Emergent literacy

Preschoolers (3-5 years old)

Children who learn to read well at an early age will read more independently, achieve more in math, social studies and science; and are more likely to graduate high school and pursue higher education. They also benefit from an enriched vocabulary, improved reading comprehension and enhanced writing skills once they enter elementary school. They learn best through experiences that are meaningful and interesting to them, and through repetition rather than drill.

Emergent literacy in preschoolers includes two components:

Emergent reading: Children display increased motivation for reading, shown by an interest in being read to and told what written words mean. They also develop age-appropriate phonological awareness and alphabetic knowledge.
Emergent writing: Here, children develop motivation for written expression and associate print with meaning. They gain skill in using letter-like shapes, symbols and letters to convey meaning.

Bottom line: Emergent literacy skills are they key foundation for later reading, writing and content learning. Growing mastery of oral language, an expanded vocabulary and print-related skills facilitate future success at reading comprehension and clear writing.