Early Language & Literacy KnowledgeBase

Phonological Awareness

This website developed by the University of Northern Iowa's Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders provides information on phonological awareness along with ideas, activities and teaching materials. The website was created by several graduate students. Educators of early learners may find its content helpful.

Student Center Activities Grades K-1

This link to the Florida Center for Reading Research website provides instructional materials for grades K-1 related to developing phonological awareness and building fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. At the site teachers an download a professional development DVD and access instructional resources. Though intended for Florida teachers, teachers in other states may find the content useful.

Teaching About the Sounds of Spoken Language

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 teaching phonological awareness. 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."

Play in the Early Years: Key to School Success

This Bay Area Early Childhood Funders policy brief reviews the importance of play in early childhood describing what it is, its role iin in early school success and how it is applied in the preschool. As noted at its website, "The Early Childhood Funders (ECF) are an informal affiliation of foundations, donors and corporations with a common interest in funding projects that support young children and their families."

Using Guided Play to Enhance Children's Conversation, Creativity, and Competence in Literacy

This article, authored by Ya-Lun Tsao explores how guided play can enhance a child's conversational skills and literacy development. Tsao serves as an Assistant Researcher of Higher Education Evaluation and Accreditation Council of Taiwan.

Oregon Literacy Professional Development: Phonological Awareness

This link to the Oregon Literacy Professional Development website provides presentations and information on phonological awareness. Though intended for Oregon teachers, the content may be useful to educators of early learners in other states.

Phonological Awareness, Phonemic Awareness, and Phonics

This video featuring the University of Texas at Arlington's Peggy Semingson, Ph.D., explores the differences between phonological awareness, phonemic awareness and phonics. This YouTube video runs approximately 10 minutes.

Small Group Intervention Phonological Awareness and Letter Recognition

This link to the Reading Teachers Netwrok website provides a webinar on how to teach phonological awareness skills and letter