Also, keep reading because there is a GREAT ABC order FREEBIE!
Alphabetical Order = Organization
First off, let’s talk about organization. You know your favorite bookshelf stacked high with novels, textbooks, encyclopedias, and other printed treasures? Imagine if they were arranged without regard to alphabetical order. You’d probably spend forever searching for that one specific book! Understanding alphabetical order is still the key to unlocking the world of organized information that we live in.
You’re Lost Without ABC Order
Secondly, alphabetical order forms the foundation of most indexing systems we encounter – be it in digital dictionaries, contacts on your iPhone, or reference books. Without this skill, finding ‘notetaking’ in the dictionary would become a game of ‘Where’s Waldo?’. It’s not just about listing things from A-Z, but it’s about simplifying our search, saving time, and enhancing productivity.
Another crucial aspect is its application in the digital world. In today’s tech-driven world, the ability to use ABC order effectively can drastically speed up digital record-keeping and data retrieval. Spoiler alert: It’s not just for traditional libraries, but even for your music playlist on Spotify or your contacts list on your smartphone!
This article was originally published on TeacherKarma.com. CLICK HERE to keep reading and download your FREE ABC Order Printables.
Thank you!
Jen- Teacher Karma 🙂
Pat says
Sorry, but I do not agree. I’ve been teaching preschool for 20+ years and I see young children get excited learning M for mom, D for dad. And more Importantly, learning the first letter of their name is the MOST important place to start.
Eventually, alphabet order will happen.
Jen Bradshaw from Teacher KARMA says
Thank you for the comment. I, too, have not and would never start teaching very beginning reading with alphabetical order. The full article is on my blog teacherkarma.com and I wrote about this because so many districts in the state that I live in are not even addressing ABC order anymore. Because teachers have so many concepts to teach, many times alphabetical order just gets put to the wayside. I wanted to share the free ABC order printables with any teachers that might still teach ABC order. Thanks again for taking the time to comment and I wish you the best of luck this school year. Jen – Teacher Karma 🙂