What is the first step in letter identification?

The first step in letter identification is the ability to identify letters and non-letters. This foundational skill is crucial as it establishes the basic recognition of what constitutes a letter in comparison to other symbols or characters. By being able to distinguish letters from non-letters, learners begin to develop an awareness of the alphabetic system.

Once this distinction is made, learners can advance to deeper understanding, such as recognizing the differences between uppercase and lowercase letters, understanding the sounds associated with letters, and learning to write letters in sequence. However, all these skills build on the initial ability to identify what a letter actually is. Therefore, identifying letters and non-letters is a critical first step in the process of letter recognition and literacy development.