These 6 Early Literacy Skills were defined in the early literacy project, Every Child Ready to Read @ Your Library. I have earlier posts describing the 6 skills and suggestions on how to develop the skills in you child.
Vocabulary
Knowing the names of things.
Print Motivation
A child's interest in and enjoyment of books.
Print Awareness
Noticing print everywhere; knowing how to handle a book; knowing how we follow the words on a page.
Narrative Skills
The ability to describe things and events and tell stories.
Letter Knowledge
Knowing that letters have names and are different from each other, and that specific sounds go with specific letters.
Phonological Awareness
The ability to hear and play with the smaller sounds in words.
Now, the 2nd edition of Every Child Ready to Read @ Your Library has been released and these 6 skills have incorporated into these 5 best practices to get your child ready to read:
Talking, singing, reading, writing and playing.
It's that simple. All of our preschool programming will revolve around these best practices!
Showing posts with label Six Skills for Early Literacy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Six Skills for Early Literacy. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
The Six Skills of Early Literacy-Day by Day
Letter Knowledge
This is understanding that each letter has its own name and sound. Sing alphabet songs! I know you know your ABCs, but next time won't you sing another song with me? Dr. Jean has some wonderful alphabet and letter sound songs. Sounds Like Fun by Discovery Toys (look up video at youtube) and Jack Hartmann has some fun ones too. (My colleague, Michelle R., a creative educator always looking for fresh ideas, shared these with me a number of years ago and I love them. So, a shout out to her!)
BLFs- put the magnetic letters on the fridge. Use them in the car with a cookie sheet or jelly roll pan. Point out the first letter in your child's name. "That sign starts with an 'S' just like Sam!"
Of course, use books! There are some wonderful alphabet books available. I just ordered an activity book and I thought it was a great idea that you could easily make at home. There were "roads" in the shape of letters and your little one drives on the road with a toy car in the shape of the letter! Fun! Perfect for boys who tend to be "kinesthetic learners" and learn best by moving their bodies. Melissa & Doug have a great ABC puzzle that announces the letter when the piece is placed in the puzzle.
Now, I know my ABCs!
This is understanding that each letter has its own name and sound. Sing alphabet songs! I know you know your ABCs, but next time won't you sing another song with me? Dr. Jean has some wonderful alphabet and letter sound songs. Sounds Like Fun by Discovery Toys (look up video at youtube) and Jack Hartmann has some fun ones too. (My colleague, Michelle R., a creative educator always looking for fresh ideas, shared these with me a number of years ago and I love them. So, a shout out to her!)
BLFs- put the magnetic letters on the fridge. Use them in the car with a cookie sheet or jelly roll pan. Point out the first letter in your child's name. "That sign starts with an 'S' just like Sam!"
Of course, use books! There are some wonderful alphabet books available. I just ordered an activity book and I thought it was a great idea that you could easily make at home. There were "roads" in the shape of letters and your little one drives on the road with a toy car in the shape of the letter! Fun! Perfect for boys who tend to be "kinesthetic learners" and learn best by moving their bodies. Melissa & Doug have a great ABC puzzle that announces the letter when the piece is placed in the puzzle.
Now, I know my ABCs!
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Six Skills of Early Literacy- Day by Day
Print Awareness
This is recognizing print and understanding how books or a piece of writing "works". As you read a story, occasionally point to words to show the sentences go from left to right, top to bottom. This will help them understand that the symbols on the page have meaning. They are words. When you read books, point out the cover with the title, author and illustrator, the back, the top and bottom. Help them understand how a book works by allowing them to handle books and turn pages.
Point out letters and words on objects throughout your day- McDonald's, stop signs, bathroom signs, menus, signs in a store, street signs, labels, etc...This is called environmental print. Make a list before going shopping and have your child be a part of it. Read them the list. When shopping use the list to make connection to the labels on the food. Read books and make your books.
This is recognizing print and understanding how books or a piece of writing "works". As you read a story, occasionally point to words to show the sentences go from left to right, top to bottom. This will help them understand that the symbols on the page have meaning. They are words. When you read books, point out the cover with the title, author and illustrator, the back, the top and bottom. Help them understand how a book works by allowing them to handle books and turn pages.
Point out letters and words on objects throughout your day- McDonald's, stop signs, bathroom signs, menus, signs in a store, street signs, labels, etc...This is called environmental print. Make a list before going shopping and have your child be a part of it. Read them the list. When shopping use the list to make connection to the labels on the food. Read books and make your books.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Six Skills for Early Literacy-Day by Day
Narrative Skills
This is being able to tell stories and describe things. Some suggestions to help your child develop this skill is to provide puppets, dress-up clothes, flannel boards, dramatic play toys to encourage pretend play and more. Encourage them to make up stories or act out stories that you read to them. Wordless books are a wonderful way to develop narrative skills because your child will make up the story based on the illustrations. Engage in conversations with your child- modeling good listening skills!
Stories have a structure and sequence. There is a beginning, a middle and an ending. When children understand this story structure, they can predict what will happen in the story. This helps when they are trying to read and understand what they just read.
Ask your child to tell you what happened at the grandmas or at preschool. When they describe past events, they are telling you a story. Ask questions that prompt them for more information. Allow your child to draw picture and ask them to describe their drawing. Write down their story, resisting the temptation of making it sound better, and read their story back to them.
This is being able to tell stories and describe things. Some suggestions to help your child develop this skill is to provide puppets, dress-up clothes, flannel boards, dramatic play toys to encourage pretend play and more. Encourage them to make up stories or act out stories that you read to them. Wordless books are a wonderful way to develop narrative skills because your child will make up the story based on the illustrations. Engage in conversations with your child- modeling good listening skills!
Stories have a structure and sequence. There is a beginning, a middle and an ending. When children understand this story structure, they can predict what will happen in the story. This helps when they are trying to read and understand what they just read.
Ask your child to tell you what happened at the grandmas or at preschool. When they describe past events, they are telling you a story. Ask questions that prompt them for more information. Allow your child to draw picture and ask them to describe their drawing. Write down their story, resisting the temptation of making it sound better, and read their story back to them.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Six Skills for Early Literacy-Day by Day
Enriched Vocabulary
This is knowing the specific names of things, feelings, concepts and ideas. The more vocabulary children have the easier it will be for them to understand what they are reading. What can you do to help your child? The best thing you can do is talk to your child starting when they are babies. The more you talk to your child, the more they will develop their vocabulary.
Be descriptive when naming things- the scruffy, brown dog or the big blue truck. Expose children to new words by speaking with them during everyday activities. Describe what you are doing and what they are doing. Children understand many more words than they can verbalize themselves. Discuss observations- what's happening at the grocery store, during the car wash or when playing at the park. Discuss concepts such as time, opposites and the changing seasons. Read books and discuss unfamiliar words or ask swap synonyms for descriptive words in the story. For example, if the story describes the dinosaur as big, say the dinosaur was big, he was huge, he was gigantic, etc.
This is knowing the specific names of things, feelings, concepts and ideas. The more vocabulary children have the easier it will be for them to understand what they are reading. What can you do to help your child? The best thing you can do is talk to your child starting when they are babies. The more you talk to your child, the more they will develop their vocabulary.
Be descriptive when naming things- the scruffy, brown dog or the big blue truck. Expose children to new words by speaking with them during everyday activities. Describe what you are doing and what they are doing. Children understand many more words than they can verbalize themselves. Discuss observations- what's happening at the grocery store, during the car wash or when playing at the park. Discuss concepts such as time, opposites and the changing seasons. Read books and discuss unfamiliar words or ask swap synonyms for descriptive words in the story. For example, if the story describes the dinosaur as big, say the dinosaur was big, he was huge, he was gigantic, etc.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Six Skills for Early Literacy- Day by Day
Phonological Awareness
This is playing with and recognizing the smaller sounds that make up words. This involves blending, segmenting, manipulating, mixing and combining sounds. How do you do develop this in children? Sing songs, share rhymes, clap syllables in rhymes and songs, play word games and read books that have rhythm and rhyming words. When reciting a nursery rhyme, leave out the rhyming word and let your child fill in the blank. There is a predictable pattern and children learn by patterns.
Mem Fox, author of Reading Magic, declares that "rhymers will be readers". Furthermore, she shares a remarkable discovery by experts in early literacy and child development-children that know 8 nursery rhymes by heart before they are four years old are usually the best readers by the time they're eight!
Phonological Awareness is the strongest predictor of success in early reading and 35% of the children who enter kindergarten have not acquired this skill naturally and must be taught it according to the Children's Learning Institute.
This is playing with and recognizing the smaller sounds that make up words. This involves blending, segmenting, manipulating, mixing and combining sounds. How do you do develop this in children? Sing songs, share rhymes, clap syllables in rhymes and songs, play word games and read books that have rhythm and rhyming words. When reciting a nursery rhyme, leave out the rhyming word and let your child fill in the blank. There is a predictable pattern and children learn by patterns.
Mem Fox, author of Reading Magic, declares that "rhymers will be readers". Furthermore, she shares a remarkable discovery by experts in early literacy and child development-children that know 8 nursery rhymes by heart before they are four years old are usually the best readers by the time they're eight!
Phonological Awareness is the strongest predictor of success in early reading and 35% of the children who enter kindergarten have not acquired this skill naturally and must be taught it according to the Children's Learning Institute.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Six Skills for Early Literacy- Day by Day
There are 6 early literacy skills that serve as the foundation for learning to read and write. I will introduce one skill daily with tips and suggestions on how to help your child develop these skills.
Print Motivation- This is more of an attitude than a skill!
This is being excited about and interested in books. Getting a child excited about reading and books is the first step. Babies learn to emote by mirroring our feelings and enthusiasm. When you have a strong reaction to something, they notice. They don't know they are having fun until you tell them! Well, tell them books are exciting and fun and enjoyable by projecting those feelings when sharing books.
Print Motivation- This is more of an attitude than a skill!
This is being excited about and interested in books. Getting a child excited about reading and books is the first step. Babies learn to emote by mirroring our feelings and enthusiasm. When you have a strong reaction to something, they notice. They don't know they are having fun until you tell them! Well, tell them books are exciting and fun and enjoyable by projecting those feelings when sharing books.
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