Early Childhood Literacy
Early childhood literacy is about developing language and reading skills in young children. It focuses on teaching them to listen, speak, read, and write effectively from infancy to around eight years old. This is crucial because it lays the groundwork for academic success and lifelong learning.
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Early childhood literacy involves various components, including:
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Oral language development: Children learn to improve their listening and speaking abilities, expand their vocabulary, comprehend information, and communicate effectively.
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Phonological awareness: This encompasses recognizing and manipulating sounds in language. Children develop skills like rhyming, segmenting, and blending sounds within words.
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Alphabet knowledge: Children acquire knowledge of letters, including letter names, sounds, and letter formation.
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Vocabulary development: This focuses on building a child's vocabulary, understanding word meanings, contexts, and usage.
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Print awareness: Children develop an awareness of print and its functions, recognizing that print carries meaning and serves purposes in reading and writing.
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Emergent reading: This involves early reading skills, such as understanding print concepts, tracking words from left to right, and recognizing familiar words or environmental print.
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Emergent writing: Children explore writing through scribbling, drawing, and eventually forming letters and words.
Early childhood literacy is fostered through activities like reading aloud, storytelling, engaging in conversations, singing songs, playing with letters and sounds, providing access to books, and creating literacy-rich environments. It requires collaborative efforts from parents, caregivers, educators, and the community to support children's language and literacy development during these critical early years.
Useful links:
Literacy development in children | Raising Children Network
Early Childhood Literacy and Numeracy: Building Good Practice (dss.gov.au)
Literacy teaching toolkit for early childhood | Victorian Government (www.vic.gov.au)
Early literacy practice guide | Australian Education Research Organisation (edresearch.edu.au)