There are many ways to think about early literacy. Since my background is as a children's librarian in a public library, that is my starting point. The Public Library Association's initiative Every Child Ready to Read@ the Library is an attempt to partner with parents to encourage literacy and a love of reading. Early literacy is the foundation that reading and writing are built upon. Here are the basics of ECRR.
Language and literacy skills begin at birth.
Early literacy is what children need to know before they can read and write.
There are 6 skills that all children need for reading readiness:
Letter knowledge - Each letter is distinct and has its own name and unique sound
Phonological awareness - Hearing and playing with the smaller sounds in words
Narrative skills - Describing things and events, telling stories
Print Motivation - Being interested in, and enjoying books
Vocabulary - Knowing the names of things
Print Awareness - Noticing print, knowing how to handle a book, and following
words on a page
There are also five early literacy practices ~ singing, reading, writing, playing, and talking.
There are easy, fun things to do every day that can help our children be literate and love reading, no matter what age they are. I hope you have fun exploring this blog and other sites for ideas. And don't forget your local library!
