1. Supporting Emergent Literacy in Early Childhood By Mandy Weed

2. What is Emergent Literacy? Emergent Literacy: Children’s active efforts to construct literacy knowledge through informal experiences It includes: conversation oral stories books other print

3. About Emergent Literacy Children learn written language first They are surrounded by written words daily They memorize words or stories Children don’t understand words are symbols each letter=whole word each letter in name=separate name

4. How Children Learn Through interactions with adults By singing songs Talking to others Painting and Drawing Naming objects Picking things up

5. What Are the Benefits? Increases the child’s potential Increases the child’s confidence Prepares the child for school Teaches the child about his/her culture Helps develop coordination

6. Judith Shickedanz and Early Literacy Behaviors Book Handling Behaviors Looking and Recognizing Picture and Story Comprehension Story-Reading Behaviors

7. What Infants Like (0-6 months) Simple pictures Large pictures Designs Bright colors Stiff, thick books

8. What Infants Like (6-12 months) Thick cardboard books Other pictures of babies Touchable books Pictures of familiar objects Bath time books Cuddle books Photo albums of loved ones

9. What Young Toddlers Like Sturdy cardboard books Photos of children Goodnight books Hello and Good-bye books Rhyming Animal books

10. What Toddlers Like Simple stories Easy to memorize Rhymes Bedtime Books about animals, shapes, sizes, etc. Animal books, vehicle books Favorite TV characters Hello and Good-bye books

11. How to Share Books Have fun with the stories Make reading an everyday occurrence Realize you may not finish the story Talk or sing about the pictures Let the child take part Show the cover of the book Show the words while reading Liven the book with stories Ask questions Let the child tell the story Create a book together

12. Including Books Daily At meals In the car or on the bus At childcare center Doctor’s office Grocery store Nap time In the evening In the bath At bedtime

13. Questions What can teachers do to nurture early language and literacy? Are there any other benefits of Emergent literacy? If a child doesn’t experience Emergent literacy, does it affect him/her later on in life?

14. My Sources Im, J., Osborn, C., Sánchez, S. and Thorp, E. The Importance of Early Language and Literacy [Electronic version]. Cradling Literacy: Building Teachers’ Skills to Nurture Early Language and Literacy Birth to Five. Washington, DC: ZERO TO THREE. Early Language & Literacy. Zero to Three. Retrieved March 5, 2007, from http://www.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=key_language What We Know About Early Literacy and Language Development. Zero to Three. Retrieved March 6,2007, from http://www.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=key_language http://www.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=key_language Tips for Sharing Books With Babies and Toddlers. Zero to Three. Retrieved March 6, 2007, from http://www.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=key_language http://www.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=key_language Berk, Laura (2006).Child Development. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.