What it is Why it is important How families can support it Family Literacy What it is Why it is important How families can support it

WHAT IS FAMILY LITERACY? Talking, telling stories, reading, drawing, singing and writing together Children and their parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, friends

Why is early literacy important to develop? Expanded vocabulary and writing skills Healthy social and emotional development Longer attention spans, promoting better retention of information in school   Imaginative and critical thinking skills    Stronger memory and higher levels of concentration

What are some ways families can support children’s early literacy? TALK with your child– talk to them about their day, their games, their chores, their friends. READ with your child Signs and letters to your child – at home, in the community. TELL each other stories. Use children’s books or have the child tell their own. Help draw pictures for the child’s stories. SING songs together. Make actions with the rhythms like clapping, skipping and jumping. DRAW letters and signs together – on the ground or wherever there is free space.

REMEMBER PARENTS AND FAMILIES are children’s first teachers ORAL/SPOKEN LANGUAGE is the foundation of WRITTEN LANGUAGE/LITERACY All children can learn a lot about language, reading and writing before they go to school. Children learn about literacy at home and in their communities. They learn by observing and participating in everyday activities that involve texts.

What are the Basics of Early Literacy What are the Basics of Early Literacy? (important for family literacy leaders to know) Print awareness Print motivation Vocabulary Phonological awareness Letter knowledge Story skills

Further Resources Im, J., Osborn, C., Sánchez, S. and Thorp, E. (in press). Cradling Literacy: Building Teachers’ Skills to Nurture Early Language and Literacy Birth to Five.  Washington, DC: ZERO TO THREE.