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Literacy in the Early Years

Literacy in the Early Years

19 August 2022

Literacy experiences are richly embedded in our Early Learning Programs. It is critical that these experiences are relevant and meaningful in the context of the children’s lives. Before children can learn to read and write, they must first develop the ability to speak, listen, understand, observe and draw.

“Positive attitudes and competencies in literacy and numeracy are essential for children’s successful learning. The foundations of these competencies are built in childhood.” Early Years Learning Framework for Australia

Literacy is the capacity, confidence, and disposition to use language in all its forms. Literacy incorporates a range of modes of communication including music, movement, dance, storytelling, visual arts, media, and drama. It also includes electronic and print-based media.

Children are exposed to a range of books and texts within our Early Learning Program. Prints are displayed within the classroom learning environments and children have opportunities to engage with stories, learn songs, rhymes, poems and play with words. Children engage in regular conversation and discussion with their peers and educators. They learn the roles of listening and speaking and develop an understanding that conversation is a reciprocal exchange.

Literacy is also promoted through our Library Program. Each week the children visit the Junior School Library to participate in a Library session. These enable the children to experience a range of picture story books and learn about the author, illustrator, style of writing and illustrations. The children actively engage with the stories by incorporating movement, gesture, and dramatisation. They develop skills in prediction as they anticipate what is going to happen next and then reflect on the key messaging in the story.

Over the past four weeks, the children have been enjoying the shortlisted books for the Australian Book Council Awards 2022 – Early Childhood Book of the Year. After reviewing each book, the children voted to predict which book they thought would win the award for this year. Next week the children look forward to celebrating Book Week by dressing up as their favourite story book characters and finding out the winner of the award for 2022.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
Dr. Seuss