Supporting Early Literacy:
Hosting Notes
1. A Café focused on early literacy offers an opportunity for parents to examine how they support their child’s early learning, literacy and development by:
· Exploring the meaning of ‘literacy’ and its key role in a child’s future success.
· Exploring when and how children are preparing for reading and literacy.
· Exploring how everyday interactions, activities and routines help build the foundation for literacy.
· Exploring how reading and storytelling helps to build healthy brains and support development.
· Examining how their own orientation towards books and reading can support a child to develop a love for reading.
· Sharing successes and experiences in engaging available people and resources to support early literacy.
2. The conversation starters are offered in a numbered, ordered series only as a suggested flow to the conversation (see below). However, conversations should be organic and the suggested topics are provided as a tool for the host keep the conversation flowing and to offer quality resources when participants wish to explore topics further.
When welcoming parents it is important to provide an introduction to Parent Café conversations (see hosting manual), and introduce the topic to determine if there are any other burning questions around literacy parents would like to discuss. Recording questions on flipchart/blackboard/newsprint on table, allows host to check back in with parents to make sure they had a chance to discuss topics of interest. Asking parents to if they had a favorite book as a child can be a nice icebreaker for the literacy conversation.
3. What are your hopes and dreams for your child’s learning and future?
There are many reasons that parents/caregivers have for taking the time to learn more about their child and explore their important role as a parent. This discussion may provide an indication of questions that the group may wish to address.
Finding why parents have committed to coming out to the Café offers a chance for parents to share something personal about themselves and the opportunity to get to know one another. There are many reasons that parents/caregivers have for taking the time to learn about their child. Something motivated each parent/caregiver to be here.
Examples.:
· I want them to be successful and school and work.
· I want them to love learning and be interested in the world.
· I want them to love reading.
· I want them to find and develop their passions and interests.
Suggestions:
· Make a point of letting all parents be heard.
· Validate parents efforts and commitment to their child by being here.
· Emphasize the shared interest among the group in their children – talking with other adults offers a great support and chance to share knowledge and experience.
· Consider the wealth of knowledge and experience that the group possesses!
4. What is literacy? Why is literacy so important for your child’s future?
While “literacy” used to be defined mostly as the ability to read and write, a much more complex definition is needed in today’s society. This term can be confusing and often needs clarification before using it. Literacy Alberta notes that literacy was traditionally defined as being able to read and write but that the definition of literacy now includes many other skills, known as the 'essential skills':
• reading
• writing
• document use
• numeracy
• computer use
• thinking
• oral communication
• working with others
• continuous learning
“Literacy is acquiring, creating, connecting and communicating meaning in a wide variety of contexts.”
“Literacy First: A Plan for Action, ” Alberta Education.
Suggestion:
To discuss literacy, share the short video clip from Alberta Education Literacy: A world to discover. A facilitators guide offers a number of reflective questions for discussion. When computers are not available in the conversation use the picture version of multiple literacies (4a) below as a discussion point. Literacy is important becauseit is a fundamental life skill. Increasedreading levels improve an individual’s self-esteem, academic achievement, career and parenting success. It results in increased quality of life. Literate children have a greater chance of becoming competent and contributing members of our society who are economically self-sufficient. – Calgary Reads
Literacy is an essential skill both for school and beyond in today’s knowledge-based society:
Before School:
Reading, singing, talking and playing all supports and impacts the fundamental elements upon which brains are built:
· Attachment
· Relationship
· Environment
At School
While children learn to read in the first years of formal schooling, much of their formal education is spent “reading to learn”. The Framework for Student Learning identifies seven key competencies including: collaboration and leadership, critical thinking and problem solving, creativity and innovation, social responsibility and global awareness, communication, digital literacy, and lifelong learning. Literacy and numeracy are the foundational competencies that these other abilities are built on.
4a. Literacy – A Changing Definition
5. What is “early literacy?” Why is early literacy so important for your child’s future development?
Early literacy is the foundational development (i.e. brain, emotional and physical development) that happens in the process of becoming literate…
· It’s not too early to start - the brain is getting ready to read earlier than you think!
· We are preparing children for literacy through the everyday interactions, activities and routines that contribute to a healthy developmental foundation.
· Reading builds brains… cognitive development and attention spans are built minute by minute, page pay page, day by day.
· Language is learned by hearing, the repetition of stories and books are helpful.
· The back and forth of talking, reading and sharing stories with a child supports the development of important executive function, emotional and social skills.
· Reading books with children creates an intimate bond or relationship, building a happy bridge that can be crossed. Relationship, relationship, relationship! (protection from the negative impacts of stress).
Did you know?: Reach Out and Read is now in Canada – doctors and nurses are working together to prescribe books and literacy advice in order to support early literacy, overall development and school readiness. That’s how important it is for healthy development!
Read more:
New York Times – Read, Kids, Read May 12, 2014 – Research links – the value of reading.
Explore:
Albert Shanker Institute’s video: The early language gap is more than about words.
6. What are the foundational skills that children need in order to be ready to learn to read and write?
“Reading roots”, or the foundational skills for reading, prepare a child to begin to read on their own. Thinking, language and physical skills all contribute to the readiness of a child:
Thinking Skills / Physical Skills / Language Skillsattention- ability to tune out distractions
organization
motivation – curiosity
remember sounds and images
differentiate or see differences between different sounds and images
critical thinking – problem solving
background knowledge
creativity and imagination
pool of mental images / healthy body – physical stamina
visual tracking – scan words across the page
fine motor skills – hold a book and turn pages, hold a pencil / strong base in first language
listening
speaking
awareness of speech sounds (phonemic awareness)
vocabulary
language structure
Suggestions:
The first 2000 days of a child’s life… yes, between birth and kindergarten…are when 85% of the brain’s pathways are developed. This is the best time to introduce the foundations of literacy. Most reading problems are preventableby providing aliteracy-rich environment in all the days before kindergarten. The foundational skills for literacy development are laid through the early childhood years but will continue beyond through rich experiences with language. Literacy opportunities surround us in everyday life! A parents role in providing a foundation for literacy involves: Singing/Reading/Talking/Playing and exploring too!
Explore further: First 2000 Days Early Childhood Development Network.
Read more: Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain, by Maryanne Wolfe, cognitive neuroscientist and child development expert.
7. Literacy is built on a foundation of talking, exploring, playing, and singing. How do you and your child enjoy these activities together?
Think of the many activities you share throughout your daily life with your child that are already supporting literacy?
The foundations for literacy are built through the everyday activities – parents are already supporting literacy. This is an opportunity to validate current efforts, motivate one another and share ideas. Emphasize to parents to keep up the great work!
Examples:
Talking:
Sharing stories, talking about our day, conversation at family meals.
Speaking:
Speaking with my child in our first language
Exploring:
Visiting places in the community such as the park, the grocery store,
library or community gardens and talking about what we see together.
Playing:
Creative play: i.e. art, games, puppets, acting, as well as turning household
activities like baking and shopping into fun activities.
Singing:
Singing songs and nursery rhymes.
Explore these easy to read resource for parents::
*27 Ways to Celebrate Family Literacy Day, S. Eaton, 2010
ABC’s of Family Literacy (ABC Life Literacy Canada).
Centre for family literacy, Family literacy begins at Home,
8. How does talking support early learning and literacy?
· Talking with vs. talking at a child is important for feelings of validation and confidence.
· Conversation builds vocabulary which is the foundation of reading and language.
· Research shows that children who have a strong foundation in their home language achieve greater success at school and with second language).
· Important family time and relationships comes from reading and conversation.
Talking:
Talk, talk, talk… Talking builds vocabulary, which is the foundation of reading and language. Speaking develops vocabulary and language knowledge. Use language is different ways: to tell what happened, to describe things, to ask questions. The more a child understands about a word, the more easily they will read that word!
Speaking:
Talk with your child in the language that is most comfortable. Research shows that children who have a strong foundation in their home language achieve greater success at school. Children who speak their home language as well as English may have higher self-esteem and do better in school than immigrant children who speak only English. Strong family and cultural connections can be maintained with home language. For more research on supporting heritage languages see Mylanguage.ca
Exploring:
Visiting places in the community such as the park, the grocery store, library or community gardens and talk about what we see together. These experiences and knowledge will help them build vocabulary and understand what is happening in books
Explore:
Washington State’s Department of Social and Health Service’s resource for parents.
Winning ways to talk with your child.
9. How does sharing songs and rhymes support early learning and literacy
· Builds vocabulary and teaches rhythm and phrasing of speech.
· Builds awareness of the sounds that make up syllables and words
· Babies are more responsive when singing comes from parents than a recording.
· Helps a child’s ability to think in words and uses both sides of the brain.
· Causes endorphins to flow, stimulating good feeling throughout the body and stimulating brain activity.
· Teaches children storytelling and sequencing of events.
· Encourages self-expression.
· Builds relationships among parents and children.
· Strengthens memory.
· Others?
Explore:
Dr. S. Blythe’s The Genius of Natural Childhood, Institute for Neuro-Physiological Psychology, shows that 'signature' melodies and inflections of traditional rhymes prepare children's brains for language. Synopsis available
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/may/08/singing-children-development-language-skills
Singing:
Songs and nursery rhymes, poems and word play teach foundational skills as children become aware of word sounds, rhyming and the rhythm of speech.
Building confidence for parents to embrace their role as their child’s first teacher is of key importance. Reinforce that the many things they are doing with their children is supporting literacy development – “keep up the good work!” Encourage the sharing of specific activities and examples such as:
· Builds vocabulary and rhythm of speech.
· Building block of language.
10. How does playing support early language and literacy?
Vocabulary and language skills are developed during imaginative play, i.e. narrative skills such as main idea and plot, sequencing, logical reasoning, drawing conclusions, cause and effect. These are cornerstones of future successful reading. Games help boost and reinforce essential literacy skills! (Centre for Family Literacy – An ABC for Parents).
· Playing/exploring
· These experiences and knowledge will build vocabulary).
· helps to develop vocabulary and language skills and an understanding of the structure of a story).
Playing is foundational to the developing brain and foundational skills for literacy and…
· Is fun!
· Is not a distraction or break from learning but HOW children learn and develop! Building understanding, thinking skills and confidence.
· During play, a child’s brain is taking in information using all five senses, creating and responding to sound, sight, touch, taste, and smell. These combine to create connections in the brain that help the child to make sense of the world and create the foundation for future learning and development.
· A chance to explore, creates experiences and develops knowledge that builds vocabulary.
· Builds connections in the brain, supporting learning and growth in all realms of development - physical, social, thinking, emotional, i.e. creative play is supporting “air traffic control” system.
· Provides opportunities to rehearse and practice skills and try out ideas. Remember that brain connections (synapses) need repetition to strengthen!
· Builds self esteem - by doing things over and over children can experience success.
Explore:
For a more in depth look at play, share and discuss Stuart Brown’s Ted Talk: Play is More than Just Fun.
Read more:
Play: How it shapes the brain, opens the imagination and invigorates the soul. Stuart Brown and Christopher Vaughan (2010)
11. Why is reading aloud and storytelling important?
Explore:
Do you enjoy being read to?