Early Emergent Literacy
Literacy begins at birth and builds on relationships and experiences that occur during infancy and early childhood. For example, introducing a child to books at an early age contributes to a later interest in reading. Reading together while he or she sits on your lap promotes bonding and feelings of trust. The give-and-take nature of babbling, lap games, songs, and rhymes set the stage for sharing favorite picture books. Exposure to logos, signs, letters, and words leads to the knowledge that symbols have meaning. The acquisition of skills such as looking, gesturing, recognizing and understanding pictures, handling books, and scribbling lay the groundwork for conventional reading and writing.
A love of books, of holding a book, turning its pages, looking at its pictures, and living its fascinating stories goes hand‐in‐hand with a love of learning." (Laura Bush, 2003) Children with combined vision and hearing loss miss out on many of the experiences that happen incidentally for other children, but rich early learning experiences can be provided when families, teachers, and caregivers build trusting relationships with these children, know what their favorite objects and activities are, and recognize their array of communication signals.
As you foster early literacy skills in a child who is deaf-blind, expect to see the child handling and exploring books and writing materials using all of his or her senses (sometimes in unconventional ways). Watch for the child to show signs of anticipation while playing turn-taking games or move in rhythm to songs and music you've listened to together. Allow children to get "up close and personal" to reading and writing items around the house. Point out and talk about signs, symbols, and words you see at school, day care, the grocery store, and out in the community. It takes intentional planning to provide meaningful early learning experiences on which to build literacy skills. Following a child's lead provides a wealth of information about what will be most interesting and motivating to a particular child. Incorporating familiar and favorite objects, people, and activities into early learning experiences is essential to achieving positive results 1. Modeling reading and writing behaviorsWhat to do:
2. Embed the use of objects, symbols or words throughout the child's day
What to do:
3. Incorporate rhythm, music, finger plays and mime games
What to do:
4. Provide opportunities for handling and exploring reading and writing materials
What to do:
5. Teach print and book awareness
What to do:
6. Teach name, name sign and/or personal identifier of child and those the child interacts with on a regular basis
What to do:
7. Embed literacy learning activities into routines
What to do:
|
Article adapted and photo: Literacy for Children with Combined Vision and Hearing Loss. Click HERE for PDF.