ABC See, Hear, Do: Level 7 - ABC Zoo Kids: Raccoon Raid

ABC See, Hear, Do is a one of a kind learn-to-read program that combines visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles to make learning to read easy and fun! The basic phonics program was developed with the modern child in mind. The bright colors, silly actions, and animal pictures make these books engaging and fun for kids. After only four letters in the first book, children can already read words! The letters are not presented in alphabetical order but in ease of learning to read. In Levels 1 and 2, four letters are presented one at a time followed by combining those letters to make a list of words. You are teaching your child the sound each letter makes, not the letter. The first letter they will learn is C. There is a full-page picture with C..c..C at the top of the page with a cat with claws up in the air demonstrating the motion to be made. Written instructions for the motion are under the cat. Your student will curl their hands like claws and say the sound for “C”. Now every time they see the letter “C” there will be a small icon picture of this to remind them of the sound to make. This will act as a guide for learning words and for reading in the readers. Your child will see the letter, hear the sound it makes, and move their body, thereby making concepts age-appropriate and easier to retain. Each level will end with a review page with just the words without guide pictures. A placement test can help decide which level to start with, but most young learners will start with Level one. Younger children may not be ready to blend sounds yet. For them, focus on learning letter sounds first. We sell the individual items and grade level packages.

Phonics skills taught per level are:

Level One – uppercase letters.

Level Two – lowercase letters.

Level Three – blended beginning sounds.

Level Four – blended ending sounds

Level Five – long vowels

Level Six – sight words. Uses some American sign language when they can.

Level Seven – irregular sounds.

***Teaching Tip: Beginning with uppercase or lowercase is a personal preference – you can start with either one and find success. That being said, uppercase letters are easier to recognize and write than lowercase letters, so the publisher recommends starting there for kids on the younger side.

Curriculum & Activity Guides are currently available for Levels 1 and 2. There are 26 total lessons in each, one for each letter of the alphabet with optional schedules for one letter per week or two letters per week. Basically, each lesson will take about 20 minutes, but you can adjust to the speed of your student. Open and go lessons are easy to follow and give instructions from start to finish each day. Songs are sung to familiar tunes and instructions are given for how to present the letter of the day with the flashcards, writing practice, and coloring page. An enrichment page for every lesson includes options for crafts, games, activities, snack ideas, and book suggestion list. Some activities require the use of simple household products, and a supply list is found inside the front of the Guide.

The Writing Practice workbook gives students the opportunity to learn to write letters of the alphabet and progress by level to writing words. Instructional arrows and connecting the dotted lines help students with the proper formation of letters.

Each new sound has a correlating Coloring Book page to complete. The end of each book has a “Make your own puppets” section for the student to color, cut out, and tape or glue to a popsicle stick. Each puppet represents the animals and sounds found on that level.

The ABC Zoo Kid Readers are available for each level and should be used after the level is completed. This will build their reading skills as the reader books will cover the sounds that were just learned. The small picture icons found under each letter, blend, or sight word will guide your student and remind them of the sounds they have learned – a unique part of this program!

Repetition is the key to knowledge and ABC Flashcards are great for reviewing and helping your students increase their reading skills and fluency. Each level of flashcards review words used in the corresponding Learn to Read workbook level. Instructions for optional games are included in each pack of flashcards. Each card includes the picture guide under each letter to remind your student of the sound it makes – a unique feature to this program.

The publisher has many free online resources that can be found at www.ABCSeeHearDo.com  that includes songs, learning ideas, and book lists, to name a few. I think you will find this program to be an amazing resource for beginning phonics. A great option for homeschoolers, preschools, co-ops, speech language pathologists, and struggling readers!