Presentation/Assigment

Janice J. Beaty Professor Emerita, Elmira College

Linda Pratt Elmira College

In This Chapter You Will Learn To:

 Explain the meaning of early literacy.  Describe examples of emergent literacy.

 Describe early literacy skills identified by research.

 Discuss early childhood curriculum criteria.

 Assess children’s literacy achievements.

 Demonstrate which technologies are appropriate for

preschool programs.

Early literacy consists of

 Infant communication through crying, cooing, smiling, babbling.

 Toddler communication through imitating sounds and gestures.

 Preschool communicating through speaking and listening, scribbling and writing, art activities, dramatic play, book reenactments, storytelling, singing, chanting, and recording.

Emergent literacy consists of • Natural development of reading and writing,

speaking and listening skills.

• Wide range of children’s literacy behaviors:

• Listening to stories

• Discussing stories

• Making up stories

• Pretending to read

• Retelling familiar stories

• Turning book pages at the right time

Goals for preschool:

 Enjoying listening to and discussing storybooks

 Understanding that print carries a message  Engaging in reading and writing attempts  Identifying environmental print  Playing rhyming games  Identifying some letters  Using known letters

Goals for kindergarten:

 Enjoy being read to and retelling stories

 Using descriptive language

 Recognizing letter and sound matches

 Showing familiarity with rhymes and beginning sounds

 Understand left-to-right and top-to-bottom orientation

 Matching spoken words with written words

 Beginning to write alphabet letters and some words

Emergent literacy activities:

 Interactive storybook reading

 Shared reading with Big Books

 Storytelling; flannel boards; puppets

 A print-rich environment

 Pretend play; story reenactments

 Shared writing

 Drawing as writing; journal writing

 Letter recognition games

Core knowledge and skills:

 Vocabulary development

 Phonological awareness

 Phonemic awareness

 Alphabet knowledge

 Print awareness

Current early childhood curriculum criteria NAEYC Curriculum Criteria: Books (Handout 1.1 & 1.2)  Read books in engaging manner  Read in individualized ways  Allow them to explore books on their own  Give access to various types of books  Read same book on repeated occasions  Retell and reenact events in books together  Engage in conversation about books  Link books to other curriculum aspects  Identify parts of books  Differentiate print from pictures

Authentic literacy assessment

 Systematic child observation

 Literacy goals checklists

 Anecdotal records

 Teacher-child interviews

 Audio/video recordings

 Digital photos

 Child’s work samples

 List of books read

Appropriate technological devices  Try out devices with children  Use devices for trial period  Visit classrooms where devices are used  Talk with parents about devices  Compare cost and effectiveness with similar

devices now in use  Read articles describing uses of devices  Visit websites featuring children and

technology

 Appropriate Curriculum for Young Children: The Role of the Teacher, DVD from NAEYC.

 From Pictures to Words: Understanding the Foundations of Literacy Learning, DVD from NAEYC.

 Language Arts in Early Childhood Education, DVD & CD-ROM from Redleaf Press.

 Literacy in the Preschool Years, DVD from Redleaf Press.

 Teaching in the Digital Age, PowerPoint presentations and CD-ROM from Redleaf Press.

Resources:

 Beaty, J. J. (2013), 50 Early Childhood Literacy Strategies. 3rd ed., Pearson.

 Christie, J., Enz, B. J., Vukelich, C., & Roskos, K. (2014). Teaching Language and Literacy: Preschool through the Elementary Grades. 5th ed. Pearson.

 Enz, B. J. & Morrow, L.M. (2009). Assessing preschool literacy development: Informal and formal measures to guide instruction. Newark, DE: International Reading Association.

 Freeman, N. & Brown, M. (2008). An authentic approach to assessing pre-kindergarten programs: Redefining readiness. Childhood Education: 84(5), 267-273.

 Helm, J. H. (2008). Got standards? Don’t give up on engaged learning. Young Children, 63(4), 14-20.

 Vukelich, C. & Christie, J. (2009). Building a foundation for preschool literacy: Effective instruction for children’s reading and writing development. 2nd Ed. Newark, DE: International Reading Association.

 Children’s Technology and Review

 Early Childhood Technology Network

 National Association for the Education of Young Children

 International Reading Association

 Reading Is Fundamental