A Child Learns the Alphabet

Abstract

This study chronicles the process in which a young child teaches herself to write the letters of the alphabet. The letters which she chose to learn may be classified into categories containing distinctive features of circles: O, C, Q; straight lines: L, I, T, E, F, H; lines and loops: B, P, R; and angles: M, N, Z, K, V, W. The four stages through which the child progressed before she was able to recall the graphic form of a letter which only the letter name was mentioned were: Stage I, the letter must be visible so that the child could copy the form; Stage II, the distinctive features of a letter written in the air facilitated recognition of the graphic form; Stage III, the verbal description of the letter enabled the child to write the letter; and Stage IV, the name of the letter was sufficient information to enable the child to produce the letter. Implications for further research and possible teaching methods are recommended.