Early Literacy Through Song: The Florida Alphabet
Hi Friends!
One of our most treasured traditions is the end of the year VPK Graduation show, where our students perform everything they have learned through song and storytelling. One of these songs in particular is a crowd favorite: The Florida Alphabet! It’s playful, it’s full of Florida fun, and best of all—it’s packed with literacy and language learning opportunities. When children sing about alligators, dolphins, and the Everglades, they’re doing much more than entertaining us. They’re strengthening the very skills that will help them succeed in school and beyond.
Early literacy is about more than just knowing letters; it’s about building a foundation for lifelong learning. Researchers have shown that children who grow up surrounded by language—songs, stories, and conversations—develop stronger vocabularies and reading comprehension later in school. When preschoolers sing songs like The Florida Alphabet, they’re practicing phonological awareness—the ability to hear and play with sounds in words—which is one of the most powerful predictors of later reading achievement. And the more children are exposed to books, songs, and print at an early age, the greater the long-term benefits: richer vocabularies, stronger spelling, and even better academic performance well into adolescence.
That’s why we love this song so much. It’s not just fun—it’s brain-building! Every letter, every rhyme, and every silly Florida reference is an opportunity for our children to practice the building blocks of literacy in a way that feels like play. By the time our VPK kids are belting out “Z is for Zephyrhills” at graduation, they’ve gained more than a performance piece—they’ve gained skills that will last a lifetime.
Here’s how we sing our alphabet: Florida style!
🐊 A – Alligator
🚤 B – Boat
🐚 C – Conch Shells
🐬 D – Dolphin
🌾 E – Everglades
🎣 F – Fishing
🌊 G – Gulf
🕊 H – Heron
🦟 I – Itch (mosquito bite!)
🪼 J – Jellyfish
🦌 K – Key deer
🦞 L – Lobster
🐘 M – Manatee
🏖️ N – Naples
🪶 O – Osceola (Indigenous Chief)
🪸 P – Pennekamp Coral Reef
🌙 Q – Quarter moon
🦝 R – Raccoon
☀️ S – Suntan
🐢 T – Turtle
☂️ U – Umbrella
🏎️ V – Vroom (at Daytona Beach)
🌪️ W – Waterspout
🦪 X – eXtra Juicy Clams
🪰 Y – Yellowfly
💧 Z – Zephyrhills Springs
Songs like The Florida Alphabet remind us that early literacy doesn’t just come from worksheets or flashcards—it grows in the joy of singing, playing, and exploring words together. By blending fun, phonics, and Florida pride, we give our preschoolers the tools to thrive in school and beyond!
Toodleoo!
📚 References:
1) Lonigan, C. J., Burgess, S. R., & Anthony, J. L. (2000). Development of emergent literacy and early reading skills in preschool children: Evidence from a latent-variable longitudinal study. Developmental Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.36.5.596
2) Mol, S. E., & Bus, A. G. (2011). To read or not to read: A meta-analysis of print exposure from infancy to early adulthood. Psychological Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0021890
3) Snow, C. E., Burns, M. S., & Griffin, P. (Eds.). (1998). Preventing reading difficulties in young children. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.