Overview
As young children mature in the development of their literacy skills, early childhood professionals also adapt their strategies for continuing to support increasing levels of literacy and positive dispositions toward reading and language learning. While it might have been enough to expose younger children to a wide variety of topics, as children progress, recognizing their interests and fine-tuning their exposure to those interests help to build higher levels of reading and writing literacy as well as positive dispositions toward these endeavors.
For this Performance Task, you will develop three handouts (one each for kindergarten, first grade, and second/third grade teachers) with strategies for enhancing emergent literacy and developing positive dispositions toward reading and language learning in K3 children.
Instructions
Before submitting your Assessment, carefully review the rubric. This is the same rubric the assessor will use to evaluate your submission and it provides detailed criteria describing how to achieve or master the Competency. Many students find that understanding the requirements of the Assessment and the rubric criteria help them direct their focus and use their time most productively.
Access the following to complete this Assessment:
Enhancing Literacy Development and Positive Dispositions Toward Reading and Language Learning
Scenario
You are a mentor teacher in a K3 school who is committed to implementing effective strategies to enhance literacy development and positive dispositions toward reading and language learning for children in kindergarten through the primary grades. You lead your schools Early Literacy Committee, which is supporting K3 teachers with the following literacy initiatives:
- Helping kindergarten teachers recognize key signs of emergent literacy and provide independent activities to enhance emergent literacy in kindergartners;
- Creating engaging literacy centers for independent activities for literacy development in first grade classrooms;
- Creating literacy-rich libraries in second and third grade classrooms;
- Promoting positive dispositions toward reading and language learning in K3 children.
In your role as an early literacy mentor and teacher leader, you have created three templates with guidelines for each literacy initiative that K3 teachers can complete for their classrooms. You decide to fill in each template to provide a model that you can discuss with teachers at an upcoming K3 staff meeting. In preparation for the meeting, you will create the three handouts, one each for kindergarten, first grade, and second/third grade teachers.
To complete this Assessment, use the three templates to create the handouts, following the instructions provided.
Learning Activity 1: Recognizing Signs of Emergent Literacy Among Kindergartners
Text: Literacy Development in Early Childhood: Reflective Teaching for Birth to Age Eight
Otto, B. (2015). Literacy development in early childhood: Reflective teaching for birth to age eight. Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press. Chapter 8, Emergent Literacy Among Kindergartners: Signs, Standards, and Assessment (pp. 167187, up to Kindergarten Language Arts Standards)
Time Estimate: 40 min
web resource: Your Child’s Communication: Kindergarten
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.-a). Your child’s communication: Kindergarten. https://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/kindergarten/
Time Estimate: 5 min
Article: Learning to read and Write: What Research Reveals
National Association for the Education of Young Children. (n.d.-a). Early literacy development: Learning to read and write: What research reveals. Reading Rockets. https://www.readingrockets.org/topics/early-literacy-development/articles/learning-read-and-write-what-research-reveals
Note: Read the section on “in Kindergarten.”
Time Estimate: 10 min
Making Connections
The following website features links to handouts for families with information on different signs of readiness for kindergarten-age children, including language development and beginning reading and writing behaviors. Browse these resources to help you prepare to create your kindergarten handout for the Competency Assessment. Also consider how you might share these resources with families of young children.
Web Resource: Getting Ready for Kindergarten Handouts
NCLD Staff Editors. (n.d.). Getting ready for kindergarten handouts. Get Ready to Read! https://kinderwithmscollins.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/getting_ready_for_kindergarten_handouts.pdf
Time Estimate: 15 min
Learning Activity 1: Enhancing Literacy Learning and Positive Dispositions Toward Reading and Language Learning in Kindergartners
Text: Literacy Development in Early Childhood: Reflective Teaching for Birth to Age Eight
Otto, B. (2015). Literacy development in early childhood: Reflective teaching for birth to age eight. Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press. Chapter 9, Enhancing Emergent Literacy and Beginning Reading and Writing in Kindergartners (pp. 193225, up to Assessments)
Time Estimate: 60 min
Web Resource: Literacy Development Milestones
The Agenda for Children. (n.d.). Literacy development milestones. Let’s Talk Cambridge. https://letstalkcambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/Literacy-Development-Milestones-new-logo1.pdf
Time Estimate: 15 min
Article: Helping Young Children to Develop positive learning Dispositions (3-6 Years)
National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. (2020). Helping young children to develop positive learning dispositions (3-6 years). Aistear Siolta Practice Guide Tip Sheet. https://ncca.ie/media/3193/dispositions-3-6.pdf
Time Estimate: 15 min
Making Connections
The following resources offer more kindergarten-appropriate activities that enhance reading and language development to consider as you prepare your Competency Assessment handout for kindergarten teachers. Although the kindergarten handout does not require plans for setting up a classroom literacy center, you may want to draw on these resources for setting up a literacy center in your own program.
ARticle: Early LIteracy Development: Goals for First Grade: Early Reading and Writing
National Association for the Education of Young Children (n.d.-b). Goals for first grade: Early reading and writing. Reading Rockets. https://www.readingrockets.org/topics/early-literacy-development/articles/goals-first-grade-early-reading-and-writing
Time Estimate: 10 min
Web Resource: Classroom Management: Literacy centers
Just Read, Florida! (n.d.). Literacy centers. Reading Rockets. https://www.readingrockets.org/article/literacy-centers
Time Estimate: 10 min
Web Resource: HOw to create Smart Literacy Centers That Last All Year
Simpson, L. (n.d.). How to create smart literacy centers that last all year. KindergartenWorks. https://www.kindergartenworks.com/kindergarten-teaching-ideas/smart-literacy-centers/
Time Estimate: 15 min
Learning Activity 1: Enhancing Literacy Learning and Positive Dispositions Toward Reading and Language Learning in First Graders
Text: Literacy Development in Early Childhood: Reflective Teaching for Birth to Age Eight
Otto, B. (2015). Literacy development in early childhood: Reflective teaching for birth to age eight. Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press. Chapter 10, Literacy Instruction in First Grade: Becoming an Independent Reader and Writer (pp. 233265, up to Informal Assessment Strategies)
Time Estimate: 60 min
Article: Early Literacy Development: Learning to read and Write: What Research Reveals
National Association for the Education of Young Children. (n.d.). Early literacy development: Learning to read and write: What research reveals. Reading Rockets. http://www.readingrockets.org/article/learning-read-and-write-what-research-reveals
Time Estimate: 10 min
Making Connections
Helping children develop positive dispositions toward reading and language learning requires that teachers understand the nature of dispositions and how they develop. Review this resource with first graders in mind. Take notes on information and ideas to include in your handout for first grade teachers that will help you explain how classroom literacy centers can promote positive dispositions toward reading and language learning for your Competency Assessment.
Web Article: Helping Young Children to Develop Positive Learning Dispositions
National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. (n.d.). Helping young children to develop
positive learning dispositions: Tip Sheet (3-6 years). AistearSiolta Practice Guide. https://ncca.ie/media/3193/dispositions-3-6.pdf
Time Estimate: 15 min
Making Connections
The following resources offer specific guidance and activities for creating first grade classroom literacy centers, which will assist you in completing your Competency Assessment handout. Pay particular attention to benefits and characteristics of effective literacy centers for first graders, to include on the handout. Take notes on suggested activities, to help you choose at least three to describe on the handout, including how each activity supports one or more areas of literacy development for first graders and promotes positive dispositions toward reading and language learning in first graders.
Article: How to Launch Literacy Centers and Manage Them All Year
Kamp, L. (2023). How to launch literacy centers and manage them all year. Around the Kampfire. https://aroundthekampfire.com/10-tips-for-launching-managing-literacy-centers-in-the-classroom/
Time Estimate: 20 min
Learning Activity 1: Enhancing Literacy Learning and Positive Dispositions Toward Reading and Language Learning in Second and Third Graders
Text: Literacy Development in Early Childhood: Reflective Teaching for Birth to Age Eight
Otto, B. (2015). Literacy development in early childhood: Reflective teaching for birth to age eight. Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press. Chapter 11, Literacy Instruction in Second and Third Grade: Transitioning to Fluent Reading and Writing (pp. 272309)
Time Estimate: 60 min
Web Resource: The Guide to 2nd Grade: Reading and Writing
Scholastic Parents Staff. (2020a). The guide to 2nd grade: Reading and writing. Scholastic. https://www.scholastic.com/parents/school-success/school-success-guides/guide-to-2nd-grade.html
Time Estimate: 20 min
Web Resource: THe Guide to 3rd Grade: Reading and Writing
Scholastic Parents Staff. (2020b). The guide to 3rd grade: Reading and writing. Scholastic. https://www.scholastic.com/parents/school-success/school-success-guides/guide-to-3rd-grade.html
Time Estimate: 20 min
Web Resource: Your Child’s Communication: Second Grade
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.-b). Your child’s communication: Second grade. https://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/secondgrade/
Time Estimate: 10 min
Web Resource: Your Child’s Communication: THird Grade
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.-c). Your child’s communication: Third grade. https://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/thirdgrade/
Time Estimate: 10 min
Web Resource: Literacy-Rich Environments
The Access Center. (2007). Literacy-rich environments. https://www.readingrockets.org/topics/classroom-management/articles/literacy-rich-environments
Time Estimate: 15 min
Making Connections
The following resource on how teachers influence positive dispositions toward literacy learning in children is essential reading for all early childhood professionals. You may be familiar with this resource, or may want to review it again with second and third graders in mind.
Web Article: Helping Young Children to Develop Positive Learning Dispositions
National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. (n.d.). Helping young children to develop
positive learning dispositions: Tip Sheet (3-6 years). AistearSiolta Practice Guide. https://ncca.ie/media/3193/dispositions-3-6.pdf
Time Estimate: 15 min
Making Connections
The resource below offer specific guidance for creating classroom libraries. As you review the online resource, pay particular attention to ideas for types of materials to include for organizing a classroom library to promote childrens independent use, and for involving children in setting up and managing the library. You will need to provide suggestions for each of these set-up tasks in your handout for second/third grade teachers as part of the Competency Assessment.
Article: Creating A classroom LIbrary
Gregory, M. (2008). Creating a classroom library. Reading Rockets. http://www.readingrockets.org/article/creating-classroom-library
Time Estimate: 10 min