First Steps Toward Literacy

 
  Summary and Key Messages

What is Early Literacy?

In recent years there has been a great deal of focus on children's literacy skills. Teachers, parents, and even the federal government are concerned with the great number of children who encounter difficulty in reading and writing.

Early literacy refers to the functional skills that are precursors to actual literacy. Beginning at birth, parents and caregivers can encourage the development of skills that will set the stage for reading and writing. Singing and reading to children from the time they are newborns accustoms them to the sounds of language. Indeed, reading aloud to children is correlated not just with success in reading, but success in school in general.

Viewers' Guides:

Be sure to review and print the great resources we've compiled to to have on hand as you watch the programs:

• Ten Tips for Teachers: Read our tips for Fostering Early Literacy.
  
  
• Article - When Talk Isn't Idle, by Laura J. Colker, Ed.D.
  
  
• Booklists
  - Favorite Books for Children Ages 3 and 4
  - Books for Professional Development 
  
  
• Related Websites - Visit these websites to find additional resources on this topic.
  
  
• Online Journal Articles - Read online articles to learn more about working with children with special needs.
  
  
• Q & A with Literacy Experts - Find out how the experts fielded some of the questions posed during the program.
  
  

Top

	Printable Version
	Email to a Friend

Order Videos Online
If you're interested in ordering a video of one of our RIF Exchange Shows, click here. 

Home  -  About RIF  -  Donate  -  Get Involved  -  Coordinators  -  Educators  -  Parents  -  RIF Reading Planet  -  Leading to Reading

Contact Us  -  Calendar  -  Newsroom  -  Donate to RIF  -  FAQ   -  Link to Us  -  Privacy Policy  -  Site Map

©2008 Reading Is Fundamental, Inc.
Reading Is Fundamental, RIF, and the RIF logo design are all registered service marks of Reading Is Fundamental, Inc.