The instruction in Jumbo Fun with the Alphabet focuses on the four basic readiness skills that all students need to master before moving on to a formal reading program. 1. Alphabetic Awareness To become of a successful reader, students must know the names, shapes, and forms of all 26 letters of the alphabet. Jumbo Fun with the Alphabet helps students achieve this goal by introducing them to the letters of the alphabet using engaging, illustrated animals whose names start with the featured letter such, as ant, bear, cat, and so on. The animal becomes a common thread throughout the activities for that letter, facilitating both sight and sound recognition. 2. Phonemic Awareness Realizing that words are made up of sounds and hearing those sounds in spoken language are important steps in reading readiness development. "Hear It!" and "Draw It!" lessons provide this essential practice by asking students to recognize and indentify beginning sounds through reproducible art and matching activities. 3. Print Awareness Beginning readers need practice distinguishing the difference between a single letter, a word, a sentence, and a story. The simple story inside each "Read It!" mini storybook introduces important concepts-of-print skills while further reinforcing letter and sound recognition. 4. Visual Discrimination Students are given multiple opportunities to view the letters of the alphabet and to practice making them. The "Draw It!," "Write It!," and "Make It!" activities engage students in visual discrimination practice while they practice drawing and following directions.