Important Points for Early Literacy

1. We are taught to make distinctions between words and pictures and to not think of them in the same way.  We are taught that although we can gain meaning from each, reading words is valued more than reading pictures.
2. If children do not want to get any meaning from the texts, it is not reading!
3. The foundation is that children need strong listening and speaking skills.
4. Accept all attempts at writing as “real writing,” which includes scribbling, making letter-like forms, mixed scribbling and letter-like forms, etc.
5. Encourage children to hold their pencil correctly, but do no discourage them from writing.

A FINAL THOUGHT!

 “Many things we need – can wait, but the child cannot wait. Now is the time that the child’s bones are formed. Now is the time the child’s mind develop.  To the child, we cannot say tomorrow because the child’s name is of today.”