Essentials of literacy from 0-7: children's journeys into literacy

Introduction and acknowledgements

Introducing the community of learners

The importance of a rich language environment, with multi-sensory experience

A broad, rich and deep curriculum, across all areas of development and learning

Learning together, adults and children

Thoughts to take with you as you read the book

Summary - the essentials of literacy

1. Introducing the essentials of literacy

When should children be taught to read and write?

Key moments in the journey towards literacy: walking, talking and pretending

In order for young children to (later) be able to read and write independently, these are the essentials of literacy

Taking traditional practice forward in a learning community

2. Observing children in an enabling environment

Observing children

The Early Years Foundation Stage Profile

Continuing the learning journey

Creating the atmosphere

The (hidden) importance of play

Sharing books together, as well as looking at books alone

Meaningful print

Movement, dance and music

Powerful first-hand experiences which support understanding of rhymes

Opening up the world of communication, language and literacy in an enabling environment

3. Baby songs

Development of the brain

The first few months - looking, listening and moving

Parents and carers interacting with very young children through movement and non-verbal communication in dance-like ways

Baby songs

4. Finger rhymes

Sitting - fingers and thumbs

Crawling - balancing and travelling at the same time

Introducing finger rhymes to children

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Finger dexterity as emergent 'writing'

Finger thymes should not be used in isolation from other types of rhyme

Stage 1

What were the results (outcomes) for stage 1 finger rhymes?

Stage 2

What were the results (outcomes) for stage 2 finger rhymes?

Stage 3

What are the results (outcomes) for stage 3 finger rhymes?

5. Mark-making and writing

Mark-making

Getting the idea of flow in writing

From a three-dimensional world to a two-dimensional world

Key messages about children beginning to write

6. Action songs - on the spot

Why sing action songs with young children?

Who started the tradition of singing action songs with children?

Why does the tradition continue today? Is it still a valuable tradition?

The upper body: on the spot

Head to feet - the order in which the brain develops co-ordinated movement

Action songs using the body, but on the spot (non-locomotion)

Stage 1 action songs - upper body, simple rhymes and movements

Stage 2 action songs - more upper body movement sequences and several verses

Stage 3 - whole-body non-locomotion action songs

Summary

7. Action songs - moving around

Why locomotion action songs come later

Action songs involving locomotion

Action songs that become ring games

Action songs that create a drama

Summary

8. Nursery rhymes

Nursery rhymes are part of the canon of literature in the English language

The sounds of language

Using nursery rhymes - strengthening what comes naturally to children

Traditional nursery rhymes selected to develop phonemic awareness

The importance of not rushing children through their journey into literacy

Where is each child in their unique journey into literacy?

Summary

9. Poetry cards

Understanding comes before competence

What are poetry cards?

Making the poetry card

Poetry cards make a bridge between language development, reading and writing

Making human sense of reading and writing

In what order should children be introduced to the linking of sounds with letters?

English is one of the most irregular and inconsistent languages in the world

Poetry cards give children anchor points

Summary

Bibliography

Index