About Early Literacy
Early literacy describes what children know about reading and writing
before they can actually read and write.
Research shows that children get ready to read years before they start
school. You can help your child learn important skills now so he
can become a good reader.
Parents are important in helping their children get ready
to read:
- You know your children best.
- Children learn best when they are in a good mood, and you know
their moods best.
- You can help your children learn reading skills in ways that
are easiest for them.
- Children learn best by doing things – and they love doing
things with you.
According to research, there are six pre-reading skills
that children must learn in order to learn to read.
- Narrative Skills (Developing Comprehension Skills): Being
able to describe things and events and tell stories.
- Print Motivation (Learning about Print): Being interested in
and enjoying books.
- Vocabulary (Building Language Skills):
Knowing the names of things.
- Phonological Awareness (Learning about Sounds in Words): Being
able to hear and play with the individual sounds in words.
- Letter Knowledge (Learning about Letters):
Knowing letters are different from each other, knowing their names
and sounds, and
recognizing
letters everywhere.
- Print Awareness (Learning about Print):
Noticing print, knowing how to handle a book, and knowing how to
follow the words on a
page.
What is “School Readiness”?
The Maryland State Department of Education defines “school
readiness” as the stage of human development that enables a
child to engage in and benefit from primary learning experiences.
It starts with family support and relationships with friends and members
of the community. A young child who has reached certain levels of
physical well-being and motor development has acquired social and
emotional capabilities and attained language and comprehension skills,
coupled
with general knowledge. Such attributes help children enter a classroom
ready to learn.
Children who succeed in school do well in life.
What skills do children need in order to succeed in school?
Ideally, it is important that children be:
- Socially adjusted, emotionally secure, and physically
strong and coordinated.
- Able to communicate with adults and other children including showing
an awareness of the print and letter-sound relationship, understanding
stories, and demonstrating a love for books.
- Able to recognize and understand basic mathematical concepts
including the ability to identify patterns and shapes and how
to place items in a certain order.
- Aware of their environment, animal and plant life, as
well as the roles of people in their families and communities.
- Comfortable with their creativity and appreciate expressing themselves
through the arts.
These skills and behaviors and knowledge prepare children to become
successful learners.
THE EARLY LITERACY INITIATIVE
A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE PUBLIC LIBRARY ASSOCIATION AND THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH & HUMAN DEVELOPMENT (NICHD)
This information was created by Dr. Grover (Russ) Whitehurst, Leading
Professor of Psychology at the State University of New York and
Dr. Christopher Lonigan, Associate Profession of Psychology at Florida
State University.
Funding was provided by the Public Library Association (PLA), a
division of the American Library Association.
Spring 2001 READY AT FIVE PARTNERSHIP
With support from
M&T Bank,
Center for Reading Excellence, Johns Hopkins University
Institute of Museum and Library Services, LSTA grant funds through
the Division of Library Development & Services, Maryland State
Department of Education,
Maryland Association of Public Library Administrators
The Family Works, Maryland’s Parent Information and Resource
Center
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