Feltboards and Early Literacy workshop for parents, caregivers and educators at the Homer Public Library (AK).

1. Early Literacy
and Feltboards
DIY: Feltboards Workshop
October 18, 2014
Homer Public Library
Sponsored by the
Homer Early Childhood Coalition

2. Claudia Haines
Youth Services Librarian
Homer Public Library
chaines@cityofhomer-ak.gov
@claudiahaines

3. What is Early Literacy?
Early literacy is what children know about language,
reading and writing before they know how to read.
Early literacy is strengthened by our children’s first
experiences, conversations, relationships with people who
care about them and yes, books. When combined, these
parts create a strong foundation so children are ready when
they are formally taught to read.

4. 6 Early Literacy Skills
Phonological Awareness
Print Awareness
Print Motivation
Vocabulary
Letter Knowledge
Narrative Skills

5. Phonological Awareness
The ability to hear and play with the smaller sounds in
words.
Feltboards are tactile tools for sharing rhymes and songs
that let kids play with sounds as they talk and sing.

6. Print Awareness
Noticing print everywhere; knowing how to handle a book;
knowing how we follow the words on a page.
Felt letters on a feltboard reinforce the concept of print
awareness.

7. Print Motivation
A child's interest in and enjoyment of books.
Feltboard activities extend the book and story experience
making it more memorable. They also provide opportunities
for kids to explore the story and included concepts further.

8. Vocabulary
Knowing the names of things.
Felt characters or things can be used to reinforce or
introduce names of things and provide a jumping off point
for new vocabulary, processes, and ideas.

9. Letter Knowledge
Knowing that letters have names and are different from
each other, and that specific sounds go with specific letters.
Feltboards in their simplest form can be used to display
letters so their names and sounds can be reinforced or
introduced. Use felt letters to play letter games or the
letters can be used as prompts for singing.

10. Narrative Skills
The ability to describe things and events and tell stories.
Feltboards are valuable storytelling tools, fostering
narrative skills. Kids can retell beloved tales or create their
own stories. Feltboards can be used collaboratively or
individually and offer open-ended play.

11. Types of Feltboards
Standard
Pocket Folder
Pizza Box
Canvas
Table top

12. Digital Feltboards Apps
Feltboard- Mother Goose on the Loose

13. Making Feltboards
● Make pieces that can be reused in multiple stories to
reduce your workload
● Use tacky glue, hot glue, or stitches depending on your
comfort level, intended use, audience, & available prep
time
● A die cutter makes cutting faster and easier
● Find templates online
● Cut up old picturebooks and attach felt to the characters
and objects to retell the the story
● Add felt to flashcards or magazine pictures

14. Using Feltboards with Kids
● Practice with the story/activity before using it with kids
● Let kids know if they can have a turn during the activity
or afterwards
● Rhymes and songs should be repeated- kids are
instantly attracted to the pieces and how they are used,
in other words the technology, and need the repetition
to then learn the song or process
● keep notes on rhymes, songs and stories for each felt-keep
with felt pieces

15. Early Literacy Resources
Growing Readers (Homer!)
American Library Association’s Every Child Ready to Read
Zero to Three
Reading Rockets
Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy
Saroj Ghoting and Early Literacy

16. Let’s Make Feltboards!