Early Literacy in Action

A Workshop Presented By The Children’s Department

Of The Abilene Public Library

February 12, 2015Abilene, Texas

Presenter: Alyssa Crow, Children’s Librarian

South Branch Library

What Is Early Literacy?

• What children knowbefore they can do

• First 5 years

• 35% of US children

• Early experiences are most critical

Six Early Literacy Skills

• Print Awareness – (I see words)

• Print Motivation – (I love books)

• Letter Knowledge – (I know my ABC’s)

• Vocabulary – (I know words)

• Phonological Awareness– (I hear words)

• Narrative Skills – (I tell stories)

Print Awareness

• Noticing print

• Recognizing that print has meaning

• Knowing how to follow the words on a page

• Knowing how to handle a book

Print Motivation

• Children’s interest in and enjoyment of books.

Letter Knowledge

• Knowing the names of letters

• Knowing that letters are different from one another and make different sounds

• Realizing the same letter can look different

Aa Bb Cc Dd

Vocabulary

• Knowing the names of things

• Understanding feelings and concepts

• Background knowledge

Phonological Awareness

• The ability to hear and play with the smaller sounds in words.

Narrative Skills

• The ability to describe things and events and tell stories.

General Early Literacy Practices

• Talking

• Singing

• Reading

• Writing

• Playing

Early Literacy & Later Reading

• Two aspects of reading:

– Decoding (K-2)

– Comprehension (3+)

• Children need exposure to all the early literacy components starting from birth to become good readers.

Early Literacy Storytimes

• Involve the adults.

• Include brief asides, explanations, or tips.

• Use all your words.

Storytime Planning Basics

• Example:

– Choose skill to highlight.

– Find related books, activities, songs, etc.

– Introduce featured skill during storytime welcome.

– Reiterate skill after each story or activity.

– Explain how adults can foster skill in child.

– Have related books available to checkout.

Example Storytime

• Skill: Letter Knowledge (P)– Activity: Letter Folder

– Fingerplay: Ten Little Pirates

– Book: There Was An Old Pirate…

– Fingerplay: 5 Little Penguins

– Book: Penguins 123

– Activity: Pajama Matching

– Book: Nothing Like A Puffin

– Song: “I’m A Pretzel”

– Stamp: Penguin

Communicating With Caregivers

• Use posters, handouts, and publications.

• Distribute information about skill(s).

• Create library booklists focused on a skill.

• Display early literacy literature and books available for checkout.

Early Literacy Crafts

• Connect craft to early literacy skill.

• Should be simple and include caregiver involvement.

• Can be during or after programs, or given as an at-home activity.

What’s The Point?

• To help children become successful readers and learners.

• Kids get ready to read long before they start school.

• Once you learn to read, then you read to learn.

Bibliography

Books– Ghoting, Saroj Jadkarni and Pamela Martin-Diaz. Storytime for

Everyone! Chicago: American Library Association Editions, 2013.– Hastings, Kay, Cathy Clemons, and April Montgomery. Daily

Preschool Experiences. Marylnad: Gryphon House, 2008. – Herr, Judy and Yvonne Libby Larson. Creative Resources for the

Early Childhood Classroom. 5th ed. New York: Thompson Delmar Learning, 2009.

– Mayesky, Mary. Creative Activities for Young Children. 8th ed. New York: Thompson Delmar Learning, 2006.

– Schiller, Pam. Bountiful Earth. Maryland: Gryphon House, 2006. – Stoltz, Dorothy, Elaine Czarnecki, and Connie Wilson. Every Child

Ready For School. Chicago: American Library Association Editions, 2013.

Bibliography

Websites – Early Literacy. Zero To Three, 2003.

www.zerotothree.org/BrainWonders– Early Literacy And You: An Overview of Early Literacy.

Library of Virginia. www.earlylit.net– Early Literacy Storytimes. Fairfax County Public Library.

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library– Every Child Ready To Read.

www.everychildreadytoread.org– Roskos, Kathleen, James Christie, and Donald Richgels. The

Essentials of Early Literacy Instruction. National Association for the Education of Young Children. www.naeyc.org/resources/journal