Literacy
The Reading Rope
Based on the work of Dr. Hollis Scarborough (2001), skilled reading can be compared to a rope. Each strand represents a separate skill that combine together to create a strong rope. Fluent, skilled readers need to combine all of these skills together. However, if one strand isn't strong enough, it weakens the entire rope.
Scarborough, H. S. (2001). Connecting early language and literacy to later reading (dis)abilities: Evidence, theory, and practice. In S. Neuman & D. Dickinson (Eds.), Handbook for research in early literacy (pp. 97–110). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
Literacy Milestones
Children enter school with different levels of exposure to print and reading. Each child will reach literacy milestones at different times, but this handout by Super Duper Publications may provide a general idea of what skills related to literacy your child should be doing and when.
476_LiteracyMilestone.pdf
Narratives
Narrative skills allow us to understand and tell stories. These skills are are important for our day to day lives, as use stories to learn and communicate throughout our day. For example, we use narrative skills for: reading comprehension, re-telling events, telling others about ourselves, following and giving instructions, describing, and much more.
Phonological Awareness
Phonological awareness skills are important in literacy development. Phonological skills include manipulating sounds and words (e.g., recognizing when words rhyme, identifying sounds in words, etc.). By developing these skills, children learn to recognize patterns in words and use this knowledge to read and learn.
Phonics
Phonics refers to knowledge of letter sounds and the ability to apply that knowledge in decoding unfamiliar printed words. Phonics is learning the relationships between the letters of written language and the sounds of spoken language This is a distinct skill from phonological awareness, but still important for becoming a good reader.
Build Literacy Skills At Home
Tips for reading books with young children
Hanen's "Book Nook" is a great resource to find great books for the preschool and early elementary years. It is added to regularly and includes tips for how to read each book to work on different language skills.
Turn book reading into conversation.pdfTurn Book Reading into a Conversation
Research has shown that more shared reading interactions is linked to preschoolers’ vocabulary growth and grammatical development. When we read together and talk about the book, children hear more variety of words and learn how to use them (Wasik & Hindman, 2014; Isbell, Sobol, Lindauer, & Lowrance, 2004; Noble, Cameron-Faulkner, & Lieven, 2018; Senechal, Pagan, Lever, & Quelette, 2008).
63_ABCs_Of_Reading.pdfPromoting Literacy Skills at Home
This handout contains a useful list of activities that parents can do at home to help promote their child's literacy skills. It includes activities for children from infancy to age 4 and up. Download and print the handout by clicking the icon in the top right hand corner.
peer.pdfUsing the PEER Strategy When Reading to Your Child
This handout outlines how to use the PEER strategy when reading aloud to your child to make your story time interactive. Download and print the handout by clicking the icon in the top right hand corner.
This handout is from Reading Rockets. For more information, Click Here.