The 4S Accelerated English Program (4S-AEP), using the Preparation Primer (PP), makes Early Childhood Education teaching a much easier task. This is firstly because of its use of words that are relevant to the “language world” of the young learner - secondly because of its sequential structure that begins with the basic, foundation concepts - and thirdly because of the hundreds of graphics that accelerate comprehension.

With the added support of Working With Words and the Preparation Primer Lesson Plans, the Preparation Primer (PP) provides teachers, tutors and parents with a core English literacy course that is easy to understand, follow and apply.

While teachers can simply use the PP lesson plan outlines to effectively achieve the key literacy goals, just as parents are encouraged to do in “home-help” tutoring situations, innovation and variation in the teaching strategies used in the classroom are also encouraged to promote the concepts of “ownership” and “learner-centeredness”.

Introducing the Alphabet using the names of the students is a “learner-centeredness” way of engendering “ownership” of what is being taught on the part of the learner.

Every child’s name is written separately on a stick-on card or a piece of felt, with a coloured first symbol (letter). Guided by a large Alphabet Chart, the students then arrange the names in “alphabetical order”, e.g. Anna, Begitte, Dominic, Freda, Joni, Marcus, Zena, etc. Note is made of the alphabet symbols that are “missing”. The task then is for everyone to think of actual names beginning with those symbols or just make them up, e.g. Xina, Yusi. The time can be used also to explain how people’s names begin with a Capital.

Students can also create a personal, group or class “Symbols and Sounds Scrapbook”. Using “pictorial” material such as commercial advertising pamphlets, brochures, newspapers and magazines, the students collect and record pictures and words that begin with the 26 alphabetical symbols, e,g. apple, bike, car, orange.

Later, when encountered in the Preparation Primer, pictures and words depicting the consonant blends and digraphs and other symbol combinations are also collected and recorded, e.g. truck, stove, cream, fruit - photograph, watch, fish, – table, torch, hair-spray, computer, condominium, etc.
While the 4S publications are used as the primary teaching resource, the objective is always to impart the key literacy concepts, words and sentence constructions employing a variety of real-life, meaningful, relevant and enjoyable ways. Conversational Cards are obvious tools, e.g.

I like to play basketball. How much are those bananas?

Good morning! How are you? Where do you live?

It is important to keep in mind that young learners “enjoy” learning about animals, actions, other children and things that touch and stretch their imagination. Moreover, they like “rhyme”.

Using the names of the students or other children, short rhyming “stories” about things that people “do” can be composed that can be very effective language-learning tools. If pictures that depict the action in the story can be used as well, comprehension and retention will be further enhanced.

Lilly and Billy are walking in the park.
Ben and Twen are catching a shark.

Rica and Rialdo are surfing the waves.
Andy and Annie are exploring some caves.

Rajiv and Robin are singing some songs.
Melvin and Mervyn are running in green thongs.

Temi and Tarsa are minding the sheep.
Donald and Ronald are driving a jeep.

Brodie and Bella are waiting for the train.
Winston and Wah are playing in the rain.

Patrick and Pasha are pushing a cart.
Megan and Regan are eating a tart.

Kin and Kim are going on a hike.
Van and Dan are fixing a bike.

Moorah and Marku are shutting the door.
Juna and Jo-anne are mopping the floor.

Shayla and Shane are jumping for joy.
Gil and Phil are carving a toy.

Boe and Bimal are towing a truck.
Wan and Wally are plucking a duck.

Carla and Cunda are stacking the bricks.
Ley and Lyam are holding the chicks.

(The author Keith W. Wright is a former politician, an educator and the director of the Australian International Language Academy. E-mail questions to Outreach Publications at contact@4sliteracy.com or youth@mb.com.ph).