Publications: Seeds
of Promise
Early Literacy
& Language
Series 2 Volume 1
New series on early literacy and family involvement
Long
before a child walks through the door of a Kindergarten classroom, she
is a master at making her wishes known, taking her cues from others,
and figuring out what is going on around her. This highly sophisticated
and oh-so-human task of creating meaning is at the heart of early literacy
and language. And it begins with newborns who are comforted when they
cry, infants whose babbles are responded to in kind, and toddlers who
are encouraged to explore and interact with their surroundings. Families
and communities that support families are the seed beds wherein a child's
growing sense of his own possibilities and place in the world take root.
...continued
Learning
Language is a family affair
Family
involvement is key to the acquisition of early literacy skills, but
what about families who don't speak English in the home? Parents can
emphasize communication in any language, says Maria Sera, Ph.D., professor
at the University of Minnesota's Institute of Child Development. The
most important thing is for parents to actively engage their child in
conversation, beginning at birth, and to read to the child regularly.
If this happens in another language, the child is still learning essential
building blocks of literacy, such as connecting sounds to meaning, Sera
said. As a child reaches school age, it is important for parents to
remain very involved with their child's development.
Childhood
Literacy - Early Efforts Yield Lifelong Results
Educators
and social services professionals have long understood the connection
between children's early childhood experiences and later success in
school. Ongoing research has plumbed the depths of this relationship
and now helps to shape public policy, social service initiatives and
educational goals. Recent research has further defined the relationship
between early childhood education – early childhood literacy in
particular – and a child's opportunity to enjoy success in school.
College
tutors bring America Reads program to life
Developing
literacy skills is difficult enough without trying to be proficient
in two languages, but a growing number of American schools are seeing
young students who face just such a challenge. America Reads is a national
program that calls on all Americans to help ensure that every American
child can read well and independently by the end of third grade. It
is a child-focused program that works in-school to provide children
with tutors and other assistance in developing and refining literacy
skills. In the Twin Cities, America Reads volunteer tutors come from
eight universities to work with St. Paul and Minneapolis students in
grades K-4, developing pre-reading skills, reading and writing skills
and other non-literacy goals.
Creating
language - rich environment increases literacy potential in young children
Parents
are always amazed at new words their children use. Every parent has
probably said "Where did she come up with that?" The answer,
of course, is that the child heard it in the home or at childcare. These
are the two places where children spend most of their time, and where
they learn to communicate with others. But the acquisition of new words
is more than just a "cute stage" children go through. It is
an essential part of their literacy development.
Questions
policymakers must ask to ensure all kids get a chance to become masters
of literacy
Discussions
about children's literacy – or, more broadly, about academic achievement
– usually revolve around what schools can do to close the gap between
children who are "successful" and those who are not. What
are the most effective ways of teaching non-readers to read? How can
primary teachers identify, engage, and encourage children who lack the
basic skills or motivation necessary for classroom success? What resources
and strategies will it take to reach an increasingly diverse population
of students and see that they develop the literacy skills that will
become the foundation of nearly all their academic learning?
These
all are important questions. And, as attested to by reading experts
like University Professor Barbara Taylor, there are indeed proven strategies
that can make significant differences in children's literacy when implemented
carefully in the early grades – strategies we should be sure are
understood and used by primary teachers.
Promoting
literacy in your child-care program
Besides
parents and siblings, child-care providers are the ones who spend the
most time with children ages 0 to 5. Parents and providers should work
together to ensure that child-care environmenta are conducive to building
literacy and language skills. The National Network for Child Care advocates
six ways to do this by asking and answering the following questions...
Do's
& Do'nots for encouraging early childhood literacy
Getting
Connected
Links
promoting Early Literacy & Language
