Smart lookup
- Early literacy is not teaching children how to read
- Early literacy is helping children to develop skills they need to become successful readers
- The SPREWT literacy practises will help prepare children to get a head start on literacy skills
“Bravo! Hero, you have done so well and I am proud of you”. These are the heartfelt comments Abena gave to her four-year-old son after he read some words from a list she had made. Like Abena, many parents today dream of the reality of their children developing fine reading skills at an early age just like Hero, aged 4.
In order to understand how Hero was able to read those words, we need to understand the efforts Abena made to equip Hero with those fine skills – early literacy. Most people are at sea when the topic of early literacy is placed on the table. Here comes the clarification: Early literacy is not teaching children how to read; instead, it is helping children to develop skills they will need to become successful readers.
The introduction of what I term the SPREWT activity is a deliberate attempt to gradually equip children with early literacy skills for reading. These activities – which include Singing, Playing, Reading, Writing and Talking – help children build rich language skills, vocabulary, self-expression, and comprehension. Engaging children with the SPREWT literacy practises will help prepare them get a head start to recognise and make sense of printed words when they start to read.
The SPREWT Activity
Singing: Helps children hear how words can be broken down into smaller parts. This skill will help them sound out words when they start reading on their own. Songs also teach new vocabulary and introduce new concepts. Singing and clapping along letter sounds, simple or complex word syllables or beats help with pronunciation and build vocabulary.
Introducing songs with hand, body movement or simply moving in a circle along the beat or a full choreography will help children draw the meaning of words for themselves which will later help them to recognise it in print, and still or motion picture. Using picture books that illustrate popular children’s songs is a great help to early literacy. Sing along activities also are a great way of equipping children with skills that can later help them to make meaning of words in print. Find a great selection of alphabet or letter sound songs to boost your child’s vocabulary.
Playing: Children learn how to express themselves through play. They also learn the meaning of words and how to tell stories. When they learn new words through play, they will recognise those words in print when they start reading. Learning how to tell stories builds the comprehension skills of children.
Acting out favourite stories with stuffed animals, puppets or toys can encourage children to build language and skill in conversation. Playing with block – pretending to build castles, homes and whatever interests the child – also helps to build their confidence in learning and adding up to their vocabulary while teaching them how to comprehend and repeat or tell stories.
Reading: Reading with your child is one the best ways to help him/her get ready to read on their own. The language in books is much richer than the language we use every day. This means reading expands your child’s vocabulary. Hearing a chunk number of new words in early childhood will help your child recognise words in print when he or she starts reading. This goes a long way to help in comprehension or understanding what they read. You can practise reading with your child every day by reading out package labels while shopping or getting ready to use grocery. It will be very important to point out words and letter sounds as you read to your child. This will help your child to easily recognise words in print when they see them.
Writing: Writing activities help children learn letter names and sounds. Writing or scribbling and drawing, also help children learn that marks on paper represent spoken language. This knowledge will help them decode words on pages and screens when they start reading. Encourage your child to draw their favourite toys, scribble on plain sheets and help label things around the home.
Talking: Talking with your child is one of the best ways to develop language and early literacy skills. Conversations help a child express thought and learn what words mean. Talking also gives children a rich foundation of knowledge they can apply to their independent reading. The more children learn about the world around them, the more words they will recognise on a printed page or digital screen.
Asking your child open-ended questions will give the child the opportunity to use words stored in as vocabulary. Ask your child questions that cannot be answered with a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
In answering a question if your child tells you a word, add more words. If your child says: “Ambulance”, you can reply by saying, “Yes, that’s a big, white ambulance. It has a siren on top. The siren makes loud noise to tell people to get out of the way. The ambulance is going to help people”.
You can also talk about your daily routines as you do them. For example, “We are going to make breakfast. First we get the ingredients out. The ingredients are the things we use to make our food. Then we get the pots, pans, cups and spoons. Can you help me get the ingredients and put them in the pot?”
In this instance, the child will learn a variety of new words with practical meaning and can make sense of them when they start to read.
Our proud parent, Abena, in the introduction painstakingly took her son Hero, through all these activities, engaging him more in the ones he mostly enjoyed. The results? Hero is fully equipped with the skills to help him make meaning of printed words on paper or on screen beginning at the tender age of four.
DO YOU REMEMBER?
Singing and clapping along letter sounds, simple or complex word syllables or beats help with pronunciation and build vocabulary.
Talking with your child is one of the best ways to develop language and early literacy skills. When children learn new words through play, they will recognise those words in print when they start reading
>>>The writer is a bachelor of Fine Arts degree holder from the University of Ghana, a Phonics coach and the brain behind Brightwheel Consult. She also holds a certificate in Business Administration from the Graduate School of Governance and Leadership and has hands-on experience in early childhood and Montessori education.
Contact
Tel: 0246870465
Email: [email protected]
