Early Language & Literacy KnowledgeBase

This KnowledgeBase archive includes content and external links that were accurate and relevant as of September 30, 2019.

The Early Language and Literacy KnowledgeBase is an online resource supporting language and literacy development in early learners from birth through age eight. Its focus is to support parents and caregivers in helping early learners with their language and literacy development, and teachers in enhancing their instruction for early learners from pre-Kindergarten through Grade 3.

Task 4: Intentional Instruction - Read Alouds

Guideline: Reading, thinking and talking aloud provide opportunities for teachers to enhance their reading instruction with early learners. Likewise, these techniques enable early learners learn to like stories and learn about written language. This task provides resources on reading, thinking and talking aloud as ways to enhance literacy development for pre-school age learners.

resources

PRACTICAL TIPS

Read-Aloud An Important Component of Balanced Literacy

This brief prepared by the Western Region (North Carolina) Education Service Alliance explores how read and think alouds are used to enhance literacy development among early learners.

Reading Aloud to Children

This link to the U.S. Department of Education publication Teaching Our Youngest: A Guide for Preschool Teachers, Childcare and Family Providers provides information on reading aloud to children. As noted at its website, this guide "draws from scientifically based research about what pre-school teachers and childcare providers can do to help children develop their language abilities, increase their knowledge, become familiar with books and other printed materials, learn letters and sounds, recognize numbers and learn to count."

REFERENCES

Reading Aloud to Build Comprehension

This article at the Reading Rockets website discusses the importance of reading aloud and thinking aloud when reading to children.

Using Shared Storybook Reading to Promote Emergent Literacy

This article from the Council on Exceptional Children's publication Teaching Exceptional Children describe approaches to promote emergent reading for young children with disabilities. Teachers of young children with special needs may find this article helpful.

What Works - An Introductory Guide for Early Language and Emergent Literacy Instruction

This guide, prepared by the National Center for Family Literacy, is based on the National Early Literacy Panel report. As noted in the guide's introduction, "The purpose of this guide is to help teachers understand the research reported in Developing Early Literacy: Report of the National Early Literacy Panel (2008). The guide describes ways teachers can use the research effectively for early childhood instruction, assessment, choosing curriculum and helping parents better support their young children's language and literacy learning."