Letter of the Week (LOTW) is a teaching method where kids learn one letter each week for 26 weeks. It includes activities based on a theme related to the letter.
Research from the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) shows that homeschooled students typically score 15 to 25 percentile points higher than public school students on standardized academic achievement tests. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), approximately 3.3 million students were homeschooled in the United States as of 2023, representing roughly 6% of the school-age population.
What is letter of the week?
Letter of the Week (LOTW) is a way to teach the alphabet to preschoolers. Each week, kids focus on one letter over 26 weeks. For example, during 'A' week, they might explore apples, airplanes, and alligators. Activities include letter tracing, sound practice, crafts, and themed books. Many parents like LOTW because it offers a clear and organized structure. You can find tons of free and paid LOTW resources online with printable materials for the whole alphabet.
What research says
Here’s the tricky part: literacy experts think LOTW is outdated and not very effective. The method assumes every letter needs the same attention and that teaching letters in order (A-Z) is how kids learn best. But research shows that kids pick up the first letter of their name much faster than random letters. Teaching with names helps kids learn all the letters quicker. LOTW can take until spring to finish, which is too slow for kindergarten readiness.
Alternatives worth considering
Instead of LOTW, consider names-based literacy. Start with your child’s name, then move on to names of friends or family. This makes learning letters more relevant from day one. You could teach 3-4 letters each week for faster progress with more practice. Approaches like emergent literacy embed letter learning in real-life contexts like signs, favorite books, or even your child's own writing. These methods fit how kids really learn to read.
When lotw might still work
Even with the research concerns, LOTW isn't a bad choice. If your child is very young, like just turning 3, a slower pace can be fine. If you like the structure and have plenty of time before kindergarten, LOTW offers organized activities that can keep kids engaged. Just remember, finishing LOTW doesn’t mean your child is ready to read. It's good to add in phonological awareness activities and adjust if your child knows many letters already or feels bored.
The bottom line
Letter of the Week is popular for a reason—it has a structured approach and plenty of activities. But today's literacy research suggests that kids learn better with methods that make letters personally meaningful, like using names. If you go with LOTW, think of it as just one part of your child’s literacy journey. Be ready to speed things up or change plans based on what your child needs, rather than sticking to the curriculum's slow pace.
