Building Readers From the Brain Out
The Tulsa City-County Library is dedicated to supporting the 5 activities that early literacy researchers and advocates say help babies and young children grow into successful readers and students. Every storytime at the library focuses on at least one of the following "Build A Reader" activities:
Reading - Reading aloud remains the single most effective way to help children become readers. Not only does it introduce children to the concept of print, but it also encourages a deep and personal motivation for reading later on.
Writing - Writing (which includes drawing but also fingerplay movements like "Itsy Bitsy Spider") helps children learn that you can use your hands to communicate with others. Later, it helps them learn that letters and words stand for sounds and that print has meaning.
Singing - Singing increases children's awareness and sensitivity to the sounds in words. It's also a fun experience to share as a family!
Talking - Talking with children (even - or especially - when they can't yet talk back) helps them learn oral language, one of the most critical early literacy skills.
Playing - Playing is one of the primary ways young children learn about the world.
