Learning the alphabet with ease

Asai Kiyavanna
Author: Chandralatha Liyanage
Tharindu Publishers, Nugegoda

Asai Kiyavanna books one and two are the latest contributions by Chandralatha Liyanage the well-known educationist who has written 20 books in Sinhala and English for children.

Her forte is to lay the foundation for children to learn the letters in the language step by step with a liking by participating in the process of learning the alphabet which otherwise is a burden.

The books are very colourfully illustrated and emphasis is laid on a single letter on every page with one or two pictures. They are meaningful, attractive and pleasing to the eyes and mind. Children will be attracted and they would follow the process of learning with ease. It is quite a change from the traditional method of teaching the complex alphabet with much effort forcing the child to learn.

Every page with a single letter is followed by pictures and exercises. First the child has to run finger over the letter several times. Secondly he has to spell the letter loud and thirdly, to read the word while looking at the pictures.

In addition, at the bottom of each page there is an exercise to be done. For example, in the first lesson children are asked to search for a letter in a newspaper and cut a few of them and place them in a scrapbook.

The first book ends with 24 selected letters and by the time the child reaches page 31 he will be able to identify the letters and learn 115 words. The publications are a product of much commitment and hard work making use of talented people in art, language, literature, music and the art of book development for children which needs a psychological approach as well.