What does early literacy look like?

As a teacher I have always been so amazed by the various levels of abilities that kindergarteners and first graders came to my classroom with on day one. Within the first few days of school I was able to know which students regularly participated in conversation with a grown up versus those who were simply spoken to, who was consistently read to versus who didn't realize when I had purposely handed them a book that was upside down, and who had access to pencils versus who held it like a weapon, struggling to position it just so in their little hands. These abilities are part of early literacy skills that a child needs to be successful in school. The absence of these experiences didn't make it impossible for me to teach them, but it made their lives more difficult for sure. Everything felt new and novel to them, rather than simply adding another layer to an existing foundation.
​
If you have toddlers at home make the time to talk, explore, draw or color and certainly share a book together each day. If your child has already entered elementary school, it's never too late to start forming better habits together. Notice their strengths and strengthen their weaknesses.