Literacy involves more than ABC’s
Dr. Judith Schickedanz –Professor Boston University
Do not snuff out a child’s zest for learning
“concern yourself with important things- developing children’s love of
learning and nurturing their curiousity.”
“reading programs” or “reading instruction”
INAPPROPRIATE
out of context, abstract, meaningless
Direct experience necessary to fully understand the processes
Begin by providing :
*A writing center to play with writing materials
*A book center
Sharing Books with Infants and Toddlers
Infants
Toddlers
Creating a book nook
Position yourself in the area
Preschoolers and Books
Contexts for Learning about Language
*learn new words
*words repetitive and important to the meaning of the story
*variation more difficult
*background knowledge
Benefits:
1. opportunity for children to hear book language
2. learn about the structure of stories
3. learn about the world in general
4. increase knowledge about print
Progression of skills
babbles first
toddler open and flips through book jabbering
rhythm of speed like reading not conversation
labels pictures
fills in words in verse and stories
tell stories
Making books available to children in the preschool
classroom
1.
2.
3.
3.
4.
organize into learning centers
collection kept in a special book area in room
other printed materials placed in other areas
the daily schedule includes extended periods of time
the daily schedule includes a story time
Type of books
good quality
highly predictable texts
simple and some complex
variety of topics & range of interests
books made by children
photo albums with captions
books in other areas
support nature study or block building
information books
appeal of the book area
attractiveness
book covers visible
physical and emotional comfort within the area
listening post, flannel boards, and puppets.
listening area
flannel boards
puppets
Providing social support
Books as props / variety influences the compexity of play
Start basic then add props gradually to keep play interesting
Join play and demonstrate a prop use
Take on trips to particular dramatic play theme
Young Children and Writing
Preschoolers fascinated with writing and the tools used and their
purpose
Steps in Writing
SEE IT DISPLAYED IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT
SEE PEOPLE USE WRITING IN VARIETY OF CONTEXT
BY 3 CREATE MARKS TO LOOK LIKE WRITING
SEVERAL YEARS RESEMBLE STANDARD ALPHABET LETTERS
MAKING MARKS FROM SCRIBBLE TO ALPHABET LETTERS
PROVIDED MARKING TOOLS
SUITABLE SURFACE
SAFE PLACE TO PLAY
MARK AT EARLY AGE
They watch closely the lines relationship between the movement and
line and they deliberately vary their actions
Eleanor Gibson ”scribbling seems to be its own reward… it furnishes an
unparalled opportunity for learning the relations between the finger
movements that guide the tool and the resulting visual feedback(1975)
What teachers and parents can do
teachers should not dominate with rote instruction
it undermines their interest to learn
Need to help individuals as need arises
Provide paper and marking tools to explore
Helping Young Children Learn to Form Letters
Need a good visual image of each letter
looking at letters
compare letters
alphabet matching games
puzzles
alphabet letters
alphabet books
Line segments
color each line segment a different color
Large wall alphabet chart – not recommended
Children dictate and teacher writes it down while they watch
Fine motor development and handwriting
-do not comment on direction - later left to right
-spacing
-phoneme level / invented spelling
Organizing the Environment to Support Literacy
Development
make it visible that language is used to get things done
games, toys, books involve reading
books, pen, and paper for car ride
use toy dishes and empty food container pretend they
are cooking
recipes cookbooks
paper and pencil list
comfort baby read
Integral part of classroom life
schedule
labels
lists and signs
charts
Using print in classroom activities
index cards
scissors
markers
tape
books
play figures have writing
puzzles
road signs
picture lotto games
Materials for literacy practice picture
Pairing words that rhyme
Alphabet leaning mateirial
Writing and drawing table
Name cards
Puzzles
Matching games
Sorting
Computer printer
Labeled picture cards
alphabet books
flipcards