Are you ready to commit to early literacy in your classroom but don't know where to start? We've got your covered with this literacy-focused preschool teacher checklist!
Here we are again, ready to embark on another amazing year as preschool teachers! The beginning of the school year is always a blend of excitement and anticipation. I love the feeling of a fresh start, but I know the prospect of a new group of students can bring a mix of excitement and stress. As you set up your classroom this year, I challenge you to focus on creating a literacy-rich environment for your students.
Literacy begins at birth, and it is the foundation upon which all other learning is built. It’s crucial that we dedicate time and be intentional in nurturing these skills from the very start. There are simple, engaging ways we can foster literacy with minimal time and effort, but the impact on our students' futures is profound. Our goal at Moving Little Minds is to integrate research-based practices that combine instruction with play-based learning. Science has proven that children learn best through play, and science has also proven that certain literacy skills must be explicitly taught...so we are here to merge the two!
To help you set up your classroom for intentional literacy learning and success, we've created a preschool teacher checklist for a literacy-rich environment that covers all 6 components of early literacy. Before we get to the checklist, let's dive into those 6 main components of early literacy and why they matter for our children.
The 6 Main Components of Early Literacy
Oral Language
Oral language refers to the ability to speak and understand spoken language, including vocabulary development, grammar, and the ability to express ideas clearly and listen effectively.
Why it matters: Strong oral language skills are the foundation for literacy development. They help children communicate effectively, support reading comprehension, and provide the vocabulary and language structures needed to understand and produce written language.
Concepts of Print
The understanding of how printed language works, which involves knowing that print carries a message, recognizing the difference between letters and words, and understanding the direction of text (left to right, top to bottom). This also includes understanding book orientation, such as the front and back cover, title, and author.
Why it matters: Grasping these basics helps children understand how books and print function, setting a solid foundation for future reading and writing skills. It's the first step in their journey to becoming a reader!
Alphabetic Knowledge
Alphabetic knowledge is the understanding of letter symbols, that letters represent sounds, and that these sounds come together to form words. It includes recognizing letter names, formation, and the sounds they make.
Why it matters: This knowledge is crucial for preparing children to learn to read and write. Mastering alphabetic knowledge enables children to connect letters to sounds and sounds to words.
Phonological Awareness
Phonological awareness is the ability to recognize and play with the sounds in words. This includes skills like rhyming, alliteration, and breaking words down into syllables and individual sounds (phonemes).
Why it matters: Developing phonological awareness helps children understand the sound structure of language, which is essential for building readers and writers. It’s a key skill (specifically phonemic awareness), that supports decoding and spelling as they progress in their literacy journey.
Writing
Writing involves expressing thoughts, ideas, and stories through drawing, scribbling, and eventually forming letters and words.
Why it matters: Writing activities support the development of fine motor skills and help children make the connection between spoken and written language. These early writing experiences foster creativity and communication skills, which are essential for their overall literacy development.
Text Comprehension
Text comprehension is about understanding and interpreting the meaning of written text. It includes skills such as predicting what will happen next, asking questions, summarizing, and making connections to personal experiences.
Why it matters: Developing text comprehension skills ensures that children can grasp the meaning of stories and texts. This is crucial not only for reading enjoyment but also for learning from what they read, which supports their overall academic success.
Literacy-Rich Preschool Teacher Classroom Checklist
Now that we understand the importance of these 6 main components, it's time to dive into the checklist for a literacy-rich classroom environment. This checklist covers all six components of early literacy and is divided into two age levels: 0-2 and 3-5. From alphabet lines to enriching books, this checklist will guide you in building a strong literacy foundation from the very start.
Download it below!
Why We Should Care:
Facts Related to Early Literacy
Illiteracy costs the U.S. approximately $300.8 billion per year.
A staggering 68% of fourth graders not reading proficiently, (The Nation's Report Card, 2022).
2/3 of children that cannot ready proficiently by the end of 4th grade are more likely to end up in jail or on welfare.
Many teachers around the country have been teaching children to read using programs that are not backed by science.
The science of reading has proven that 95% of all children can be successful in reading with explicit, systematic instruction.
Comprehension skills in children as young as age 4 are predictive of later performance of reading comprehension in upper elementary school grades.
Alphabetic knowledge in preschool and kindergarten is one of the best predictors of reading, writing, spelling, and comprehension success in later elementary years. BUT Expanding early learning – including high-quality preschool – provides society with a return on investment of $8.60 for every $1 spent. (Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation, 2020)
WE CAN BE THE CHANGE! LET'S BUILD KEY LITERACY SKILLS FROM THE START!
Change begins HERE! Research-Based Curriculums that take the guesswork out of teaching!
Check out Moving Little Minds Literacy Curriculums!
Learn how we teach alphabetic knowledge, phonological awareness, and pre-writing skills through instruction and play! NOTE: The curriculum follows the alphabet introduction orders mentioned above
Shop Moving Little Minds Alphabet Motions Cards
Teach letter names and sounds through body motions!
What makes these unique? So many research-proven benefits!
Teaches sound through movement. Multisensory learning created multiple pathways to the brain.
Uses embedded mnemonic (an image in the shape of a letter), which has been proven to help learners link the letter sound to the letter shape.
Teaches the name and sound together through song (both multisensory and proven as best practice through research)!
Includes sample lesson and suggested letter cycle. PLUS - video modeling the motions!
Be sure to check out our free resources!
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We believe that every child deserves a bright future, and this begins with a strong foundation in early literacy skills. At Moving Little Minds, we are dedicated to providing research-based literacy activities in fun and engaging ways! By merging instruction with play, we ensure that children are reaching their full potential and embark on their educational journey well-prepared for the future! Let's build those KEY emergent literacy skills together.
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