Early Literacy and Brain Development Resources
Parents | Educators
| Research | Advocacy
Parents
Websites
Zero
to Three's Early Literacy Information
Information on early literacy during the first three years of life and resources you can download or purchase.
Ready
At Five
Parent Tip Sheets with activities parents can do with their children to support school readiness including early literacy.
A
Child Becomes a Reader: Birth Through Preschool
Summarizes skills important in becoming a reader (for newborn to
age 6) and then has a section of activities by ages. Includes bibliography
and brief explanation of No Child Left Behind Act. Put out by The
Partnership for Reading, administered by the National Institute
for Literacy in cooperation with National Institute for Child Health
and Human Development, and US Department of Education and US Department
of Health and Human Services.
Birth to Six
Succinct explanations of the importance of early brain development
and early literacy. Includes parent tips. Multnomah County (OR)
Public Library.
Grow
Up Reading @ The West Bloomfield Township Public Library
Includes the early literacy skills from the Every Child Ready to
Read Project as part of their parent information on reading with
young children.
Early Learning
Scroll down to Fun Ideas and see how the activities you as a parent do with your child every day can support later reading. Pierce County (WA) Public Library.
Parent's
Guide to Reading with Your Child
Includes importance of bonding as part of reading together, suggestions
for reading routines for infants and toddlers, and 3 to 5 year olds,
activities that take "just a minute", and much more. Sponsored
by National Center for Family Literacy.
Parents
Page
Parent Page Handouts on a variety of topics including choosing books
for young children and reading with your child. In English and Spanish.
Sponsored by Parents As Teachers, an early childhood parent education
and family support program serving families throughout pregnancy
until age five. Program designed to enhance child development and
school achievement through parent education.
Babies
Are Born Learning
Tri-fold in English or Spanish to help parents understand ways to
help their children birth to five years through play, reading, talking,
listening and showing respect for their children.
Child
Development
Good summary of brain development and cognitive development in infants
and toddlers. From Early Head Start Resource Center
Ready*Set*Read
Activities
Explains what behaviors to expect from children (birth to age five),
how they learn, what children learn about language, and activities
to enjoy with children at each age-level: birth to eight months
old, eight to 18 months old, 18 - 36 months old, and three to five
year olds.
Your
Baby, Toddler and Preschooler
Ways for parent to build a child's early literacy skills. Good section
on choosing good books, reading aloud, and language-rich homes.
From Reading Is Fundamental.
Brain Development in Infants and Toddlers
Research on early brain development pulled from a variety of early
childhood web sources. By National Child Care Information Center.
Colorín
Colorado: Helping Kids Learn to Read . . . and Succeed!
Information, activities, and advice for Spanish-speaking parents.
Concentrates on school-age children, but some information for young
children as well. It's bilingual.
back to top
Books
Acredolo, Linda. Baby Minds: Brain-Building
Games Your Baby Will Love, Birth to Age Three. NY: Bantam,
2000.
Combines a conversational tone with recent research findings on
infant and child development, including chapters on the brain, emotional
development, the way children think and learn, early literacy, mathematical
concepts, and creativity. Age breakdown from birth to 36 months
for activities and development within each chapter.
Bickart, Toni. Reading Right From the Start:
What Parents Can Do in the First Five Years. Washington,
DC: Teaching Strategies, 2000.
Bickart, Toni. El buen comienzo de la lectura:
lo que pueden hacer los padres durante los primeros cinco años.
Washington, DC: Teaching Strategies, 2001.
Practical advice in an easy-to-read format on ways parents can help
their young children become good readers and writers. Chapters on
Babies, Toddlers, Preschoolers, and Ready for Kindergarten. Charts
in each chapter explain activities to do throughout the day and
how they support your child's development.
Born to Succeed (12 minutes);La
llave del éxito (10 minutes) (videos) Portland, OR:
Multnomah County (OR) Public Library.
Young parents share their experiences of reading with their infants
and toddlers, describing how it strengthens their relationship and
builds literacy development. Unscripted and unstaged, their personal
stories provide a powerful and poignant message to young parents.
Mis Padres, Mis Maestros: My Parents, My Teachers.
(video, 15 minutes each part, English and Spanish) Chicago: El Valor,
1998.
Using real life situations, shows the importance of communicating,
playing, reading, and singing to their baby for the development
of the newborn's brain, the first three years of life are the most
critical. Emphasizes the importance of reading, talking, and singing
to your child from birth, and that parents are a baby's first teacher.
The parents' level of participation and love that they offer their
baby will have a profound effect on his or her development throughout
life.
National Research Council. Starting Out Right:
A Guide to Promoting Children's Reading Success. Washington,
DC: National Academy Press, 1999. (www.nap.edu)
Helps parents and educators understand the key elements that research
shows children need to become good readers, and how to prevent reading
difficulties. Enhances research with many ideas and examples. Chapters
for Preschool Years, Kindergarten through Grade Three, and Preventing
Reading Difficulties.
Ramey, Craig. Right From Birth: Building Your
Child's Foundation for Life, Birth to 18 Months. NY: Goddard
Press, 1999.
Written with parents in mind, summarizes research and its implications
regarding emotional growth, social skills, communication, and early
learning of children from birth to 18 months. Offers insights and
suggestions for activities parents can do to support their children.
Ready to Learn and
Listos para aprender (videos, 30 minutes) Los Angeles, CA:
I Am Your Child.
Hosted by LeVar Burton, Jamie Lee Curtis (English), and Edward James
Olmos(Spanish) lead a discussion on the importance of early literacy
and show parents and caregivers how to help young children develop
language skills through everyday activities like talking, singing
and playing.
Schickedanz, Judith. Much More Than the ABCs:
The Early Stages of Reading and Writing.
Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young
Children, 1999.
For parents and educators of children from birth to age five, focuses
on selecting books at each developmental level and ways to support
early literacy skills through the use of books.
Shore, Rima. Rethinking the Brain: New Insights
Into Early Development. NY:Families and Work Institute,
1997.
An outstanding, thorough and readable review of research on the
development of children ages 0-5. Helps in understanding the critical
importance of the first years of life in laying the foundation for
emotional, social and cognitive development.
Silberg, Jackie. Brain Games for Babies, Toddlers
& Twos: 140 Ways to Boost Development.NY: Sterling, 2000.
Activities and games for adults playing with newborn to three-year-olds,
going through the day. Arranged by age from birth to 36 months in
three-month intervals. One activity per page including brief research
information for each. Illustrated with color photographs.
Toddler Play: 100 Fun-Filled Activities to Maximize
Your Toddler's Potential. Chanhassen, MN: Creative Publishing
International, 2001.
Illustrated with brightly colored photographs, combines play activities
(games, songs, chants) with the developmental and educational benefits
and summarizes research reports on child development. Arranged by
age from one year to two-and-a-half years in six-month intervals.
back to top
Educators (see also Parent
Section)
Websites
Zero to Three's Early Literacy Information
Information on early literacy during the first three years of life and resources you can download or purchase.
Ready At Five
Parent Tip Sheets with activities parents can do with their children to support school readiness including early literacy.
Early
Literacy, part of Telus Learning Connection Project Centre
Pulls together research quotes and has suggestions of early literacy
activities for teachers ad parents to do with their young children.
Research
Spotlights
"Crib notes" of early brain development. Easy-to-read summaries
that bring research to life and deepen our understanding of children's
development. Some have video footage online.
Information
Resources
Includes articles, chapters, and annotated reviews of print and
video materials, research abstracts and webs resources in several
areas, including early childhood development, family partnerships,
and community partnerships. Early literacy is a small portion of
their focus. From Early Head Start National Resource Center.
Brain
Development in Infants and Toddlers
Research on early brain development pulled from a variety of early
childhood web sources. By National Child Care Information
Center.
Get
Ready to Read
Includes screening tool for four-year-olds, based on research from
the National Institute for Child Health and Human Development, to
determine where a child's pre-reading skills are strong or weak.
Information to support parents and educators as they help their
young children be ready to read. Includes thoughtful answers to
questions from parents and educators.
Children
and Electronic Media Resources
Report by Kaiser Foundation (2003) from survey of about 1,000 parents
on the use of and effects of media on children newborn to six years
of age. Influence of TV and computer screen time on reading.
Books
National Reading Panel. Report of the
National Reading Panel: Teaching Children to
Read, An Evidence-Based Assessment of the Scientific Research Literature
on Reading and Its Implications for Reading Instruction, Reports
of the Subgroups. Washington, DC: National Institute of Child
Health and Human Development, NIH, 2000.
Assesses the status of research-based knowledge on the teaching
of reading, including the effectiveness of various approaches. Chapters
include alphabetics, fluency, comprehension, teacher education and
reading instruction, and computer technology and reading instruction.
National Research Council. Preventing Reading
Difficulties in Young Children. Washington, DC: National
Academy Press, 1998. (www.nap.edu)
Against the background of normal progress, examines the factors
that put children at risk of poor reading. Explores how literacy
can be fostered from birth through kindergarten and the primary
grades, including evaluation of philosophies, systems and materials
commonly used to teach reading.
Schickedanz, Judith. Much More Than the ABCs:
The Early Stages of Reading and Writing. Washington, DC:
National Association for the Education of Young Children, 1999.
For parents and educators of children from birth to age five, focuses
on selecting books at each developmental level and ways to support
early literacy skills through the use of books.
Report of the National Reading Panel: Teaching
Children to Read, An Evidence-Based Assessment of the Scientific
Research Literature on Reading and Its Implications for Reading
Instruction. Rockville, MD: NICHD Clearninghouse, 2000.
Report of the Panel, leading scientists in reading research, convened
by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
Looks at methods of instruction in areas of Alphabetics, Fluency,
Comprehension, and at Teacher Education and Computer Technology
in the area of reading instruction.
Basis for policy considerations and decisions. Available
on line at www.nationalreadingpanel.org
Shore, Rima. Rethinking the Brain: New Insights
Into Early Development. NY: Families and Work Institute,
1997.
An outstanding, thorough and readable review of research on the
development of children ages 0-5. Helps in understanding the critical
importance of the first years of life in laying the foundation for
emotional, social and cognitive development.
Straight Talk About Reading: How Parents Can
Make a Difference During the Early Years. Lincolnwood, IL:
Contemporary Books, 1999.
Research background on the teaching of reading and the parents'
role, including some activities. Concentrates on Pre-K through third
grade.
Tabors, Patton. One Child, Two Languages. A
Guide for Preschool Educators of Children Learning English As a
Second Language. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes, 1997.
For early childhood educators, offers specific techniques needed
to facilitate the natural progression of second-language learning.
Ways to create a supportive classroom environment for children learning
English as a second language while acknowledging the importance
of the child's home language and culture. Includes ways to measure
progress, address individual differences and to work with parents.
back to top
Research
Websites
Early
Childhood Longitudinal Study
Monitor this site for first wave of data following children from
birth to kindergarten. First wave will compile data from interviews
with parent of nine-month-old babies.
Birth
Cohort and Kindergarten Cohort.
Statistics for children entering kindergarten through first grade
on reading proficiency in relationship to material education, income.
Inequality
at the Starting Gate
Using the U.S. Department of Education's Early Childhood Longitudinal
Study, Kindergarten Cohort (1998) of 16,000 families, presents statistical
information and research showing the less publicized inequalities
facing children before they start school; includes factors such
as number of books in the home, visits to the public library.
Reading
Research Resources
Reviews reading research and describes on-going research at National
Institute for Child Health and Human Development of the National
Institutes of Health.
Recent
Research on Brain Development and Reading Skills
Highlights recent articles on brain development and reading skills.
Sponsored by History, Arts and Libraries Division of State of Michigan.
NCEDL
Research Database
Research focuses on enhancing the cognitive, social, and emotional
development of children birth to age eight. You can search the reports
of 12 national research and development centers funded by the US
Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI), get summaries,
findings, and publications as a result of the study. Offers a speakers
list. Sponsored by National Center for Early Development and Learning.
Clearinghouse
on Early Education and Parenting
Successor to ERIC/EECE. Provides access to educational literature and resources. Click
on "Popular Topics," then on "Research on Early Childhood Education" and "School
Readiness". Get summaries
of reports and papers. Subject descriptors are listed. English and Spanish.
Center
for Applied Linguistics
Describes its own research projects including those in the areas
of Literacy (PreK-12) and Bilingual Education. Some funded by National
Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
back to top
Books
If you or a community partner is writing a grant and needs research
data to support the grant application, these resources can help.
Eager to Learn: Educating Our Preschoolers.
Washington, DC: National
Academy Press, 2001.
Explores the question, "What will it take to provide better early
education and care for our children ages two to five?" Synthesizes
current research findings on how young children learn and the impact
of early learning. Presents recommendations in areas such as the
teacher-child relationship, the organization and content of curriculum,
meeting the needs of those children most at risk of school failure,
teacher preparation, assessment of teaching and learning.
From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The Science of
Early Childhood Development. Washington, DC: National Academy
Press, 2000. (www.nap.edu)
Researchers in the fields of neurobiological studies and behavioral
and social sciences converge to create the "science" of early childhood
development. Provides in-depth discussion of early brain development
information, nature vs. nurture debate, and impact of culture on
development. Product of investigation of the National Academy of
Sciences.
Hart, Betty. Meaningful Differences in the Everyday
Experience of Young American Children. Baltimore: P.H. Brookes,
1995.
Describes research study investigating the link between children's
early family experience and their later intellectual growth, a link
that exists regardless of a child's race.
Report of the National Reading Panel: Teaching
Children to Read, An Evidence-Based Assessment of the Scientific
Research Literature on Reading and Its Implications for Reading
Instruction. Rockville, MD: NICHD Clearninghouse, 2000.
Report of the Panel, leading scientists in reading research, convened
by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
Looks at methods of instruction in areas of Alphabetics, Fluency,
Comprehension, and at Teacher Education and Computer Technology
in the area of reading instruction. Basis for policy considerations and decisions.Available on line at www.nationalreadingpanel.org
National Research Council. Preventing Reading
Difficulties in Young Children. Washington, DC: National
Academy Press, 1998.
Against the background of normal progress, examines the factors
that put children at risk of poor reading. Explores how literacy
can be fostered from birth through kindergarten and the primary
grades, including evaluation of philosophies, systems and materials
commonly used to teach reading.
back to top
Investing
in Our Children: What We Know and Don't Know About the Costs and
Benefits of Early Childhood Interventions
An independent cost-benefit analysis published by Rand Corporation
on the impact of early childhood intervention on child health and
development, educational attainment, and economic well-being.
Early
Child Development (including The ABC's of ECD)
Benefits and costs of investing in early childhood development.
Designed to assist policy makers, program managers, and practitioners
in their efforts to promote the healthy growth and integral development
of young children. Includes information on program design, statistics.
Sponsored by World Bank's Early Child Development team.
National
Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
Nation's largest organization of early childhood educators and others
dedicated to advocating for and improving the quality of programs
for children birth through grade three. Publishes research and practical
applications on a variety of aspects of early childhood education.
Subscriptions to Young Children and Early Childhood Research Quarterly
through membership. Has local chapters.
Connect
for Kids
The Benton Foundation provides information for adults to advocate
for children in their communities. Topics include Child Care and
Early Development, Parenting, and Education. Describes model local
programs under each topic. Some national statistics included.
Early
Childhood Resource Center, Research Triangle Institute
Staff assists local, state, national, and international efforts to promote and
improve child development in the context of the family and the school. Provides a range of research and program evaluation services that includes child
and family assessments, classroom observations, program quality assessments, and
training.
Library's
Role in Emergent Literacy
Articulates the role the public library plays in supporting parents
and the community in strengthening early literacy through library
services.
Eager
to Learn: Educating Our Preschoolers. Washington, DC: National
Academy Press, 2001.
Explores the question, "What will it take to provide better early
education and care for our children ages two to five?" Synthesizes
current research findings on how young children learn and the impact
of early learning. Presents recommendations in areas such as the
teacher-child relationship, the organization and content of curriculum,
meeting the needs of those children most at risk of school failure,
teacher preparation, assessment of teaching and learning.
|
