SEEDS of Emergent Literacy

“The Seeds of literacy are planted before children enter school. Important literacy skills do not develop spontaneously, instruction shapes them”

-Snow Burns and Griffin, 1998

School Readiness and Instruction begins at Birth through fun and meaningful activities with specials adults in a child’s life.

SEEDS of Emergent Literacy Overview

SEEDS of School Readiness Early Literacy Training is a series of seven two and a half hour sessions for adults that care for three to five year old children. SEEDS was designed to give child care providers information about how a SEEDS quality teacher can create a literacy rich classroom or home for three to five year old children.

At the end of training the participants will be able to…

Session One: Creating a Literacy Rich Classroom

· Describe ten or more ways to make their home/classroom literacy rich

· Identify ten or more literacy skills that children are expected to be able to do before kindergarten

· Describe what literacy and emergent literacy are

· Demonstrate how to provide explicit learning opportunities in daily routines with children.

Session Two: A SEEDS Quality Teacher

· Describe what a SEEDS Quality Teacher does and says in their daily interactions with children

· Demonstrate how to ask questions to promote language development

· Describe how to encourage a child using the teaching tool of affirmation

· Demonstrate how to create a literacy rich schedule and lesson plan

Session Three: Developing Talkers and Thinkers

· Identify language milestones on the road to talking

· Identify stages of learning for second language learners

· Demonstrate strategies to promote language development in all children through running commentary, word wall, and conversation

· Identify “Big 5” emergent literacy skill areas

Session Four: SEEDS of Vocabulary and Phonological Awareness

· Identify how to promote vocabulary and background knowledge throughout the daily schedule

· Describe what phonological awareness is

· Identify ten fun and meaningful ways to promote phonological awareness with young children

· Demonstrate using thematic lesson plans to promote vocabulary development

Session Five: SEEDS of Print and Book Rules

· Demonstrate intentionally using the “Big 5” emergent literacy skills during a “read aloud”

· Identify and demonstrate the different hear and say reading strategies

· Describe a print rich classroom

Session Six: SEEDS of Letter Knowledge and the Writing Process

· Identify developmental stages in the writing process

· Discuss fun and meaningful ways to help children become aware of letters

· Demonstrate SEEDS of Quality Teacher behaviors during daily interactions

Session Seven: Involving and Informing Families in a Child’s School Readiness

· Discuss strategies for creating a family involvement plan

· Identify how to involve the local library in creating a literacy rich classroom, home and family environment

Friends and Supporters in the development of SEEDS of School Readiness include:

Minneapolis Public Schools, School Readiness Collaborative

Center for Early Education and Development (CEED) University of Minnesota

Minneapolis Youth Coordinating Board

For more information contact Kathleen Horst email: Khorst10@aol.com, or 651-351-5181