Early Literacy
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Early Literacy topic editors: Joan Danaher and Sue Goode Most recent additions to this page:
All Children Can Read |
In recent years, unprecedented attention has been focused on early literacy. Federal, state, and local initiatives are taking on the challenge of improving reading achievement with literacy programs involving families, local schools, and communities. Young children with disabilities and their families need to be part of these initiatives. Evidenced-based practices for teaching literacy skills to all young children can also inform literacy initiatives for young children with disabilities.
OSEP-Funded Early Literacy Resources
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All Children Can Read
This Web site was designed by the National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB) to provide information and resources to state deaf-blind projects, teachers, family members and related service providers interested in beginning or enhancing literacy instruction for children who have combined vision and hearing loss and children with other complex learning challenges. It contains sections on Early Emergent Literacy and Emergent Literacy. NCDB is funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). (posted January 26, 2012) -
Center for Early Literacy Learning (CELL)
CELL is a research-to-practice technical assistance center funded by OSEP to promote the adoption and sustained use of evidence-based early literacy learning practices by early childhood intervention practitioners, parents, and other caregivers of young children, birth to five years of age, with identified disabilities, developmental delays, and those at-risk for poor outcomes. CELL products include practice-based research syntheses and summaries, evidence-based practice guides, and tool kits. - Reading Rockets - Launching Young Readers
Reading Rockets is a national multimedia project at WETA funded by OSEP to provide accurate, accessible information on how young children learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help. The Reading Rockets Web site provides a wealth of reading strategies, lessons, and activities designed to help young children learn how to read and read better. A Chance to Read, the ninth episode in Launching Young Readers, focuses on the challenges that young children with disabilities face in learning to read. - OSEP Early Literacy Projects currently funded and those ending in 2008 or later
U.S. Department of Education's Early Literacy Resources
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What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) - Early Childhood Education
The WWC provides high-quality reviews of the effectiveness of replicable educational interventions. The Early Childhood Education reviews focus on curricula and practices designed for use with 3- to 5-year-olds to develop cognitive and language competencies associated with school readiness. A number of these relate to early literacy. -
Doing What Works (DWW) - Preschool Language and Literacy
The DWW Web site is dedicated to helping educators identify and make use of effective teaching practices. Much of the DWW content is based on reports from the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC). The Early Childhood Language and Literacy section focuses on two recommended practice areas: develop phonological awareness skills; and utilize interactive and dialogic reading practices to improve language and literacy skills. -
Helping My Child Read - Reading Resources
These resources provide parents with tools, practical lessons, and activities to help their children build early language and literacy skills.
Position Statements
- Learning to Read and Write: Developmentally Appropriate Practices for
Young Children
This joint position statement of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the International Reading Association (IRA) was issued in 1998 to provide guidance to teachers of young children in schools and in early childhood programs (including child care centers, preschools, and family child care homes) serving children from birth through age 8 years. See also Where we Stand on Learning to Read and Write
(PDF: 89kb) (2009), what research reveals and policy recommendations. -
Literacy Development in the Preschool Years
This position statement from the International Reading Association (IRA), adopted in 2005, highlights the importance of preschool; the nature of language development and literacy-based instruction in quality preschools; what to aim for in preschool teachers’ preparation and professional development; and recommendations for preschool educators, early childhood and elementary educators, public school boards, teacher educators, policymakers, and community leaders.
Other Programs and Resources
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Developing Early Literacy: Report of the National Early Literacy Panel, A
Scientific Synthesis of Early Literacy Development and Implications for Intervention (2009)
Executive Summary (PDF: 681kb)
Full Report (PDF: 1536kb)
See also, Cornerstones: An Early Literacy Series - based on findings from the National Early Literacy Panel’s report.-
Early Beginnings: Early Literacy Knowledge and Instruction (2009) (PDF: 760kb)
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Learning to Talk and Listen: An Oral Language Resource for Early Childhood Caregivers (2010)
(PDF: 1434kb)
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Early Beginnings: Early Literacy Knowledge and Instruction (2009)
- Washington Learning Systems provides evidence-based programs to promote early literacy, language, cognitive, and social development. Materials are available in multiple languages. Free parent-child materials in the preschool and birth-to-three age range and “ON-THE-GO” activities (for use during car rides, walks, bus rides, etc.) are available online. These materials complement the "Language is the Key" evidence-based early literacy video programs, which can be previewed online. (downloaded 11/11/11)
- ZERO TO THREE offers a collection of resources for families and professionals related to early language and literacy. (downloaded 11/08/10)
- Get Ready to Read! (GRTR!) is a national program that provides research-based strategies to parents, early education professionals, and child care providers to help build the early literacy skills of preschool-aged children. GRTR is an initiative of the National Center for Learning Disabilities. (downloaded 11/11/11)
- The Division on Early Childhood (DEC) publishes a Young Exceptional Children Monograph Series, which is available for purchase online. Scan down to No 7: Early Literacy, Horn and Jones (2005). (downloaded 11/11/11)
- The National Center for Family Literacy is a non-profit organization supporting family literacy services through programming, training, research, advocacy, and dissemination.
Links on this site are verified monthly. This page content was last updated on 01/26/2012 CF.