Establishing Early Childhood Literacy

This workshop equips educators with knowledge and strategies to support preschool children in developing the foundational skills needed for Kindergarten and beyond. It emphasizes the importance of early literacy, defined as what children know about reading and writing before they can actually read or write. Participants will explore predictive and additional early literacy skills, understand developmental milestones, and practice classroom activities that foster vocabulary, phonological awareness, print knowledge, and comprehension. The session also highlights how teachers and parents can cultivate literacy-rich environments to support children’s success in school and life.

• Many children enter Kindergarten lacking the literacy foundation needed for success.
  
  
• Limited teacher awareness of how to intentionally foster early literacy through routines and play.
  
  
• Gaps in parent involvement and support for literacy-rich home environments.
  
  
• Challenges in integrating effective strategies for emergent reading, writing, and oral language development.

1. Identifying and Supporting Key Literacy Skills – Participants will gain strategies to foster the six predictive skills (alphabet knowledge, phonological awareness, rapid naming, writing, phonological memory) and five additional skills (print knowledge, oral language, reading readiness, etc.) critical for literacy development.
   
   
2. Designing Literacy-Rich Environments and Activities – Educators will learn to create structured yet playful opportunities, such as read-aloud routines, shared reading, rhyming games, and literacy centers, that embed literacy skills into everyday classroom practice.
   
   
3. Strengthening Family and Teacher Roles in Early Literacy – Participants will explore ways to engage parents in home literacy practices and adopt teacher-led strategies like scaffolding writing, encouraging emergent reading, and cultivating individualized conversations to support children’s growth