When young children learn to read, their chances for later school success improve. Family is the root of a child's early literacy experiences. Comprehensive family literacy is one approach that values and supports the impact parents have on a child's early years and links that impact to the delivery of systematic reading instruction. Much has been written about the importance of reading to a child's overall academic achievement. According to Moats (1999),
Reading is the fundamental skill upon which all formal education depends. Research now shows that a child who doesn't learn the reading basics early is unlikely to learn them at all. Any child who doesn't learn to read early and well will not easily master other skills and knowledge, and is unlikely to ever flourish in school or in life. (p. 5)
A child's earliest experiences with reading are crucial; they lay the groundwork for development along a continuum of abilities that expedite future success. In their joint position statement, the International Reading Association and the U.S. National Association for the Education of Young Children (1998) stressed the importance of establishing this early foundation.
Learning to read and write is critical to a child's success in school and later in life. One of the best predictors of whether a child will function competently in school and go on to contribute actively in our increasingly literate society is the level to which the child progresses in reading and writing. Although reading and writing abilities continue to develop throughout the life span, the early childhood years--from birth through age eight--are the most important period for literacy development.
How do children acquire essential early literacy skills? (This article a summary only, to get the full text please login or register and contact admin web)
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