1. Early literacy & kindergarten
Masters of literacy
Betsy peterson
May 7, 2014
Hello, my name is Betsy Peterson, and I am currently a first grade teacher here at St. Andrew’s. This is my third year teaching and my second year at St. Andrew’s; though, it feels as if I’ve been here forever as I am an Alpha Omega graduate of the class of My mom went to St. Andrew’s as well and teaches here also. Let me assure you, your child is in the right place. St. Andrew’s is such a special place, and your child will flourish here. Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to speak to you today. I am currently finishing up my masters degree in literacy from the University of Mississippi, and I’d like to talk to you today about early and emergent literacy and preparing your child for the upcoming school year.

2. What is early literacy?
“The knowledge, skills and dispositions that precede learning to read and write in the primary grades (K-3)” (Roskos, Christie & Richgels, 2003)
I’m sure you’re sitting here wondering, what exactly is early literacy? Well, early literacy is defined as “The knowledge, skills, and dispositions that precede learning to read and write in the primary grades” (Roskos, Christie & Richgels, 2003), the primary grades being kindergarten through third grade.

3. Preparing for kindergarten
“Kindergarten is where most children learn to read and write. Being ready for kindergarten means having well-developed preschool skills, and being academically, socially, and physically ready for the transition.” (“Is My Child Ready for Kindergarten”)
So how can you best prepare your child for the upcoming kindergarten school year? Well, according to research, “Kindergarten is where most children learn to read and write. Being ready for kindergarten means having well-developed preschool skills, and being academically, socially and physically ready for the transition” (“Is My Child Ready for Kindergarten”).

4. Academic pre-reading skills
-Can retell a simple story -Speaks in complete sentences of 5-6 words -Writes name or recognizes letters in name -Recognizes the title of a book -Matches rhyming sounds (“Is My Child Ready for Kindergarten”)
Upon entering Kindergarten, your child should have some pre-reading academic skills in place. These skills include, but are not limited to: retelling a simple story, speaking in complete sentences of 5-6 words, writing and/or recognizing the letters in his or her name, recognizing the title of a book, and matching rhyming sounds (“Is My Child Ready for Kindergarten”).

5. Preparing for emerging literacy skills
“Almost everything young children do in the preschool and kindergarten years supports their emerging language and literacy skills” (Koralek & Collins, 1997).
Reading materials
Writing materials
Incorporate literacy into play
Did you realize, “Almost everything young children do in the preschool and kindergarten years supports their emerging language and literacy skills”? (Koralek & Collins, 1997). When you provide your child with reading and writing materials and model how to use these materials properly, you are helping your child incorporate these materials and skills into their play time; thus, your child is essentially incorporating literacy skills into their playtime experiences. This is furthering their literacy development and helping them move towards reading independently.

6. Building emerging literacy skills
*Reading aloud *Talking with children *Writing with children
So how can you help build your child’s emerging literacy skills? Well, there are three simple steps: reading aloud with your child, talking with your child, and writing with your child.

7. Reading aloud
“One of the best ways to encourage emerging literacy is to read aloud with a child as often as possible” (Koralek & Collins, 1997). *Reading aloud is more than calling words & turning pages -setting -characters -problem -solution *All leads to meaning and comprehensionexcitement about reading *Predictions *Making Connections *Asking Questions
“One of the best ways to encourage emerging literacy is to read aloud with a child as often as possible” (Koralek & Collins, 1997). Though keep in mind, reading aloud should be more than simply calling out words and turning pages. When you read with your child, discuss the setting, characters, problem and solution of the story to further comprehension of a story. Comprehension is why we read after all. To further comprehension and reading development, stop every few pages to discuss predictions for what will happen next, help your child make connections between the story and himself, and finally, ask your child questions about the story before, during and after reading. All of these practices will help further develop your child’s reading readiness and emerging literacy skills.

8. Talking with children
“Because all forms of language are connected, talking with children is an important way to encourage their emerging literacy” (Koralek & Collins, 1997)
Develop Thinking Skills
Use Creativity
Express Ideas
Increase Vocabulary
Understand Oral & Written Language Connection
Next, talk with your children. “Because all forms of language are connected, talking with children is an important way to encourage their emerging literacy” (Koralek & Collins, 1997). Talking with your child helps them build vocabulary and oral language skills, develop thinking skills, use creativity, express ideas, and understand oral and written language connections (Koralek & Collins, 1997). When a child is exposed to a variety of new words spoken at home, he is acquiring more word knowledge and will likely enter school or pre-kindergarten with better developed vocabulary. According to research, “Beginning readers use knowledge about words to help them make sense of what they’re reading. The more words a reader knows, the more they are able to comprehend what they’re reading or listening to” (“Building your child’s”). If nothing else, keep talking to and reading with your child…CONSTANTLY! While reading, it is important you are pointing out new words and discussing their meaning with your child to further develop your child’s vocabulary and background knowledge.

9. Writing with children
“Writing focuses children's attention on print, helps them learn that letters represent sounds, and contributes to their emergent reading skills” (Koralek & Collins, 1997).
Then we come to writing. “Writing focuses children’s attention on print, helps them learn that letters represent sounds, and contributes to their emergent reading skills” (Koralek & Collins, 1997). Your child will begin to work on letter formation and handwriting in kindergarten. To help prepare your child for reading and writing experiences in school, practice writing letters at home. Tactile experiences with writing letters help our children feel the shape and motion of letters. You can help them practice writing letters in the sand, air, shaving cream in a ziploc bag, etc. Pinterest has some great ideas here as well! When your child begins to experiment with writing, caption their writing. You can ask your child what their writing says and then write their words under their writing. This helps them learn more about letters and words (“Developing writing & spelling at home: Pre-K”). Last, set a good example at home. Show your children all the opportunities you take to write at home: s, thank you notes, addressing envelopes, Christmas cards, making grocery lists, etc.

10. *Say silly tongue twisters *Read it & experience it
Tips for kindergarten
*Talk to your child
*Say silly tongue twisters
*Read it & experience it
*Use your child’s name
*Trace & say letters
*Write it down
*Play sound games
*Read it again & again
*Talk about letters & sounds
(“Tips for parents of kindergarteners”)
In conclusion, I’d like to discuss some tips for kindergarten. Take advantage of time this summer to do some of the follow activities: TALK TO YOUR CHILD. Ask him about his day. Encourage her to explain something. Keep the conversation flowing! SAY SILLY TONGUE TWISTERS. This helps children become sensitive to sounds in words. READ IT AND EXPERIENCE IT. Make connections between happenings in a story and your child’s life. For example, if you read a story about zoo animals, try and connect it to your last zoo visit. This gives your child ownership and meaning in the reading experience. USE YOUR CHILD’S NAME. Point out the link between the letters and sounds in your child’s name. “Hey Betsy, ball begins with the same sound as your name. Betsy, ball. They both begin with the letter “B”. TRACE AND SAY LETTERS. Like I mentioned previously, tactile experiences with letter shapes and formations help build writing experiences. WRITE IT DOWN. Have writing materials readily available for your child. Write with your child and encourage him to use the letters and sounds he is currently learning about. PLAY SOUND GAMES. Practice blending sounds into words. “Can you guess what this word is? M-o-p. Hold each sound longer than you normally would. Act like you’re stretching the sounds as if you were holding a rubber band. READ IT AGAIN AND AGAIN. This is my favorite, because it is oh, so important! The U.S. Department of Education states, “Reading to a child for 30 minutes per day from infancy helps prepare a child to learn. A five-year old who has not been read to DAILY will enter kindergarten with far fewer hours of “literacy nutrition” than a child who has been read to daily from infancy. No teacher, no matter how talented, can make up for those lost hours”. So are you with me? READ TO YOUR CHILD EVERY SINGLE DAY! Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Education also states, “Shared enthusiasm about books and reading between a parent and child can deepen the child’s interest in learning to read. Children who learn from parents that reading is fun may be more likely to sustain efforts to learn to read when the going gets tough”. And finally, TALK ABOUT LETTERS AND SOUNDS. Please help your child learn the letters and the sounds that correspond to the letters. Make it into a guessing game. I’m thinking of a letter. It makes the sound “mmmmmmm”. All of these tips and activities will help prepare your child for reading and literacy skills as well as get them on the right track for the upcoming school year. Thank you for your time today.

11. References
Building your child's vocabulary. (n.d.). Retrieved from Is my child ready for kindergarten. (n.d.). Retrieved from Koralek, D., & Collins, R. (1997). Tutoring strategies for preschool and kindergarten. Retrieved from Roskos, K. A., Christie, J. F., & Richgels, D. J. (2003). The essentials of early literacy instruction. National Association for the Education of Young Children, Retrieved from Tips for parents of kindergarteners. (n.d.). Retrieved from U.S. Department of Education. (n.d.). Ready to read: Heading for the classroom. Retrieved from