*Letter sounds
*Letter Names
*Concepts of Print (e.g. left to right, letters make up words)
*Phonological Awareness (e.g. recognizing rhymes, beginning sounds)
*Early printing skills
*Writing name
*Writing ideas
*Listening skills
*Speaking skills
*Learning new vocabulary
*Sharing ideas, thoughts and opinions
What does literacy look like in kindergarten?
Literacy includes reading, writing and oral language skills. All three of these components to literacy are important. Young children need reading to help them learn about writing, they need writing to help them learn about reading; and they need oral language to help them learn about both! In kindergarten, literacy instruction prepares children to learn to read and write. It includes letter names and letter sounds; concepts about print (e.g left to right, letters make up words); phonological awareness (e.g. recognizing rhymes, beginning sounds) comprehending stories and learning new vocabulary.
Students enter kindergarten at a variety of stages and developmental readiness. Some children have a good basis of literacy skills in place at the beginning of September and some have less. That's ok! All students will learn and make gains and as Kindergarten Educators we meet our learners right where they are and work to move them forward.
Ways to support your child's literacy development
cuddle up and read! Try to make some time to read with your child. Talk about the story; what did you like about the text, what didn't you like? Talk about the illustration.
Practice recognizing and perhaps writing their name. Build your child's name with magnetic letters. Create a name bracelet with letter beads. Practice writing their name with colourful or smelly markers.
Point out the link between letters and sounds. Say, "Ben, the word banana begins with the same letter in your name! Ben and banana both begin with B!"
Go on a letter hunt! Letters and words are everywhere! Point out letters to your child during community walks, on product boxes in the house and when reading.
talking, singing, playing sound and word games, reading, writing and drawing with your child are great ways to set up a good literacy foundation.