Early Literacy Skills for Kindergarten Success

Early Literacy Skills Are Imperative for Kindergarten Success.

I am a reading tutor and see many 1st-6th grade students struggling with reading and writing skills.

Seeing so many students struggling with these foundational skills breaks my heart. “What areas might we fall short in supporting our students, and how can we improve?” After earning my Childhood Education and Development degree, I am convinced that students must be explicitly taught and practice these fundamental skills long before formal education begins. Keep reading for practical early literacy skills you can teach your child/children.

For Early Literacy Skills Language Begins at Birth

Many parents may not be familiar with this concept. I aim to shed light on it by drawing from my old Early Education textbooks. Despite their age, these textbooks remain relevant and informative.

When you cradle your newborn for the first time, their gaze fixates on your face while they absorb the sound of your voice. Every word you speak becomes a language lesson, as they discern not just the words but also the nuances of your tone, the warmth of your smiles, and the cues of your body language. Even in these earliest moments, a baby instinctively senses a nurturing, soothing experience; he/she will feel safe in this environment. This is where positive learning begins.

I learned the importance of talking to babies in college, but I had already grasped its significance. With my babies, I made it a habit to explain everything they experienced. When they cried or felt stressed, I would console them by saying, ‘I know you’re hungry; your bottle is getting warmed up,’ or ‘I know you don’t like that wet diaper; let’s change that to a nice, dry one.’ This simple communication helped reassure them and build a strong bond.”

Of course, bath time was always a favorite! ‘Look how beautiful you are in your pretty dress!’ or ‘Look how handsome you are in your new suit!’ And then we’d say, ‘Let’s show daddy!’ Explaining everything we did together and their experience became a valuable learning moment for them.

Never Too Early for Formal Language

Don’t panic; I don’t recommend starting your baby in a preschool setting yet. However, I suggest incorporating plenty of lullabies and ABC songs into your daily routine. Even though your baby may not be able to repeat what they hear, they still absorb and learn from the sounds around them. So, keep singing those songs—it’s never too early to start nurturing their language development.

One of the most effective ways to facilitate language learning in your child is by establishing a language-rich environment at home. Fill their bedroom with various early reading books and make it a nightly routine to read to them. Additionally, label items throughout your house, pointing to and naming them, especially objects used daily, like labeling the diaper box ‘diapers’ and the toy box ‘toys.’ When they enter daycare or preschool, they may encounter many labeled classroom items, further reinforcing their language skills

Use Sensory to Teach Language

As your toddler begins to explore sensory toys and experiences, introduce the alphabet using magnetic letters. Alongside naming the letters, emphasize their sounds, focusing mainly on short vowels and consonants, which can be more challenging to learn. For example, pick up the letter A and say, ‘This is A; A says A A A like Apple.’ Then, move on to the letter B: ‘This is B; B says B B B like a ball.’ Repeat this process for each letter, allowing time for mastery before progressing to the next. Over time, your child will develop the ability to independently identify letters and their corresponding sounds, laying a solid foundation for literacy skills.”

Sensory items provide toddlers with valuable opportunities to learn by exploring their senses. Try rolling out playdough into a snake shape and shaping it into letters for letter recognition activities. However, be vigilant to ensure they don’t ingest it. Similarly, they demonstrate how to draw letters with crayons, understanding that their early attempts may include scribbled circles or straight lines. This experimentation is crucial in developing early writing skills, as they gradually gain familiarity with the shapes and movements involved.”

Picture Walk Through a Book

Introducing early readers from your local library is a great way to emphasize the importance of books to your child. Dr. Seuss’s books, in particular, offer valuable lessons through their rhymes and alliteration, making them ideal for early readers. Before reading, please take a “picture walk “through the book. Discuss the illustrations, and ask your child questions about their meaning. Please encourage them to make predictions about the story’s content. Don’t forget to teach them about the author, illustrator, and the book’s various parts, such as the spine, back cover, and front cover. These activities enhance pre-reading skills and foster a deeper appreciation for literature from an early age.”

I have a free ebook for Early Literacy Skills for Kindergarten Success. This is a small example of activities you can do with your child/children. Check it out in the link below! I plan to write a more extensive, detailed book that will include tear-out pages with preschool activities your child/children can do to practice the skills needed for Kindergarten. Be sure to keep your eyes on the lookout! I will send you an email when it is ready to publish.

You can click here to be directed to a free download. It will take you to a new tab.

mg-reading-tutor.ck.page/c3d7ac524d(opens in a new tab)

Conclusion

It’s never too early to start language instruction with our little ones. By laying a solid foundation in English language skills, we equip them for success in kindergarten and beyond. Once they enter school, time flies by quickly, and their reading and language instruction may be limited to just 20 minutes a day, sometimes even less frequently. Therefore, the early years provide a crucial window of opportunity to instill a love for language and literacy that will serve them well throughout their educational journey.”

Resources:

All resources I used were from my textbook:

“A Practical Guide to Early Childhood Curriculum” by Claudia Eliason & Loa Jenkins

Recommended Resources:

Here is a great resource for instilling early literacy for your child/children

https://literacyproj.org/2019/04/29/five-essential-skills-needed-for-childhood-literacy/

“I’m excited to share my e-book on Early Literacy for Kindergarten Readiness! Click the link to check it out and discover fun strategies to help prepare young learners for success.

https://mg-reading-tutor.ck.page/products/early-literacy-skills-for-kindergarten-