What are some research-based practices that enhance language and literacy development?
Here are five research-based practices to enhance language and literacy development that can be used at school, home, or in the community:
Here are five research-based practices to enhance language and literacy development that can be used at school, home, or in the community:
Use developmentally appropriate books and text in everyday life with children to help increase their interest in reading (Rosenkoetter & Knapp-Philo, 2006). By surrounding children with the books and texts, children will become interested in reading, initiate reading, and learn that reading is useful. Sharing stories and books with children increases the chances that children will like to read (Lonigan, 1994).
Use sound play, words, stories, songs, and books with children to promote phonological awareness. Phonological awareness involves appreciating sounds and the rhythms of the language. Children with phonological awareness will enter school ready to connect sounds to meaning. They will also be more equipped to learn to read (National Early Literacy Panel, in press).
Use words, stories, songs, and books with children to build vocabulary. Vocabulary helps children understand the words, ideas, and concepts that a culture uses. Children will learn new words as they go through meaningful experiences and events in their lives (Rosenkoetter & Knapp-Philo, 2006). Book reading is also also a great way to help children build vocabulary (DeTemple & Snow, 2003).
Use books and conversations about print in the environment with children to increase their print awareness. Print awareness (Adams, 1990) is a child's understanding that print is organized in a particular way and that it has rules.
Use books and other text rich items to help children develop letter awareness and knowledge (Rosenkoetter & Barton, 2002). As children converse with those around them and are exposed to books, they get a sense that letters have meaning, letters have sound, and that letters are useful and important to adults. They eventually learn that they can use letters to create words that have meaning.
