This presentation discusses early literacy and how to help young students. It recommends reading to children from an early age and talking about the books to expand their background knowledge. Teachers can help students decode words and make connections to improve comprehension. When selecting texts, factors like readability, interest, and visual support should be considered. Teachers can use assessments to understand students and help them become independent thinkers. Feedback is requested using the questions provided.

1. Want to Understand More
About Early Literacy
&
How You Can Help?
Presentation by Jolene Dodd
Walden University
The Beginning Reader, PreK-3
February 2012

2. Early Learners
o Reading should start very early in a child’s life.
o Read story books & ask questions.
o Talk, Talk, Talk about the books and the world
around you!
o Expand on the student’s natural curiosity.
o Background knowledge is crucial
o Experiences with print
o Experiences with the world
Laureatte, Inc. (2009). Perspectives on Early Learners. [Webcast]. Baltimore, MD: Author

3. Getting to Know Literacy Learners
PreK-3
Students Teachers
Have to relate what they Help students
know to what they are decode words,
learning, create meaningful
create their own connections for better
knowledge, and comprehension, motiv
then they are motivated ! ate students to read &
assess their reading
ability!
Tompkins, G. E. (2010). Literacy for the 21st Century: A balanced approach (5th ed.) Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

4. Selecting Texts
o Readability
o Sentence length
o Number of syllables in words
o Concept of the text
o Singletons or unique words that only appear once
o Length of text
o Text structure
o Size of print
o Visual support
Even though all these are critical to selecting a text, still
keep in mind their motivation to read…their interest!
Laureate Education, Inc. (2009). Analyzing and Selecting Text [webcast]. The beginning reader, PK-3. Baltimore, MD: Author.

5. Literacy Lesson: Interactive
Perspective
Student Teacher
Read and write Use formal & informal
accurately, fluently, and assessments to know
with comprehension. how to help the
Use strategies to be student. Learn the
independent readers. most about every
students interest. Help
the students become
“thinkers about their
own thinking!”
Tompkins, G. E. (2010). Literacy for the 21st Century: A balanced approach (5th ed.) Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Walden University. (2011). Frameworks for Literacy Instruction. Baltimore, MD: Author

6. Literacy Perspectives : Critical and
Response
Student Teacher
Construct their own Allow students time to
knowledge. Learn to process information and
share and discuss what form their opinion
they are learning with about the topic. Give
each other. them time to share and
discuss their learning
with each other.
Liturature Circles are an
excellent way to
incorporate these skills.
Tompkins, G.E. (2010). Literacy for the 21st Century: A balanced approach (5th ed.) Boston: Allyn & Bacon

7. Feedback
Please provide feedback from the
questions listed on your handout.
Thank you