Every Child Ready to Read

You might hear our librarians talk about early literacy, but what is it all about?

Early literacy is everything a child needs to know about reading and writing before they can actually read and write and it begins at birth! Many of our children’s librarians are trained in Every Child Ready to Read, a national early literacy organization based on scientific research that details how language and literacy development inform our choices as parents and caregivers. By engaging with our children in daily doses of singing, talking, reading, writing, and playing, we can build our child’s early literacy skills and ensure that our children begin school ready to read!

Five Daily Practices

Children learn about language by listening to parents and adults talk and by joining in the conversation. Hearing and joining in on talking and conversation not only builds language fluency, but also builds important background knowledge for kids.

With singing, kids can learn new words and information, develop listening skills, and phonological awareness. Because singing slows down language so children can hear the individual sounds that make up a word it strengthens their phonological awareness.

Reading together, or shared reading, is the single most important activity caregivers can do with their children. It develops vocabulary and comprehension, nurtures a love of reading, and motivates children to want to learn to read.

Children learn about letters, words and stories when given the chance to try writing on their own. This is the gateway to writing. When a child signs their name on a piece of paper, even if it is scribbling, they are learning that they can write something that represents their name.

Children learn about language through play. More than that, playing builds conceptual knowledge of the world, words are able to map onto concepts, it engages children in problem-solving, and it fosters important social interactions.

At Monroe County Public Library, we incorporate literacy and the five daily practices into every early childhood program, whether it’s storytime, baby time, arts and crafts, or sensory play!