Fostering Emergent/Early Literacy

Chapter 3

Emergent Literacy

Consists of the reading and writing behaviors that evolve from children’s earliest experiences with reading and writing and that grow into conventional literacy. Readiness: adequacy of ability in relation to the demands of the task.Interventionists emphasize the need to set up programs to foster readiness: focus on nurture vs. nature.

Concepts about Print

Child can:• Point to front and back of book• Demonstrate awareness that print contains a message• Indicate where to start reading on a page• Indicate the directions to read words• Indicate that at the end of a line you sweep left to the next

lower line• Demonstrate an understanding of the concepts of first and

last

Concepts of Print

Child can:• Indicate that you stop at a period• Indicate that you pause at a comma• Count words in a line• Point to one letter• Point to an uppercase letter• Point to the top and the bottom of a page• Point to the top and the bottom of a picture

Fostering Emergent Literacy

Classroom environment: labels, calendars, weather report, charts.Play centers for dramatic playReading to students on a daily basisDevelop story structure (e.g., once upon a time)Build comprehension by focusing on details of storiesMake personal connections with storiesDevelop language and thinking skills using higher order thinking skills and repeated readings

Students with Limited Literacy Backgrounds

Emergent Storybook Reading: pretend reading by retelling stories guided by pictures in the book, then reconstruct the story once familiar.Shared Book Experience: modeled from bedtime story situation. Someone reads story to child and they pick up on words when read to. Big book series are excellent materials to use for oral reading.

Language Experience Approach

Language experience stories: real life experiences for students to express and write about. Shared Writing: both the teacher and the students write a story together

Language and Literacy Activities

Labeling games: “Where is your nose?”, encourage children to label objects and events.During necessary routines (e.g., bath time, mealtime, etc) converse with the child.Pick books that connect to a child’s life and talk about those connections (e.g., Green Eggs and Ham,ask child what color eggs do you eat?)

Show me the:

Socks –foxPear-bearWatch-washMouth-mouseClown-crownTower-towel

Tea-keyFan-vanGirls-curlsCone-combTie-pieRing-wing

More Activities for Emergent Reading

At home or school provide print-rich environments and access to high quality books, writing materials, and toys like alphabet blocks and alphabet magnets.Point out and read print in various environments (e.g., words on restaurant menu, labels on food containers, signs on street).Label items in child’s environment (e.g., artwork, videos,books, art supplies) and post signs with child’s name (e.g., “Marie’s room”, “Sam’s Treasure Box”)