A kindergarten teacher begins every year by teaching her students the alphabet and the sound for each letter. Given what we know about sounds-first reading instruction, what should the teacher do instead? Answer The students should only be exposed to sounds and no letters in kindergarten because phonological awareness is so foundational. It is too challenging for kindergarteners to begin with the alphabet. They need to be introduced to reading with something simpler. The teacher should follow a systematic phonics program that begins by introducing sounds and then teaches the most common spellings of those sounds. Make sure she has visual cues and reminders for the students for each letter she teaches.