Week 5 Reading Blog What is Literacy and Numeracy? – To me, to children

1.2 Explains how young children’s literacy & numeracy learning can be socially conveyed through their behavior, feelings or approach 

Keywords:  Emergent Literacy, Learning Model, Alphabet recognition, School readiness, Numeracy, Mathematics, Parent involvement, Early intervention, Early Childhood Learning

What?

My readings for the first week are the following two journal articles:

·      Developmentally Appropriate Emergent Literacy Activities for Young Children: Adapting

the Early Literacy
and Learning Model

o   Elizabeth M. Elliott and Charleen B. Olliff

and

·      How do Parents Support Preschoolers’ Numeracy Learning Experiences at Home?

o   Sheri-Lyn Skwarchuk

I chose two these articles because they give evidence on the importance of early intervention in emergent literacy and numeracy in our young children. 

So What?

Developmentally Appropriate Emergent Literacy Activities for Young Children: Adapting the Early Literacy
and Learning Model - Elizabeth M. Elliott and Charleen B. Olliff

This study states that birth to five years (before children start formal school) is the most important time for children to develop emergent literacy and letter recognition, (familiarization to letter shapes). Some ways to help children develop emergent literacy are, repeatedly singing songs and chanting poems. The Early Literacy and Learning Model (ELLM) is designed to improve the language and pre-literacy skills of young children.  For an hour each day, classroom activities and objectives focus on six emergent literacy concepts: read aloud, independent reading, oral language, phonological awareness, letter and sound knowledge, and development of print concepts. Teacher knowledge of emergent literacy and family involvement were identified as two equally critical factors essential to the adaptation and successful implementation of the program.

Results of the study show the importance to create developmentally appropriate activities across various areas - physical, social-emotional, and cognitive in order to advance in emergent literacy skills of children ages of 2 and 3.

How do Parents Support Preschoolers’ Numeracy Learning Experiences at Home?

This study states that parental experiences and home activities intensify preschoolers’ numeracy knowledge.  Twenty-five parents participated by completing a home activity questionnaire, a 2-week diary study and a videotaped play session.  Parents who spent more time on numeracy tasks and children who are exposed to more advanced numeracy concepts have a higher probability of receiving high mathematics score.

The study maintains that the key to enhance numeracy is early participation in home numeracy, (both basic and complex) activities.

Now What?

Implications for Practice

These two studies have reaffirmed my beliefs that early introduction (via parents) to both literacy and numeracy increases the likelihood of enhanced emergent literacy and numeracy.

Bibliography

Elliot, E. a. (2008). Developmentally appropriate Emergent Literacy Activities for young Children: Adapting the Early Literacy and Learning Model. Early Childhood Education Journal (35), 551-556.

http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.flinders.edu.au/docview/228493188/14072E10A579A7F7A4/2?accountid=10910

Skwarchuk, S. (2009). How Do Parents Support Preschoolers' Numeracy Learning Experiences at Home? Early Childhood Education Journal , 37, 189-197.

http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.flinders.edu.au/docview/228490234/14072DEB5434893086C/2?accountid=10910