Natural and Practical Approaches to Literacy in Preschool Settings
1 Hour CE Credit
As children play, interact with others, engage with a rich and stimulating environment, they are building vocabulary, noticing subtle differences and meanings, figuring out how print works and the role it plays in society, and so begin to experiment with, and interact with, print. In a play and inquiry-based environment, there is no need for ‘practice’ for this to happen. Just as children build oral language through engaging with it, so they build knowledge about the printed word.
Overview
Framework Principles & Practices utilized in the program: language and communication
Strategies:
- Children express ideas and make meaning using a variety of media
- Children begin to understand how symbols and patterns work
- Acadian and Francophone children in French minority communities develop strong foundations in French.
- Children engage with a range of texts and gain meaning from them
- Children use information and communication technologies to access information, investigate ideas, and represent their thoughts
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this program, participants will be able to:
- Set up a writing area that encourages playful experimentation with print
- Use language experience charts to record children’s ideas and thoughts
- Use the framework strategies to support children as they become naturally curious about print
- Recognize the many ways in which children use written and oral language during play
- List 6 key practices that support natural and developmentally appropriate literacy development