The ability to read and comprehend written language opens doors to knowledge, creativity, and personal growth. However, not all approaches to teaching reading are evidence-based. That’s where the Science of Reading comes in. It’s a comprehensive framework rooted in cognitive science and linguistics that provides concrete information about how we learn to read and how… Read more »
Entries by hallma
Celebrating Chinese Culture
As you know, it is imperative that you incorporate books into your classroom about the ethnicities and cultures of the children you serve and that some of those books are written by authors and illustrators native to those cultures. But did you know that it is also important to teach children about cultures they might… Read more »
Monkey See, Monkey Do- It’s More than Just a Game!
Why do we play imitation games with young children? Of course it’s fun, but did you know that the ability to imitate actions and sounds is a crucial aspect of children’s literacy development? Let’s explore why encouraging children to imitate actions and sounds is an important part of their literacy journey. It Builds Cognitive… Read more »
Abolishing Ableism in Early Childhood Settings
In the words of James Comer “No significant learning can occur without a significant relationship”. Therefore, developing early literacy skills requires building significant relationships with children. In order to develop significant relationships with children, they must feel valued, respected, and loved for exactly who they are. It is crucial to create inclusive environments that value… Read more »
Winter Literacy Wonderland
As the chilly winter season sets in, it’s the perfect time to create a cozy and enriching environment for our youngest learners to explore the wonders of early literacy. Engaging children in winter-themed literacy activities not only fosters a love for reading and language, but also enhances their cognitive and motor skills and embeds opportunities… Read more »
Ensuring Your Holiday Literacy Activities are Culturally Responsive
Engaging young children in culturally responsive literacy activities during the holiday season not only promotes their literacy development, but also fosters a sense of cultural awareness and appreciation for diversity. Let’s consider a variety of culturally responsive early literacy holiday activities for our youngest learners: Activity 1: Multilingual Storytime Create a warm and inviting environment… Read more »
Emergent Literacy and Alphabet Knowledge
Emergent literacy generally occurs during the first two years of life. But remember, chronological ages are very general guidelines and all children develop at their own pace. For more information on the early literacy stages, please visit this previous blog post: https://blogs.iu.edu/earlyliteracy/2023/08/25/early-literacy-developmental-continuum/ Developing alphabet knowledge during the emergent literacy stage focuses on exposure, exploration, and… Read more »
Developing Phonological and Phonemic Awareness with Pre Readers and Writers
Children typically become pre readers and writers at about the age of five. During this stage, they will exhibit more advanced reading and writing abilities. You can support their phonological and phonemic awareness by continuing all of the activities you were doing when they were in the early reading and writing stage while placing more… Read more »
How to Develop Phonological and Phonemic Awareness During the Early Reading and Writing Stage
Children in the early reading and writing stage are usually between 3 and 4 years of age, but this is a very general guideline because all children develop at their own pace. Here are some strategies to support phonological and phonemic awareness with early readers and writers: Rhyming Activities: Rhyming games and activities help… Read more »
How to Develop Phonological and Phonemic Awareness During Emergent Literacy
During the emergent literacy stage our earliest developing readers and writers, typically aged birth to two years, are just beginning to understand and manipulate the sounds and structures of language. Even though children in this stage are not yet explicitly aware of phonemes and phonological concepts, there are strategies that promote language development that also… Read more »