Early Childhood Forum

We are building momentum with our early childhood message and as part of our "challenge" we are building a common language for the top 5 things we can communicate to build early literacy skills. If all of our leadership team promoted the same 5 strategies and then if all of our community members could communicate the same 5 strategies to our youngest residents/family members....Could we impact 10 more students this year, 20 more students the next and so on with a common message around literacy.

 

For more information, please come to our Early Childhood Forum on November 18, 2014!!

Early Steps to School Success 

Sit and read together EVERY DAY

Before starting school, an average kindergartener should have 1000 books read to them.

20 minutes of daily reading significantly increases a child’s reading achievement.

Talk using new words

The average kindergartener should be exposed to 30 million words before starting school.

The size and effective use of a child’s vocabulary is an important indicator of future literacy ability.
Ask questions as you read

The goal of reading is to make meaning. Asking your child questions before, during, and after reading fosters comprehension.
Recite rhymes, sing songs -repeat

Rhymers are readers: Nursery rhymes build memorization, sequencing, voice inflection, and exposure to new words.

Repetitive reading builds word recognition and confidence.
Take time to point out print EVERYWHERE
Children who live in print-rich environments and who are read to during the first years of life are much more likely to learn to read on schedule.

Never too early- read to infants because learning begins at birth

One-to-one attention and nurturing encourages a love for reading
With your commitment, the building blocks of literacy are free