You’ve probably seen or heard about ABC Bootcamp™ on Instagram or Facebook or from other teachers. You’ve seen it mentioned in my lesson plans, and you’ve had tons of questions about it. Therefore, we wrote this blog post to help answer questions and dig deep on each activity.
ABC Bootcamp™ is a research-based, science of reading-aligned, classroom-proven 26-day introduction to all letters and sounds. ABC Bootcamp™ is an explicit, systematic, highly effective phonics curriculum based on best practices.
We hope this blog post can help answer many of your questions. Remember, TKS Bootcamp is a year-long curriculum, but this post focuses only on the ABC component. If you want to learn more about the entire program, visit our new website at tksbootcamp.com.
Phonics For Kindergarten: Why ABC Bootcamp?
The idea of ABC Bootcamp™ came about more than 13 years ago out of necessity. We were….gasp….a letter a week crowd. “Introducing” a letter in April or May doesn’t work. It just doesn’t. And it doesn’t make sense. So we decided to try something new. We decided to do a letter daily and introduce 26 letters in 26 days at the beginning of the year. We decided to call it BOOTCAMP because it would be fast and intense! So ABC Bootcamp was born out of a need to try something new we hoped would be better for our students. Some research was out there then, but it is not like it is now. We also started that first year by introducing SOUND FIRST, and the letter-name question was “How do you spell the sound?” so we were cutting edge!
By introducing the letters/sounds this early, we can move our focus to reading and writing words. Students who need more help get extra help during small groups, one-on-one instruction, and centers!
Phonics for Kindergarten: ABC Bootcamp™ – The Research
TKS Bootcamp is built on the research of The Law Of 10-20 For Memory Sets. This research says that the optimal time to learn a set is 10-20% of the time you want to remember that set. The school year is 180 days. 10%-20% of 180 is 18-37 days. 26 days falls in the middle of this range. Therefore, ABC Bootcamp and the TKS Bootcamp curriculum are the optimal times to learn letters and sounds. This research carries throughout the entire Bootcamp curriculum.
ABC Bootcamp™ is built on the science of reading. From day 1, ABC Bootcamp™ was built on the principles of the science of reading because that is how I was taught to teach reading! Which means that in 13 years, ABC BOOTCAMP hasn’t changed other than adding more components and resources!
Engagement
Another benefit of ABC Bootcamp™? EXCITEMENT! The kids are excited to come to class. How do we know? We experience it year after year, AND we hear it from teachers across the country! Students know what to expect the next day and often start talking about it as we leave to go home. It brings a whole new level of excitement to learning. WAIT…WHAT?! Fun? Excitement!?! Are kids excited about learning?! Brain research tells us that fun releases dopamine, which lowers stress. Lower stress means our brains are ready to learn!
Does It Work?
YES! In a blind study of 200 classrooms across all demographics, the following growth occurred after 26 days of ABC Bootcamp™:
In more than 13 years of using ABC Bootcamp™ in my classroom, I have consistently seen 90-95% mastery at the end of 26 days! 80-95% of my students leave kindergarten at benchmark on our nationally normed benchmark assessment. Most of my students are ELL & enter the classroom with little to no English!
How Does ABC Bootcamp Work?
The how is pretty simple. That’s the beauty of BOOTCAMP: It’s easy!
Each day of ABC Bootcamp™, we work on a sound and a letter. We have done it in ABC order and we have done it in order of utility according to our required foundational skills curriculum. The outcome (data) doesn’t change. The biggest change we saw when not doing ABC order was the loss of excitement because the predictablitity was gone. That said, ABC Bootcamp™ is intentionally designed to work in any order with any curriculum!
Phonics For Kindergarten Morning Message ABC Bootcamp™
We mention the letter in the morning message but before reading the message, I ask if students can identify the sound and letter just to get a quick idea of where we stand with a particular sound and letter! As part of the morning message, I model writing uppercase and lowercase letters. Then each child comes to the message and writes the letter (uppercase and lowercase!). This serves as an informal assessment for the students and me to start the day hearing and seeing the sound and letter!
Phonics For Kindergarten: Circle Charts
The heart of ABC Bootcamp™ is the circle chart. The circle chart is the explicit instruction in the sound, and how to spell the sound. When introducing the sound and letter for the day, we introduce the SOUND FIRST because the science of reading tells us that kids need a speech-to-print approach.
So I might say: “Today we are learning the sound /b/!” Then students repeat and identify the sound. I might say: “What sound?” We also discuss what our mouth is doing when we make the sound. After we repeat the sound, I say: “We spell /b/ with the letter b.” The letter’s name is how we spell the sound. This helps students make the connection between sounds and letters and writing.
When we introduce our sound, we also introduce our embedded mnemonic for that sound. Using embedded mnemonics helps build stronger pathways in the brain and helps students remember and recall sounds. And these same images show up throughout the curriculum: hats, readers, centers so there is consisitency for students as well as repeated exposures!
Student-Generated Words
The students generate ideas for words that begin with the letter’s sound. (WE DO NOT INCLUDE LONG VOWEL SOUNDS at this time because we do long vowel sounds during our Vowel Bootcamp.) This is where the connecting sounds to known words comes into play. We’re connecting the beginning sound to words the kids know because the kids are generating the words. If a student suggests a word with a vowel sound, we talk about how the letter makes that vowel sound….and we say we will remember it when we come back to the vowel sounds! (We also only introduce the HARD consonant sound. We will introduce the soft sound later in the year.
When they suggest a word, we ask “What sound?” and students identify the sound. I ask “Does this belong on our circle chart?” ;And again, I ask “What sound?”
Drawing The Pictures
Mr. Greg attempts (very badly attempts…) to draw the picture! After I draw the picture, they name the picture. I ask them what sound the word begins with. Then I ask them: “HOW DO WE SPELL (the sound)?” I write the letter for the sound. And then I spell the rest of the word. Finally, we read the word again and identify the sound!
If students struggle to generate words for the circle chart, we give them hints and describe words that would go on the circle chart. I might say: “You eat this on a bun with ketchup.” And they would say “hamburger”! After we finish the chart, we go back and say each word and the sound to build initial sound fluency. Something that we do that works well and helps build the home to school connections, is having students bring objects for each sound. The objects overcome the language and vocabulary barrier!
NOTE: One of the foundations of ABC Bootcamp™ is the teacher drawing the pictures. Yes, we’re bad artists. That’s half the fun. Our pictures make the kids giggle and laugh, and that laughter increases engagement and focus (science tells us that laughter releases dopamine which lowers stress which allows more learning!). Pre-printed pictures don’t have the same impact because it loses the personal connection and that relationship piece. By drawing the pictures, we’re activating those emotional centers of the brain, which increases learning and engagement!
We display the circle charts in the classroom.
ABC Bootcamp™ also includes phonemic awareness instruction and practice. We count the syllables in the word, we identify the onset sound, we segment sounds in the words, and once we have learned enough sounds, we start blending simple CVC words!
Circle Charts In Action:
Handwriting: Explicit Instruction And Independent Practice
Research is clear: handwriting and correct letter formation help solidify the sounds and letters because the motion/movement builds more brain pathways! ABC BOOTCAMP is when we explicitly teach correct letter formation. After ABC BOOTCAMP, we work on handwriting all year, but in a more informal way. I place the handwriting sheet on our document camera. And again, we identify the sound and letter. Then I explain how to form the letter while modeling how to form the letter on the paper. (NOTE: I use a marker to model the writing so it’s easier to see!) I model how to trace the uppercase and lowercase letters, and then model how to do the independent practice.
Next, each child gets a handwriting page and practices writing the letters. While they are writing, I am moving around the room monitoring and assisting students with correct letter formation and pencil grip.
The handwriting pages included in ABC Bootcamp™ are in manuscript and D’Neliean style! So you choose which one to use in your classroom. Again, that is part of the beauty of how we designed the entire TKS Bootcamp curriculum. It fits any classroom’s needs and compliments any curriculum.
Handwriting Modeling Video from 2018:
Phonics For Kindergarten: ABC Bootcamp™ Hats
One highlight of ABC Bootcamp is our alphabet hats! The hats are included in the ABC Bootcamp™ download. For each letter, we make an alphabet hat. Everyone makes each hat, including me! Again, teacher involvement and buy-in is a huge factor in the success of ABC Bootcamp™! Don’t be afraid to go all-in during these 26 days! In fact, you might walk in and find me laying on the floor making my hat with the kids.
We’re also getting more phonemic awareness because the kids have to identify the hat and the beginning sound when they bring me their hat to staple! The hats also build language and vocabularly and provide opportunity for practice. The kids wear their hats all day and so adults are asking what is on their hat and what sound!
Here is a Hat Modeling Video from 2018:
ABC BOOTCAMP: The First Week
One thing we hear the most about ABC Bootcamp™ is how much time we spend on Bootcamp, especially during the first week or two. Here’s the truth: the first week or two takes time. Students aren’t working independently, everything is being modeled step by step and being done whole group. It’s OK! The explicit instruction is a MUST! Don’t let the time factor scare you. We’re also working on fine motor skills, listening, following directions, and routines and procedures. And it’s the beginning of the year, so we have the time to invest in laying a solid foundation. ABC Bootcamp™ takes about 40-60 minutes during the first week or two. The hats are the most time-consuming piece AT FIRST! Keep reading….and see how we are able to speed up this process!
Working Independently
After a week or so of making the hats as a whole-group activity, we switched to making the hats independently. And just like that, we have shortened the amount of time we spend on ABC Bootcamp™. This is also introducing them to working independently, and I can start pulling informal small groups during week 2!
I have my hat prepared ahead of time as a model. Again, we review the sound and letter by identifying the hat. We explain how to make their hats, and the students make their own hats! Students usually have 15-20 minutes for the hat. It goes home if your hat isn’t finished before time is up. No excuses!
Assembling The Hats
After they finish their hat, they glue the hat on a sentence strip and bring it to me. They identify the hat, the sound, and the letter, and then I staple the sentence strip so they can wear the hat. This is another area where students become more independent. After about 2 weeks, they come to the table with the sentence strip already sized and ready to staple!
The hats in ABC Bootcamp™ are differentiated. For each letter, there are 2 hats: one that requires some assembly and on that is a simple cut and paste. The hats in the printed ABC BOOTCAMP kit are exclusive to that kit and are new. The hats in the digital download were created by Jen Hart Design.
The hats reinforce the letter sound of the day in a fun, meaningful way! And they’re silly and fun. We get lots of giggles from the hats! The students love to look up and see me wearing my hat but they’re also a great way to get other adults involved. Adults ask the kids about their hats throughout the day. They recall the sound and letter and explain why we wore a certain hat.
ABC Bootcamp™ Dog Tags
Students also receive a dog tag each day. The dog tag contains the letter that we learned. When students come to me to get their hats stapled, they identify the sound and letter and receive a dog tag.
The dog tag is placed on a necklace with their other letter dog tags and hangs in their cubby. At the end of our 26-day ABC Bootcamp™, they proudly wear their dog tags home!
So how long does this take?
ABC BOOTCAMP: Small Groups
Phonics For Kindergarten: Alphabet Books
One of the biggest keys to students’ success as readers is confidence. These alphabet readers help boost the confidence of our readers. And if a child feels like a reader, they will be better readers. Using readers allows students to apply and practice the phonics skills we’ve taught in whole-group lessons during our BOOTCAMP phonics time. These alphabet readers are a key part of the systematic, explicit phonics instruction that helps our students succeed as readers and writers!
We use the alphabet books in ABC Bootcamp™ to practice and review the sounds and letters in context! Learning letters and sounds must happen in context (which is why we use circle charts with words!). I pull small groups, and we use the alphabet readers to practice the sounds and letters in books!
How To Use The Alphabet Books
I pull a group to my table. First, I ask them to find the front cover of the book. Then they identify the sound and letter on the front cover. I might also ask them if they know any words for the sound. Then we read each page. After reading the book, we identify the pictures and sounds. We then do another reading where students read independently with my assistance as needed. We’re also working on vocabulary with the books.
With ABC Bootcamp™ you will get 26 alphabet books in the download. These books are differentiated with 2 levels. Each letter has a one-word book, which is great for building vocabulary and confidence in readers. There is also a predictable pattern book with a simple sight word sentence to build fluency and confidence. Each book is available in color and black line, so you can choose to save on ink!
Small Groups: Sounds Hunt
One way we can target students who need extra practice with a particular sound is through our sound hunts. These are included in ABC Bootcamp™ and make a great small-group tool.
I pull a group to my table. We look at the paper and identify the sound and letter. Next, we discuss that we are looking for pictures that begin with our sound. Then we point to each picture and say its name. I ask, “What sound?” and the students identify it. Finally, I ask: “Do we color this picture?” And they answer appropriately. Also ask: “Why?” to get them to justify their decision. After we color all of the correct pictures, we name each picture and identify the sound to build initial sound fluency.
Phonics For Kindergarten: Student Circle Chart Books
Another option for differentiation and small group work in ABC Bootcamp™ is the Student Circle Chart books. They can be used to challenge students who have mastered their sounds and letters, or they can provide additional, scaffolded practice for students who need extra support.
Students are called to my table to work on their alphabet book. We identify the sound and letter. Then we differentiate the work. If the group needs additional practice, we can refer to the class circle chart and add pictures to their book. These students would write ther letter for each picture. Students who have mastered their sounds and letters, they are challenged to think of DIFFERENT words for their alphabet book. After quickly drawing the pictures, they are encouraged to attempt to use their sounds to write the word.
Phonics For Kindergarten: Daily Review
I get asked if this is the only time we will learn the letter and sound….NO! We review every letter and sound every day during our morning literacy routine! And we work with letters and sounds in small groups and centers using the centers included with BOOTCAMP! For the review, we change up how we do it. We use our letter sound cards and we use PowerPoints!
During our literacy centers, we also work with letters and sounds. This gives students hands-on, independent, and engaging practice with letter identification, letter formation, and identifying beginning sounds. (ABC Bootcamp™ includes blackline centers for letters and sounds!)
Phonics For Kindergarten: ABC Bootcamp Certificates
At the end of ABC Bootcamp™ each student receives a certificate for completing ABC Bootcamp™!
We also end with our original ABC Bootcamp™ Fashion Show! Each student creates a letter vest and walks the runway!
Phonics For Kindergarten: Fashion Show
Purchase as a full curriculum in a bundle:
Start the school year with phonics for kindergarten using ABC Bootcamp™, giving your students a solid foundation for reading and writing at the beginning of the year. This will help get your students reading faster. ABC Bootcamp™ is a fun and engaging way to introduce letters and sounds, plus it has your students master all 26 sounds and letters quickly and effectively.
ABC Bootcamp™ covers all 26 in only the first 26 days of school. Aligned with the science of reading and used for more than 13 years in classrooms around the world, ABC Bootcamp™ is an established resource. It’s one of the components of our year-long math & literacy program, called TKS Bootcamp. Teachers across the country and around the world are raving about the success of their classrooms. We could talk about all nine components of TKS Bootcamp, but for now, we want to focus on just the ABC component, which is the first component of our phonics for kindergarten curriculum.
Available On TPT or TKS Store
Our ABC Bootcamp™ download contains everything you need for complete science of reading-aligned phonics instruction. It is 100% flexible and adapts to fit any scope & sequence and/or curriculum. ABC Bootcamp™ is only one component of our year-long math & literacy curriculum called TKS Bootcamp.
The TKS Bootcamp curriculum can be purchased as a Bundle that contains all nine math & literacy components at a 25% discount, OR you can purchase only the components you wish to use. Each component and/or bundle is available in 4 themes or no theme: Army, Monster, Safari, Superhero, or No Theme.
Available In 5 Themes:
Also Available as a Printed Kit
This kit is shipped to you and includes 5 components seen below:
This all-in-one Bootcamp Kit is your go-to solution for kickstarting foundational literacy and math skills in a fun, engaging, and research-backed way. Designed by award-winning educator Greg Smedley-Warren of The Kindergarten Smorgasboard, this bundle is everything you need to successfully launch your year!
This printed kit is ONLY available at the TKS Store! This kit is NOT the digital download of ABC & Number Bootcamp. This is the hardcover manuals, the number cards, letter cards and dry erase flipchart.
Buy The Kit Now In The TKS Store:
For more details on the entire TKS Bootcamp Curriculum, check out the TKS BOOTCAMP website:
For more information, check out these posts:
