Creative Curriculum

Components of Literacy
Increased Vocabulary and Language o Informal conversations o Songs, rhymes, fingerplays, or movement activities o First hand experiences o Read alouds listening to books and talking about new words Phonological Awareness o Is hearing and understanding the different sounds of spoken language o Oral language can be broken down into individual parts ~ separate sounds and syllables o Phonics is connecting a printed symbol with a sound ~ phonological awareness is hearing sounds o Encourage phonological awareness through: Join in with songs, games, and rhymes, Make up nonsense words or silly names Clap along with each word or syllable of a song or a rhyme Notice that words begin with the same sound Knowledge of Print o Print carries a message o Each spoken word can be written down and read o Print follows conventions (left to right, punctuation etc.) o Books have common characteristics (front, back, author etc.) o Encourage knowledge of print through: Point to a printed label Make lists in the dramatic play area Read a big book and demonstrate characteristics of book Letters and Words o Understand that a letter is a symbol representing one or more sounds in the English language o Letter symbols can be grouped to form words o Words have meaning o Encourage understanding of letters and words by: Use alphabet materials to spell name Attempt to write a message in dramatic play area Point to a letter and name it Comprehension

o Is understanding the meaning of spoken and written languages o Pause at the end of a sentence when reading o Ask open-ended questions o Help children make connections to prior experience o Encourage comprehension by: Retelling a story Summarize a story (what happened to so and so in the story?) Talk about their experiences in relation to a story Re-enact the story Understanding Books and Other Texts o Offer a variety of books o Offer a variety of reading materials Signs Menus Letters, shopping lists Newspapers Invitations Messages Journals How does your story start? Literacy as a source of enjoyment o Enjoyment is a great motivator o The more children read the more enjoyable reading becomes