The Family Center

Language and Literacy

Language and literacy development focus on the child’s growing ability to use oral and written language to convey feelings and desires, interact with others, ask questions, think about things, represent what he or she knows, and talk about imaginary situations. The continuous development of oral language forms the basis from which children begin to explore and experience written language. Early and emergent writers and readers use a variety of means to communicate such as conventional signs and symbols (scribbles, mock letters, letters), visual art forms (painting and drawing) and other materials such as blocks, clay and collage.

You see the language and literacy curriculum in action as children...

• participate in group story time as well as look at books independently and with others 
• engage in conversation with others throughout the school day, use words to communicate thoughts and ideas, and begin to ask and answer questions
• explore a variety of writing and drawing materials and art media, including cutting with scissors, using markers and tape to make a message for a friend, working with clay, or creating a collage
• practice forming letters and drawing when making a message, writing their name, creating birthday cards, or drawing how something works
• practice recognizing their name and friends’ names in print, such as finding their cubby or finding their name card at the snack table or at a morning meeting
• express their ideas through writing and drawing, such as sharing a picture plan for a block building, drawing what happened to the decomposing pumpkin in the garden, or making a book