Early Literacy for Teachers, Librarians and Educators
How teachers can help turn reading from homework into a good habit.
For children to grow a love of reading, they need access to material that’s engaging and meaningful. Since much of a child’s early literacy development occurs at school, it is essential that educators are given the tools to make reading a source of joy—not just hard work.
Teachers and librarians understand the importance of literacy in a well-rounded education. It helps a child build their critical thinking skills, fuels their imagination and creativity, and allows them to complete tasks that will be essential in adulthood.
They also see how important it is for children to be consistently exposed to books that challenge and excite them, through grade school and beyond. That’s why it’s essential that teachers are closely aligned with parents, ensuring that students are also honing their skills and interests outside of the classroom.
Here are some ways that educators can help parents develop early literacy outside of school:
- Provide reading lists of books for parents with diverse characters that reflect the experience of Canadian students.
- Share tips for practicing reading at home.
- Encourage parents to use reading and storytelling as a fun family activity.
Picking the right books for your students can help make learning more enjoyable. We’ve created guides on how to choose a book based on genre or your child’s age.
“One great way to entangle young children in literacy is by reading aloud to them. Adults who create warm, comfortable experiences for children to hear and talk about books—fiction and non-fiction—are helping to build language patterns and vocabularies that will later underpin children’s independent reading and writing. Families who “do” literacy—whether by reading cereal boxes together or selecting library books—are providing wonderful contexts for learning. Children will be literacy sponges if the ocean around them contains rich examples of meaningful listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing and representing.”
Dr. Beverley Brenna, Professor Emerita, University of Saskatchewan
PhD in Curriculum and Award-Winning Children’s Author
More early literacy resources
Here are some reading guides, book lists, and online communities to help you continue your students' reading journey:
