Zoo
Phonics
At I’m Just A Kid, we make early literacy come alive through Zoo-phonics®, a research-backed, play-based approach to learning letters and sounds.
Learning to Read the Fun Way — With Zoo-phonics®!
Each letter becomes an adventure as children meet friendly animal characters like Allie Alligator and Bubba Bear—each with their own motion, sound, and story. This multisensory method blends sight, sound, movement, and touch, helping young minds build strong phonemic awareness naturally and joyfully.
Instead of memorizing letters by name, our little learners see the letter, hear its sound, move their bodies, and make meaningful connections—all at once. It’s not just effective, it’s fun.
Perfect for preschool and pre-K, Zoo-phonics gives every child—whether they’re new to English, learning at their own pace, or ready to race ahead—the tools to become confident readers.
Because here, every kid is more than just a kid—they’re a learner, explorer, and storyteller in the making.
Meet the Zoo-phonics® Friends!
At I’m Just A Kid, learning the alphabet means making new friends! Our students are introduced to a lovable cast of 26 animal pals, each representing a letter and its sound. These characters don’t just sit on a page—they move, make noise, and bring language to life.
From Allie Alligator chomping out the /a/ sound to Zeke Zebra zipping along with /z/, each friend comes with a fun motion and personality that helps children remember their letters with ease.
Here are just a few of our classroom favorites:
🐊 Allie Alligator – Chomps for the short a sound
🐻 Bubba Bear – Gives big bear hugs for b
🐱 Catina Cat – Purrs with the soft c sound
🦓 Zeke Zebra – Zig-zags with z
By associating each letter with a sound, shape, animal, and motion, kids build powerful memory connections that make reading and spelling more intuitive—and way more fun.
Come meet the whole alphabet crew in our classroom jungle! 🌿
Practice Zoo-phonics® at Home
Want to support your child’s learning? Zoo-phonics® makes it easy—and fun!
🐾 1. Say the Sound
Focus on the letter sound, not the name. For example, say /b/ for “B.”
🐾 2. Meet the Animal
Use the animal name—like Bubba Bear—to help connect the sound.
🐾 3. Add the Motion
Each letter has a fun motion to go with the sound. Do it together to build memory!
🐾 4. Make It a Game
Turn practice into play—like letter hunts, silly songs, or acting out animal sounds.
🐾 5. Keep It Quick
Just 5–10 minutes a day makes a big impact. Keep it light, fun, and consistent.
