Which of the following is a valid teaching strategy for letter-sound correspondence?

Teaching lower case letters before upper case letters is a valid strategy for letter-sound correspondence for several reasons. First, in everyday reading and writing, children encounter lower case letters much more frequently than upper case ones, particularly in the context of storybooks and most written text. Introducing lower case letters first aligns with their immediate experiences with written language, making the learning process more relevant and intuitive.

Additionally, understanding lower case letters lays a solid foundation for recognizing words and sentence structures. Once children are comfortable with the shapes and sounds of lower case letters, they can more easily transition to upper case letters, which often serve specific functions such as indicating the start of sentences or proper nouns.

The approach fosters a better understanding of the overall structure of written language, as well as the phonemic awareness necessary for reading fluently. Teaching in this order helps students develop their letter recognition skills effectively, enhancing their overall literacy development.