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Peabody TeachFor teachers and grown-ups

Alphabet strip with a word for each letter (free printable)

Two rows of letters, each capital and lowercase pair with a plain word under it. Edit any word to one your class knows, then print, cut and tape the strips to desks.

Printed on the sheet. Leave it empty to write by hand.
As many as fit on a page, then more pages.
Colour
Alphabet With Words, page 1Alphabet With WordsAaappleBbballCccatDddogEeeggFffishGggoatHhhatIiiglooJjjarKkkiteLllemonMmmoonNnnestOoowlPppigQqqueenRrrainSssunTttreeUuumbrellaVvvanWwwebXxboxYyyarnZzzebraAaappleBbballCccatDddogEeeggFffishGggoatHhhatIiiglooJjjarKkkiteLllemonMmmoonNnnestOoowlPppigQqqueenRrrainSssunTttreeUuumbrellaVvvanWwwebXxboxYyyarnZzzebraAaappleBbballCccatDddogEeeggFffishGggoatHhhatIiiglooJjjarKkkiteLllemonMmmoonNnnestOoowlPppigQqqueenRrrainSssunTttreeUuumbrellaVvvanWwwebXxboxYyyarnZzzebraCut along the dashed lines and tape the strip to a desk.

To save a PDF, choose Print, then “Save as PDF” as the printer. Only the sheet prints.

About this sheet

A letter becomes a sound when it is tied to a word a child already says, and a keyword under each letter is how most early reading programs make the link. These strips pair each letter with a plain, common word in text only, with no pictures to date them or to disagree with your program. The words are editable: change a word to one your class uses, or to a name for the sound you are teaching, such as ox in place of box for X. The strip runs in two rows of thirteen so each cell stays large. Print on card stock, cut apart along the dashed outline and tape to desks, or keep a set at a guided reading table.

Grades: Pre-K, K, 1. Best in: August, September, October.

How to use it

  1. Edit the words in the box, one for each letter in order, A to Z. Leave a line out to keep the default.
  2. Print on card stock, cut along the dashed outline and tape a strip to each desk or keep a set at the reading table.
  3. Tell children to say the letter, the word and the sound together: A, apple, ah. The routine is what builds the link.

Five ideas for class

  1. Match the words to your phonics program. If your program teaches a word for each sound, type those words in so the desk strip and the lesson agree.
  2. Ask children to choose a new word for a letter and add it to a class list. A word they chose is a word they remember.
  3. Cover the words with sticky notes and ask a child to say which word belongs under each letter, then lift the notes to check.
  4. Use the strip for a sorting game: write a few more words on cards and place them under the right letters.
  5. Keep one large copy at the front of the room, printed larger from the PNG, so the class has a common reference.

Related

Questions

Why no pictures?

Pictures date quickly, can clash with a school's own materials and are hard to edit. A plain word works in every classroom and prints crisply in black and white.

What do I do about X?

Many programs use a word that ends in x, such as box, because few common words begin with x. Replace it with whatever your program uses.

Does it work for English learners?

Yes. Put the home language word in a second strip, or add a translation beside the English word by hand after printing.

How do I save it as a PDF?

Choose Print, then pick “Save as PDF” as the printer. Only the sheet prints: the page around it is hidden. You can also save a sheet as a PNG image under the preview.

Can I print it in black and white?

Yes. Switch to Black and white beside the sheet: fills turn white and lines turn black, so it saves ink and photocopies cleanly.

Is what I type saved or sent anywhere?

Your edits are kept in this browser so they are there next time, and are never sent to us. No sign-in, no ads.

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