ABC Starter

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Ages 3–4 · ESL Beginner

Alphabet Starter: A gentle first step for young ESL learners (Ages 3–4)

46 weeks of 45-minute lessons covering names & feelings, colors, shapes, numbers, body parts and the alphabet — one character at a time.

Why ABC Starter Works for ESL Beginners

Most phonics programs are written for children who already hear and speak English every day at home. ABC Starter is built for something different: 3- to 4-year-old English-as-a-second-language learners who are meeting the English alphabet and its sounds for the very first time, often without any English spoken outside the classroom.

At this age, attention spans are short and repetition is everything. Each week introduces exactly one letter, one memorable character, and a small set of target vocabulary — reinforced through a song, a coloring activity, and a simple classroom game. Nothing assumes prior English exposure at home, and nothing moves faster than a first-time ESL learner can follow.

What Students Achieve in 46 Weeks

Students move gradually from names, feelings, colors, shapes, numbers and body parts, through the full alphabet — one unforgettable character per letter, from Angry Ant to Zig Zag Zebra. Two speaking tests and several review weeks are built into the year so teachers can track real progress toward reading readiness.

46Weeks
45Minutes / lesson
26Characters & letters
2Speaking tests

Curriculum Index — All 46 Weeks

Week 1 is a free sample lesson, open to everyone. Weeks 2–46 are available to ABC POP PHONICS members — click any locked week to learn more.

Angry Ant Week 1 Angry Ant Free
Brushing Bear Week 2 Brushing Bear 🔒 Members
Cutting Crab Week 3 Cutting Crab 🔒 Members
Digging Dog Week 4 Digging Dog 🔒 Members
Excited Elephant Week 5 Excited Elephant 🔒 Members
Flying Frog Week 6 Flying Frog 🔒 Members
Giving Goldman Week 7 Giving Goldman 🔒 Members
Hopping Horse Week 8 Hopping Horse 🔒 Members
Insect Igloo Week 9 Insect Igloo 🔒 Members
Jumping Jellyfish Week 10 Jumping Jellyfish 🔒 Members
Kicking Koala Week 11 Kicking Koala 🔒 Members
Laughing Lion Week 12 Laughing Lion · Test 1 🔒 Members
Mixing Mug Week 13 Mixing Mug 🔒 Members
No-No Nut Week 14 No-No Nut 🔒 Members
Officer Octopus Week 15 Officer Octopus 🔒 Members
Pointing Penguin Week 16 Pointing Penguin 🔒 Members
Question Queen Week 17 Question Queen 🔒 Members
Running Rabbit Week 18 Running Rabbit 🔒 Members
Sleeping Sun Week 19 Sleeping Sun 🔒 Members
Tiny Tiger Week 20 Tiny Tiger 🔒 Members
Unhappy Umbrella Week 21 Unhappy Umbrella 🔒 Members
Vegetable Van Week 22 Vegetable Van · Test 2 🔒 Members
Walking Watermelon Week 23 Walking Watermelon 🔒 Members
Excellent X Week 24 Excellent X 🔒 Members
Yawning Yak Week 25 Yawning Yak 🔒 Members
Zig Zag Zebra Week 26 Zig Zag Zebra 🔒 Members
ABC POP PHONICS review week Week 27 A–Z Review 🔒 Members
ABC POP PHONICS review week Week 28 A & B Review 🔒 Members
ABC POP PHONICS review week Week 29 C & D Review 🔒 Members
ABC POP PHONICS review week Week 30 E & F Review 🔒 Members
ABC POP PHONICS review week Week 31 G & H Review 🔒 Members
ABC POP PHONICS review week Week 32 I & J Review · Test 3 🔒 Members
ABC POP PHONICS review week Week 33 K & L Review 🔒 Members
ABC POP PHONICS review week Week 34 M & N Review 🔒 Members
ABC POP PHONICS review week Week 35 O & P Review 🔒 Members
ABC POP PHONICS review week Week 36 Q & R Review 🔒 Members
ABC POP PHONICS review week Week 37 S & T Review 🔒 Members
ABC POP PHONICS review week Week 38 U & V Review 🔒 Members
ABC POP PHONICS review week Week 39 W & X Review 🔒 Members
ABC POP PHONICS review week Week 40 Y & Z Review 🔒 Members
ABC POP PHONICS review week Week 41 Review Aa–Ff 🔒 Members
ABC POP PHONICS review week Week 42 Review Gg–Mm · Test 4 🔒 Members
ABC POP PHONICS review week Week 43 Review Nn–Tt 🔒 Members
ABC POP PHONICS review week Week 44 Fun Day! Review Uu–Zz 🔒 Members
ABC POP PHONICS review week Week 45 Halloween Lesson 🔒 Members
ABC POP PHONICS review week Week 46 Christmas Lesson 🔒 Members

🔒 Members-only lesson

This week’s lesson plan, worksheets and videos are available to ABC POP PHONICS members. Week 1 is free to try first!

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