The document outlines a workshop by the Abilene Public Library focused on early literacy, highlighting essential skills such as print awareness, vocabulary, and narrative skills that children develop before formal reading. It emphasizes the importance of involving caregivers through activities, storytimes, and craft connections to foster these skills. The ultimate goal is to prepare children for successful reading and learning from a young age.

1. Early Literacy in Action
A Workshop Presented By
The Children’s Department
Of The Abilene Public Library
February 12, 2015
Abilene, Texas
Presenter: Alyssa Crow, Children’s Librarian
South Branch Library

2. What Is Early Literacy?
• What children know
before they can do
• First 5 years
• 35% of US children
• Early experiences are
most critical

3. Six Early Literacy Skills
• Print Awareness
– (I see words)
• Print Motivation
– (I love books)
• Letter Knowledge
– (I know my ABC’s)
• Vocabulary
– (I know words)
• Phonological Awareness
– (I hear words)
• Narrative Skills
– (I tell stories)

4. Print Awareness
• Noticing print
• Recognizing that print
has meaning
• Knowing how to follow
the words on a page
• Knowing how to handle
a book

5. Print Motivation
• Children’s interest in and enjoyment of books.

6. Letter Knowledge
• Knowing the names of letters
• Knowing that letters are different from one
another and make different sounds
• Realizing the same letter can look different
Aa Bb Cc Dd

7. Vocabulary
• Knowing the names of
things
• Understanding feelings
and concepts
• Background knowledge

8. Phonological Awareness
• The ability to hear and play with the smaller
sounds in words.

9. Narrative Skills
• The ability to describe things and events and
tell stories.

10. General Early Literacy Practices
• Talking
• Singing
• Reading
• Writing
• Playing

11. Early Literacy & Later Reading
• Two aspects of reading:
– Decoding (K-2)
– Comprehension (3+)
• Children need exposure
to all the early literacy
components starting
from birth to become
good readers.

12. Early Literacy Storytimes
• Involve the adults.
• Include brief asides,
explanations, or tips.
• Use all your words.

13. Storytime Planning Basics
• Example:
– Choose skill to highlight.
– Find related books, activities, songs, etc.
– Introduce featured skill during storytime welcome.
– Reiterate skill after each story or activity.
– Explain how adults can foster skill in child.
– Have related books available to checkout.

14. Example Storytime
• Skill: Letter Knowledge (P)
– Activity: Letter Folder
– Fingerplay: Ten Little Pirates
– Book: There Was An Old Pirate…
– Fingerplay: 5 Little Penguins
– Book: Penguins 123
– Activity: Pajama Matching
– Book: Nothing Like A Puffin
– Song: “I’m A Pretzel”
– Stamp: Penguin

15. Communicating With Caregivers
• Use posters, handouts, and publications.
• Distribute information about skill(s).
• Create library booklists focused on a skill.
• Display early literacy literature and books
available for checkout.

17. Early Literacy Crafts
• Connect craft to early
literacy skill.
• Should be simple and
include caregiver
involvement.
• Can be during or after
programs, or given as
an at-home activity.

18. What’s The Point?
• To help children
become successful
readers and learners.
• Kids get ready to read
long before they start
school.
• Once you learn to read,
then you read to learn.

19. Bibliography
Books
– Ghoting, Saroj Jadkarni and Pamela Martin-Diaz. Storytime for
Everyone! Chicago: American Library Association Editions, 2013.
– Hastings, Kay, Cathy Clemons, and April Montgomery. Daily
Preschool Experiences. Marylnad: Gryphon House, 2008.
– Herr, Judy and Yvonne Libby Larson. Creative Resources for the
Early Childhood Classroom. 5th ed. New York: Thompson Delmar
Learning, 2009.
– Mayesky, Mary. Creative Activities for Young Children. 8th ed.
New York: Thompson Delmar Learning, 2006.
– Schiller, Pam. Bountiful Earth. Maryland: Gryphon House, 2006.
– Stoltz, Dorothy, Elaine Czarnecki, and Connie Wilson. Every Child
Ready For School. Chicago: American Library Association
Editions, 2013.

20. Bibliography
Websites
– Early Literacy. Zero To Three, 2003.
www.zerotothree.org/BrainWonders
– Early Literacy And You: An Overview of Early Literacy.
Library of Virginia. www.earlylit.net
– Early Literacy Storytimes. Fairfax County Public Library.
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library
– Every Child Ready To Read.
www.everychildreadytoread.org
– Roskos, Kathleen, James Christie, and Donald Richgels. The
Essentials of Early Literacy Instruction. National
Association for the Education of Young Children.
www.naeyc.org/resources/journal