What Does Early Literacy Mean for Parents?
The following excerpt was taken from an article written for parents by Multnomah County Library in Oregon about Early Literacy. I chose to share this particular definition of Early Literacy because I really love the message behind it. I have highlighted what I feel is important below, but if you would like to read the whole article and more related to Early Literacy, click on the teal text above.
I feel very strongly that the majority of learning should and can be fun, and most importantly, during "homework" time for parents and their children! I believe the key to your child developing a strong work ethic and a passion for learning starts with discovering that learning is fun and interesting. Once that happens, they are hooked! As your child's teacher my job is just that; to show them that learning and doing work IS exciting and relevant to their life. Then at home, you can celebrate their success together through reading and literacy/math games!
"Children prepare to read long before they enter school - early literacy is everything children know about reading and writing before they can actually read and write. Early literacy is a baby who chews on a book, a toddler who wants his favorite book read over and over, and a preschooler who "reads" the story to you from memory.
The most important thing you can do to foster early literacy is provide an atmosphere that's fun, verbal and stimulating, not school-like. The focus should not be on teaching, but on the fun you're having with your child - offer your child plenty of opportunities to talk and be listened to, to read and be read to, and to sing and be sung to.
You are the key to your child's success in learning to read. When you read, talk or play with your child, you're stimulating the growth of your child's brain and building the connections that will become the building blocks for reading. Brain development research shows that reading aloud to your child every day increases his/her brain's capacity for language and literacy skills and is the most important thing you can do to prepare him/her for learning to read."
For a large variety of literacy games, check out Educational Online Games.
I feel very strongly that the majority of learning should and can be fun, and most importantly, during "homework" time for parents and their children! I believe the key to your child developing a strong work ethic and a passion for learning starts with discovering that learning is fun and interesting. Once that happens, they are hooked! As your child's teacher my job is just that; to show them that learning and doing work IS exciting and relevant to their life. Then at home, you can celebrate their success together through reading and literacy/math games!
"Children prepare to read long before they enter school - early literacy is everything children know about reading and writing before they can actually read and write. Early literacy is a baby who chews on a book, a toddler who wants his favorite book read over and over, and a preschooler who "reads" the story to you from memory.
The most important thing you can do to foster early literacy is provide an atmosphere that's fun, verbal and stimulating, not school-like. The focus should not be on teaching, but on the fun you're having with your child - offer your child plenty of opportunities to talk and be listened to, to read and be read to, and to sing and be sung to.
You are the key to your child's success in learning to read. When you read, talk or play with your child, you're stimulating the growth of your child's brain and building the connections that will become the building blocks for reading. Brain development research shows that reading aloud to your child every day increases his/her brain's capacity for language and literacy skills and is the most important thing you can do to prepare him/her for learning to read."
For a large variety of literacy games, check out Educational Online Games.
Encouraging Early Literacy At Home:
The above information is taken from the article How Parents Foster Early Literacy released in 2006 from the Canadian Council On Learning. View the entire article here. It also contains numerous other activity ideas for fostering various forms of Early Literacy. The article is very informative and a great read if you have time/are interested in creating a literacy-enhanced home setting for your family.
- Provide access to numerous books.
- Read with your child.
- Encourage writing at home.
- Give access to games that encourage alphabet knowledge and reading.
- Support your child's learning at home.
- Engage in songs, music and oral stories.
- Have a conversation with your child.
- Expose your child to seeing you enjoy reading as an adult; magazines, newspaper, novels.
- Visit a library or bookstore.
The above information is taken from the article How Parents Foster Early Literacy released in 2006 from the Canadian Council On Learning. View the entire article here. It also contains numerous other activity ideas for fostering various forms of Early Literacy. The article is very informative and a great read if you have time/are interested in creating a literacy-enhanced home setting for your family.