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. organize into learning centers
2. collection kept in a special book area in room
3. other printed materials placed in other areas
3. the daily schedule includes extended periods of time
4. 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