This unique resource helps educators spark young children2s interest in learning the alphabet and develop beginning reading skills right from the beginning to the close of school. Included are over 500 ready-to-use individual and classroom activities designed to be used sequentially, from one month to the next, to build skills, relate reading to other curriculum areas, and foster children2s enthusiasm for books and learning to read. All activities are organized into nine monthly sections, September through May/June, and include over 100 activity sheets. Each month includes a list of 10 picture books for daily reading, phonics and other basic skills instructions, "ABC Marching Band Letters" for learning letter-sound connections, reading links to holidays and special events, reading links to writing, math, social studies, science & health, author-of-the-month studies and activities, plus 10-13 illustrated reproducible activities.