Tools of Literacy for Infants and Toddlers

Joanne Knapp-Philo Ph.D.

California Institute on Human ServicesSonoma State University

Agenda

–Tools of Literacy

–Video

–Small Group Activity

–Next Steps Reflection

Purpose of Session

To become aware of concept of “Tools of Literacy” to support language and literacy development in infants and toddlers in day-to-day environments

Learning Outcomes

• Participants will consider current research that supports the concept of using tools of literacy

• Participants will practice applying the concept to daily interactions with infants and toddlers

Who’s Here?

Current Parents of Infants/Toddlers

• You’re from California.• You’re NOT from California.• You’re from the Eastern time zone and got

to sleep in this morning!• Central Time?• Had to take 2 planes to get here?• Is there someone we missed?

Who’s Here?

• You’re a teacher or caregiver• You’re a supervisor• You’re an administrator• You’re a trainer

Tools of Literacy

Everything an infant or toddler uses to help “read” the world

Nurturing Relationships

• Relationships are the foundation of all infant learning

• All early experiences are in the context of a relationship with an adult

• Language develops as a result of experiences

• Any other “bites” of research?

Young children learn to “read” the world by

watching adults

• How do adults interact?• What do facial expressions

mean? • Do I feel safe and loved? • Are books fun?

Relationships and Literacy

• Positive experiences encourage us to try again and again

• Negative experiences discourage us from trying again

Listening and Talking

Listening and Talking

• What does the research say?

• Babies communicate all the time…– Intentionally– Unintentionally

Listening

• Children learn – Vocabulary– Conversational skills– Turn-taking– About their roles

Modeling

What does the research say?

Modeling

• Children do what they see

• Before they go to school, children already have an idea about reading and writing activities and their importance to the adults in their family

• Adults teach by what they do and by what they DO NOT do

Discovering the World through Words and

Experiences

Experiences

• Connect the abstract to the concrete– Names of things– Events – Activities

• Give the opportunity to build child’s knowledge base and vocabulary

Experiences with Print and Writing

Experiences with Print and Writing

• What does the research say?

• Children learn– Purpose for

reading and writing– How to gather

information– Who writes? Who

reads? Why?

Environmental Print

What are the everyday experiences children have with print and writing?

Symbols

Symbols

• What does the research say?• Symbols are more than letters…

– Representational objects– What are the first symbols in a child’s

life?

Symbols

Children with disabilities may take longer to understand symbols

Sounds,Rhythms,Rhymes,

&Songs

Music, Rhymes, Rhythms, Poetry

• Help children develop – Listening skills– Phonemic awareness– Love of words and language– Physical and mental well-being

• Can be a way to learn a family’s culture

• Encourage children and adults to enjoy their interactions

Enjoyable Experiences with

Stories & Books

Stories

• Everybody has a story!

• Hearing stories helps children develop– Listening skills– Vocabulary– Sequencing skills – A sense of their place in the world– Enjoyment of literacy activities

• Can be a bridge to a family’s culture and values

Tell Stories with Intentionality

• Use some new words to stretch the child’s vocabulary

• Let children contribute to the story– What do you think will happen next?– If he does that, what will happen?– What did she do before she went to sleep?

• Later, help children recall the story and sequence what happened first, next, etc.

• Use familiar and new stories and settings that you are comfortable with

Tell Stories

• Waiting at WIC• On the bus• Walking to the store• Driving in the car• Waiting at the

doctor’s office• Standing in line to

pay a bill• Cooking dinner• Taking a bath

It’s never too early to give a baby a book!

Video

Small Group Activity

Work in small groups

Each group gets a picture

List how you would use each tool of literacy in the environment shown in your picture

So Many Opportunities to Use Tools

• Nurturing Relationships

• Listening and Talking

• Modeling

• Discovering the World through Words and Experiences

• Experiences with Print and Writing

• Sounds, Rhymes, Rhythms, and Songs

• Symbols

• Experiences with Stories and Books

Learning Outcomes

• Participants will consider current research that supports the concept of using tools of literacy

• Participants will practice applying the concept to daily interactions with infants and toddlers

Next Steps

• Lots of ideas shared today!

• What will you do now?

• Take 5 minutes to plan how you will use this

Thank you for all you do to support infants, toddlers, and

families!

Celebrate what you already do and what you will

continue to do!