1. Objectives We will explore preschool literacy.
We will discuss how to establish balanced literacy in our classrooms.
We will create a plan to enhance the literacy in our classrooms.
We will have FUN!

2. Pre-School Literacy

3. How Important Is It?
The quality of language development and interaction in the preschool years can, according to Hart & Riley's research (1995), predict reading achievement six years later.

4. Cathy Puett Miller suggests, preschool teachers offer opportunities for children to :
Think
Wonder
Ponder

5. Oral Language
Carve out time each day for interesting, extended conversations using lots of different (and complex) words.
Use talk to help young children explore and understand their world. Encourage the inquisitive.
Help children tell or retell stories as they view pictures, share something important to them, and answer questions in complete, complex sentences.

6. Reading Aloud
Preview and pre-read each book carefully. Ask yourself, "What questions might arise in my children's minds? What might they be interested in learning more about?"
Pause from time to time for mini "think-alouds" or mini discussions. Use the magic words "Let's see what happens next" if you find conversation straying too far.

7. Phonological Awareness
Embed phonological awareness in playful, interactive experiences with young children. No structured sit-down lessons.

8. Dr Catherine Snow reminds us that the “best way to grow language and literacy skills in young children is through "activities that are integrated across different developmental areas." Focusing on the above mentioned three essentials, instead of structured sit down lessons, flashcard drills, and worksheets, will keep you (and your children) on the right track.”

9. Preschool Writing

10. 5 Pre-Writing Activities for Preschool

11. Peg or Straw Activities
Any basic activities where students are holding an object similar to how they would hold a writing utensil helps build grip strength.

12. Dot Painting Dot painting helps familiarize
students with letter and number
shapes while practicing precision
in placing their finger.

13. Finger Tracing Letters
Before holding an implement, it
helps to trace a letter with a finger.
Doing so helps students develop stronger
familiarity, begin memorizing how to write
letters, and adds a sensory aspect to forming
letters. You can employ multiple types of
materials for tracing activities.

15. Dot-to-Dot Activities
Dot-to-dot worksheets actually
help build pre-writing skills! Create
your own to cater to your child’s
needs. “Down” and “across” are
the first writing motions to master.

16. Writing Inside Bubble Letters
“Bubble letters” offer
parameters for letter
formation.

17. Balanced Literacy in Preschool
September 5, 2014

18. What is balanced literacy?
Talk to your neighbor and brainstorm what it means to have balanced literacy in your preschool classroom?

19. Spiegel has defined balance as a “decision making approach through which the teacher makes thoughtful choices each day about the best way to help each child become a better reader and writer”.
Spiegel, 1998

20. Balanced Literacy

21. Balanced Literacy Reading Writing Read Aloud Shared Reading
Interactive Reading
Guided Reading
Independent Reading
Write Aloud
Shared Writing
Interactive Writing
Guided Writing
Independent Writing

22. Shared Writing and Read-Aloud both focus on building up students' independence in the meaning and structure sources of information.
Caption

23. Interactive Writing and Shared Reading both focus on building up students' independence in the visual sources of information.
Caption

24. Putting it all together for a preschooler.
Students require opportunities to:
work on visual sources of information
listen and use talk to further their comprehension
focus on the one-to-one correspondence between oral language and written language
focus on re-reading texts

25. How can you better balance literacy in your classroom?
Share with the group.