Emergent Literacy

INTRODUCTION Language and literacy are areas of study that has continued to produce new research findings, regular reviews, articles, books and appraisals. Teachers’ who are trained in literacy is deemed very important because they make the difference in effective reading instruction. There are those who believe that the benefits of reading to children during their early years as a way of fostering language development. Researchers believes that reading to children is, in fact, a major way of teaching literacy. The role of the teacher cannot be over emphasized as quality and effectiveness is key to successful literacy instruction.

SECTION A

One Writer’s Definition of Literacy

Bhola (1994) defines literacy

They confer that emergent literacy is vital for the proper developmental process for a child to become a reader and writer. Griffiths et al further states that emergent literacy includes the skills and knowledge that children develop and the behavior they demonstrate before they are able to read and write like adults. Many educators through the years and present believe that this concept of learning begins at birth and continues throughout life. They view that children read and write naturally has they learn to walk and speak. Emergent literacy implies that children are becoming literate beginning at birth and continues to develop as literate begins throughout life. However, many scholars may argue that because emergent literacy began at birth and extended throughout life, children learned to read and write naturally as they learn to

Early literacy plays a key role in enabling the kind of early learning experiences that research shows are linked with academic achievement, reduced grade retention, higher graduation rates, and enhanced productivity in adult life”. (http://nieer.org/pdf/StricklandHouseTestimony.pdf). Everyone is encouraged to read to their children every day. Research infer that reading aloud to young children is the single most important factor in learning how to read. Literacy experts and teachers alike believe that caregivers can help their children develop literacy skills during regular activities at home. Caregivers or parents are encouraged to plan play and reading times to show children that reading and writing are important and can be fun and enjoyable. Talking to your child, telling your child the name objects, people, and events in the everyday environment is also a key way in promoting early