The “Big Six” Literacy Skills

We talk a lot about the importance of early literacy, daily book reading, and book sharing routines.

But this month, I thought we could ADD to all the “book stuff.”

Y’all know how I love books! But I have to admit a little secret…books aren’t the only way to help your child develop early literacy skills. (That was tough for me to say!!)

THE BIG SIX EARLY LITERACY SKILLS can be learned any place, any time, and with lots of things-even riding in a car or shopping in a grocery store. 

“What are THE BIG SIX?” I’m glad you asked:)

-Print motivation-creating an interest in books by reading, using silly voices, talking about the illustrations.

-Vocabulary-knowing the names of things, understanding the meanings of words, and connecting the words to objects/concepts.

-Print awareness-noticing print is everywhere, understanding that print has meaning, and knowing how words work on a page and how a book works.
-Letter knowledge-recognizing that letters are different from each other, letters have different names and sounds, and letters are everywhere.

-Phonological awareness-hearing the smaller sounds in words.
-Narrative skills-being able to understand and tell stories and describe events.

So how can you do ALL that and drive your car or shop for your groceries?!

Let’s see…

-Take a book for the car/shopping cart ride to entertain your little one (print motivation).

-Point out the words on signs as you say the words (vocabulary).

-Help your child to make a grocery list-with either words or pictures (print awareness).

-Point out different letters on the labels as you put your groceries in the cart (letter knowledge).

-Play “I Spy” with the first sound of your child’s name. “‘I Spy’ something that starts with the sound ‘k’ like Kai. There’s a car!” (phonological awareness).

-Talk about how you’re going to use the items. “We are buying bread, peanut butter, jelly, and apples. When we get home, we’ll make sandwiches and slice our apples.” (narrative skills).

That’s quite an accomplishment for a trip to the store!

You can do that everyday. Because you are your child’s first and lifelong teacher:)

Happy Reading!

Lisa Davis, Early Literacy Coordinator

Need books? Register all your children under the age of 5 for monthly, free books through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Visit a Little Free Library where you can “Take a Book. Share a Book.”