“Zoophonics”

 Here at Walnut Country Preschool, we use the “Zoophonics” program for learning the alphabet and the sounds that the letters make.  It is an excellent pre-reading program with amazing results!

“Zoo-phonics” is a developmentally appropriate, joyful learning program for young children.  An animal theme is used because it is universal, and because children relate readily to animals.  “Zoo-phonics” is fun for the children because each animal has a special “Body signal” that goes with its sound.  In this way, each Zoo-phonics animal becomes a friend and a tool for your child to use in developing reading, spelling and writing skills.  Here's how:

            Children first see the shapes of the lowercase letters through the shapes of the animals, “a-z”.

            The sounds of the letters are taught through the names of the animals: allie alligator=/a/, bubba bear=/b/. catina cat=/c/, etc.

            Because children wiggle naturally, a body movement (called a Signal), is given to each letter that relates directly to the Animal, locking the Shapes and Sounds into memory.

Thus, the eyes, ears, mouth and large muscles provide the vehicle to access information.  “Zoo-phonics” encourages the children’s natural tendency to wiggle and to express her/himself, channeling it all for learning.  Children learn by using their senses, and Zoo-phonics gives them this outlet!

Parents are provided with a handout of all the “Zoo” friends, showing the “signal” for each and indicating if the animal friend is a boy or a girl!  Our 4 year and Pre K classes learn the entire signal/chant alphabet in the first two weeks of Preschool and go on to study a letter each week.  Letter recognition, beginning sounds, and rhyming sounds are also a part of our program.  Our 3 year olds begin with just the chants and signals in January of their preschool year and focus on this in order to be ready for the extended program in the 4 year and Pre K classes.