Question about a

[JennMN]

Hello. I am using the first lesson with my son. We are about to hit the page where we introduce a cat, a cot. I was wondering how I am supposed to pronounce the a by itself. Usually it is pronounced either with the long a sound or as uh, but since it has a bar under it I am wondering if you want it to be pronounced with the short a sound. I don't want to confuse my son. Thank you for your help.

[charan langton]

Just say it as close as you can to the a as in alligator sound being taught. Your child will see it as a stand alone word and will say it the way you say or in your regional accent. This will not be a problem for him or her. This is just one of the many subtle incongruities of English.