In this episode of Literacy in Color, I’m chatting with Heidi Martin—also known as Droppin’ Knowledge with Heidi—to unpack what research says about effective alphabet instruction. Together, we explore common debates, research-based tips, and engaging strategies to teach the alphabet more effectively.

From ditching letter-of-the-week traditions to embracing articulation and embedded mnemonics, this episode is packed with classroom-ready ideas and practical insights grounded in cognitive science. Heidi also shares why repeated and distributed practice is the key to building strong alphabet knowledge.

Key Takeaways:

Alphabet knowledge is a strong predictor of reading success
What the research says about “letter of the week”
Teach letter names and sounds together
Teach uppercase and lowercase together
Incorporate explicit handwriting instruction
Use embedded mnemonics and articulation cues
Advice about target picture(s)
Alphabet knowledge should be joyful, not just rote

Helpful Resources:

Register for Science of Reading Mini-Con (July 10th, 2025 in Racine, Wisconsin)!
Piasta & Wagner’s 2010 meta-analysis of Alphabet Learning & Instruction
P is for Paint: A Mnemonic Alphabet Adventure! – Heidi’s embedded mnemonic alphabet book
Decodable Adventure Series – Heidi’s decodable books
Heidi & Adam Martin’s New Activity Book: Droppin' Knowledge on Foundational Skills: Phonological and Phonemic Awareness Exercises Aligned to the Science of Reading
Heidi & Adam Martin’s New Activity Book: Droppin' Knowledge on Sight Words and Word Mapping: High-Frequency Word Exercises Aligned to the Science of Reading
Heidi & Adam Martin’s New Activity Book: Droppin' Knowledge on Phonics: Spelling and Phonics Activities Aligned to the Science of Reading
Helpful Instagram Post from Heidi on the Alphabet

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36. Tips for Teaching the Alphabet with Heidi Martin, Droppin' Knowledge with Heidi