Here’s a question: In what order do you teach letters and letter sounds? The answer likely varies from district to district and classroom to classroom. Regardless, one of the first letter sounds we usually teach is the letter and short vowel sound for “A”. Knowing the short “a” sound is essential for early decoding practice – words like cat, sat, mat, etc. are in the majority of early decodable texts. Whether you’re introducing the letter for the first time or reinforcing it with fun activities, here are some ideas for helping your students master the letter A!

Why is the Letter A Important?
The letter A is often one of the first letters introduced in kindergarten because it’s commonly used. Mastering the short vowel sound for A (/a/ as in “apple”) is a crucial milestone for new readers. Recognizing this sound helps students decode simple words and lays the groundwork for more advanced phonics skills. By focusing on words that begin with A for kindergarten, students can prepare to decode CVC words that have short /a/ sounds.
Ideas for Words That Begin with A
I like to use the word “apple” when introducing the /a/ sound. Really s-t-r-e-t-c-h the sound so students can hear the short vowel sound at the beginning. Here are more words that begin with A to use when modeling the short a sound.
- Animals: alligator, ant
- Food: apple, apricot
- People and Things: astronaut, acrobat, axe
Activities to Teach About the Letter A
Letter A Art: Create an apple craft where students tear red, yellow, and green paper to make a colorful apple collage. Here’s an example! No matter what type of craft you do, be sure to label the craft with the word “apple” and discuss the short A sound.
Letter A Picture Hunt: Hang pictures of words that begin with the /a/ sound around the classroom. Have students search for them, saying the word and sound as they go.
Alphabet Read Alouds: Read books that emphasize beginning letter sounds. Here’s a list of recommendations!
Use Printable Activities: Practice letter recognition, letter sounds, and more with the activities in my FREE Letter A Activity Pack! It includes printables, a mini book, a crown, and much more.

All About A Centers: Set up learning stations with themed activities. For example, one center could have students sort pictures of objects that start with A, while another center could focus on sorting letters to identify the letter A.

Tips for Success
- Repetition is Key: Practice letter sounds daily through songs and chants. If it’s not already part of your morning routine, start today!
- Focus on the Short Vowel Sound: Reinforce the /a/ sound by modeling it frequently and connecting it to familiar words like “apple” and “ant.”
- “Find” the Letter A Sound Everywhere: When you’re reading a book, for example, find a word with a good /a/ sound and pause to notice it. This could be as simple as saying, “Ooh, I heard a good /a/ sound in that word. Let’s listen: ‘a-pple’.”
Grab These Free Letter A Activities!
Teaching words that begin with A for kindergarten is an exciting step in your students’ literacy journey. Just think of the knowledge they’ll have to decode words once they master the short A sound! With daily practice using these activities, your students will gain confidence with the short vowel sound /a/ and have fun learning along the way.

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Alphabet Read Alouds for Kindergarten
Letter Recognition Games for Kindergarten
35 Literacy Activities for Kids
