Early Childhood Literacy Research Articles

Relational aspects of writer’s workshop in kindergarten: learning from Black boys who used their creativity and strength to speak back to the scripted curriculum

ABSTRACT Writer’s workshop is a popular curriculum opportunity in most US schools. This case study of two Black boys engaging in a Kindergarten writer’s workshop richly contextualizes their writing identities and practices. A critical childhood studies framework was used to show how Black boys and their White teachers improvised writing-related relationships. The research questions for the study were: (1) How did Black boys use creativity and strength to push back against the semi-scripted curriculum in Kindergarten writer’s workshop? (2) What can teachers and teacher educators learn from their examples? In the findings Black boys strove to think, understand, and practice writing freely and to use their personal and cultural resources outside the constraints of teaching scripts. However, when teachers did not navigate the semi-scripted curriculum, all the children were robbed of their writing identities but Black boys were most deeply affected. Reflection questions and suggestions for teacher educators and professional developers are designed to support the use of improvisational practices and African diaspora literacy in early childhood and elementary school writing contexts.

“A Win-Win for All”: Supporting Literacy in Early Childhood and Bringing Awareness to Shelter Dogs

“A Win-Win for All”: Supporting Literacy in Early Childhood and Bringing Awareness to Shelter Dogs

Prioritizing Pro-Blackness in literacy research, scholarship, and teaching

Against the backdrop of endemic anti-Black racism in Early Childhood literacy, we frame these special issues using Pro-Blackness as an antidote in early childhood classrooms. Pro-Black does note connote anti-White or anti any other ethnic group and declares an unapologetic, positive perspective regarding Blackness and Black people which is not evident in most educational settings. Pro-Blackness focuses on the agency, resistance, everyday lives, and joy of Black people. We unpack anti-Blackness in Early Childhood literacy contexts and offer Pro-Black strategies. We note the pervasive omission of Black theorists and scholarship in teacher education and P-3 classrooms and call for a prioritization of Pro-Black theories, research, policies, literacy practices and assessments.

Health Literacy in Early Childhood: A Systematic Review of Empirical Studies.

Early childhood plays a key role in the formation of healthy habits and the establishment of health literacy. Nonetheless, there are only a few research studies focusing on the health literacy level of children under the age of eight. The aim of our systematic review is to explore empirical research on health literacy related to early childhood. The research was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA protocol. This systematic review examines 12 studies published between 2013–2022. Results show that research focuses on different domains of health literacy for children. In relation to children’s food literacy, children understand the relationship between health and nutrition and they realize the health impact of obesity. The habits connected to oral health are strongly associated with parents’ knowledge of and behaviours around oral health. Results related to health care situations show that children are able to be actively involved in decision-making processes in connection with their health. Exploring young children’s health literacy is essential in order to be able to plan health promotion interventions, embedded into early childhood education. Picture-based messages or story-based messages supported by illustrations can help measure health literacy in early childhood and can support the formation of health literacy.

Literacy in Early Intervention: Satisfaction, Confidence, and Knowledge of OTs

Abstract Date Presented 03/31/2022 OTs working in early intervention (EI) under Part C of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, were surveyed regarding their satisfaction with preparation, confidence, and knowledge about using literacy to support young children and their families. The information gained in this study is hoped to provide a base for understanding OT’s preparedness in early childhood literacy to understand our role in literacy and where additional training may be needed for OTs to support children’s and their families’ advance in literacy skills. Primary Author and Speaker: Bobbi Carrlson Contributing Authors: Casey Ozaki

Implementation of Digital Literacy to Develop Social Emotional in Early Childhood

This study aims to analyze the implementation of digital literacy in early childhood for children’s social and emotional development. Qualitative research was used and a case study was chosen as the research design. Data were collected by observing and recording learning activities in schools. Interviews were conducted with principals and teachers at kindergarten. Results of the study showed that digital literacy was carried out through learning analysis, learning design system, and evaluation. This study implies that teachers must have innovation and creativity in managing their learning, especially in the era of society 5.0. Digitalization could support the instructional needs based on the intended targets and generate students’ motivation and intelligence overall.

Urgensi Pengenalan Konsep Literasi Numerasi pada Anak Usia Dini

This study discusses the urgency of introducing the concept of numeracy literacy in early childhood. Numerical literacy is one of the most needed skills in facing the 21st century, especially for the young generation. The question still remains, when should these skills be introduced and trained to the young generation candidates. Should it be introduced and taught from an early age? The purpose of this study was to determine the urgency of introducing the concept of numeracy literacy in early childhood. This study uses a literature review method where the authors collect 7 studies related to numeracy literacy in early childhood. From the results of the review that the author conducted on the seven related articles, there are 3 (three) important reasons why numeracy literacy should be introduced to early childhood. Based on these reasons, the authors conclude that the urgency of introducing the concept of literacy to early childhood is quite high, because numeracy literacy is a basic skill that must be possessed in the 21st century and early childhood is a golden age where the level of intellectual maturity of children is formed up to 80%.

Implementation of Digital Literacy in Indonesia Early Childhood Education

Digital literacy is a person's interests, attitudes, abilities, and skills in using digital technology-based devices. These skills are used to access, manage, integrate, analyze and evaluate the information needed and obtained, build new knowledge and create relationships or communication with others to participate effectively in society. This study aims to explore and explain the application of digital literacy in Early Childhood Education (ECE) institutions. The research method is descriptive quantitative with a survey technique. The instrument used is a questionnaire in the form of a Google-Form (G-Form) which is distributed online via Instagram, WhatsApp, and email. The population is ECE teachers, and a sample of 318 ECE teachers from various provinces was collected randomly. The data collected were analyzed descriptively with simple quantification. The results of the study indicate that the application of digital literacy in ECE can be implemented in a limited way and the implementation process must involve teachers and parents/guardians. The recommendation conveyed was the need for strict supervision for the implementation of digital literacy in early childhood.

Numeracy Literacy in Early Childhood: An Investigation in Arithmetic, Geometry and Patterns in Early Stage

Early childhood education is a coaching effort carried out for children from birth to the age of six by providing educational stimuli in helping their physical and spiritual growth and development with the aim that children have maximum readiness to enter higher education levels. Numerical literacy in early childhood can be used as a tool used in developing thinking skills in children, supporting children in developing various talents or intellectual potentials they have and can be used as a means of cultivating a positive affective side in instilling basic personalityThis study aims to describe a numeracy literacy skills in early childhood students. The research method used is descriptive qualitative. Researchers used purposive sampling to take research subjects, and obtained as many as 28 PAUD students, and from 28 people 3 people were taken to be analyzed in depth related to their numeracy literacy skills. Instruments in this research are observation, test, Interview, and dokumentation. Data analysis techniques in this study include data reduction, data presentation, and conclusions. The results of research that have been done show that numeracy literacy in early childhood aged 5-6 years of arithmetic, geometry and patterns as follows: (1) Be able to name the symbols of numbers 1-20, (2) Have the ability to using number symbols to calculate, (3) Able to match numbers with number symbols and recognize differences based on "more than"; "less than"; and "most”, (4) Able to classify objects based on color, shape and size (3 variations), (5) Have the ability to sort objects by size from smallest to largest or vice versa, (6) Can estimate the next pattern after seeing the shape of more than 3 consecutive patterns (7) Meets errors in writing number symbols due to the accumulation of information received by the brain. This happens because at the same time, the brain receives information in the form of numeric symbols in Arabic and number symbols in general at the same time, (8) Numeracy literacy activities in the pandemic period for early childhood can still be done one of them with learning involving the environment which without eliminating the element of play but still able to facilitate the development of children.

Reimagining Discourse in the Classroom

AbstractClassroom discourse serves an important role in language, literacy, and other content area learning in early childhood and elementary classrooms. In this article, the authors define discourse as it relates to teaching and learning and overview the background of research on the topic. Then classroom discourse is reconsidered in the current context, including the field's growing understanding of the importance of knowledge for literacy, increasingly diverse student populations, and the rising prevalence of technology for instruction. Two traditional classroom discourse practices, sharing time and small‐group discussions, are revisited with these considerations. Suggestions are presented for how educators may update their approach to facilitating these types of discourse activities.

Book review: Abigail Hackett, More-than-human literacies in early childhood

Book review: Abigail Hackett, <i>More-than-human literacies in early childhood</i>

Teachers’ perception towards early childhood literacy development methods in ‘aisyiyah bustanul athfal (ABA) kindergarten

The literacy ability of early childhood is inseparable from their teacher’s role in teaching literacy for children. The knowledge and methods used by the teacher are expected to be able to improve children's skills to comprehend the content of text and become active readers in the future. This research aims to find out teacher's perception towards early childhood literacy development methods in ‘Aisyiyah Bustanul Athfal (ABA) Kindergarten in Depok Sub-district. The research method employed in this research is qualitative descriptive. The sampling technique is purposive sampling in order to obtain 8 participants out of 4 kindergartens in Depok Sub-district. The research data were analyzed by thematic analysis technique using NVivo 12 software. The findings revealed that: (1) teachers’ perception towards early childhood literacy development is mostly defined as the skill to reading and writing. (2) Teacher implementation on the early childhood literacy is carried out through activities involving printed learning media. (3) The development method for early childhood literacy learning is still limited to storytelling and writing. (4) School support for early childhood literacy development methods consists of providing facilities and infrastructures, and supporting teachers create published story books. However, the problems and obstacles faced by teachers are the lack of availability of reading books and inadequate infrastructure.

Promoting racial literacy in early childhood: Storybooks and conversations with young black children

AbstractRacial literacy as defined by Stevenson (2014) is an important cultural resistance strategy (e.g., positive coping strategy) for Black children and youth because it gives them the skills needed to survive in a racist society. Stevenson’s work, along with the work of several of his colleagues, focuses on adolescents and those in middle childhood, yet it has inspired us to postulate how racial literacy might be fostered in young children (ages 3–8). In this article, we propose a theoretical model for how racial literary can be fostered within shared‐reading contexts using racially affirming storybooks coupled with conversations grounded in the principles of ethnic‐racial socialization. We also propose that these conversations result in both a direct influence on racial literacy and an indirect influence via positive ethnic‐racial identity and emotion regulation and understanding.

‘Like, I’m playing, but with this’. Materialization and affect in early childhood literacy

The more-than-human turn in early childhood education has highlighted the relevance of children’s intra-actions with their environment, as well as the multiple ways in which worlds and literacies emerge in them. The rejection of representationalism as the single source of knowledge leads to the consideration of affect, embodiment, memories, sound and movement as ways of knowing. The ways in which they manifest in a school context deserve close attention to the tiny details of literacy events. Our research presents a diffractive reading of an event in a school classroom, aiming to understand human and more-than-human intra-actions in this context, the re-configurations of time, space and matter, and the ways in which children articulate entanglements with texts and bodies. We focus on the intra-actions of a seven-year old child with a photo of his favourite videogame and the ways in which affect and memory emerge. The child’s sounds and movements, the researcher, the photo and the space become entangled to re-configure time, space and matter. Our analysis provides an insight into an event often occurring in schools. We offer some clues to understand it as part of the language and literacy practices of children, and pose the necessity of reconsidering the usual concept of literacy in school.

Teachers' Strategies in Introducing Literacy to Early Childhood: Lesson from Indonesia

Purpose – This study aims to analyze teachers' strategies in introducing literacy to early childhood.Design/methods/approach –The researchers used the case study method. The research subjects are two teachers who teach in early childhood education institutions in Bandung, Indonesia.Findings –The results of this study indicate that in introducing literacy to children, teachers use multiple strategies, such as optimizing role-play activities, stimulation through active teacher conversations that encourage children to communicate (rich teacher talk), utilizing the use of big book media, and focusing on phonological awareness. The study results show that the teacher's role is significant in optimizing literacy learning for children.Research implications/limitations – This case study focuses on literacy learning in early childhood based on the experiences of two teachers in Bandung, Indonesia.Practical implications –This case study shows that multiple strategies are appropriate to introduce early childhood literacy and prepare children for the next level of education.Originality/value – This study contributes to the understanding of literacy in early childhood. In addition, this study recommends that teachers apply multiple strategies in introducing literacy through play activities.&#x0D; Paper type Case study

Drawings from a play-based intervention: Windows to the soul of rural Ugandan preschool children’s artistic development

Set in rural Uganda and using Lowenfeld (1947–1957) developmental stages model as a theoretical framework, this study describes an early childhood literacy project (Goodman and Dent, 2019) and the impact of the Storytelling/Story-Acting (STSA) play-based intervention on participating children’s drawings. Ugandan children ages 3–5 were randomly assigned to participate in either the STSA play intervention (n = 63) or a story-reading activity (n = 60) for one hour twice weekly for six months. All children were assessed for school readiness skills before and after the six-month intervention. Two-hundred sixty-three drawings of four Ugandan children (two from the control group and two from the intervention group) who demonstrated the greatest change on a measure of school readiness were selected from the larger sample for analysis using the Formal Elements and Content rating scales. All four children demonstrated important deviations from Lowenfeld’s developmental stages model, including a vertical baseline and faceless human figures observed in most of the drawings. Formal Elements but not Content changed over time. Girls performed differently from boys on both Formal Elements and Content. Artistic progression is relative to the cultural milieu in which the child is embedded.

WITHDRAWN: Educational philosophies and theoretical perspective for self-cultivation in early childhood education

Education philosophies of self-cultivation have the basis and societal ideology of learning a powerful and traditionally efficient heritage that stretches back to ancient times in the traditional methods. There are many challenges in incorporating the philosophies in the theoretical perspective in early childhood education. Therefore in this paper, the educational philosophies and theoretical perspective (EP-TP) model has been proposed for self-cultivation in Early Childhood Education (ECE). Preparation for primary school is only one aspect of early childhood education (ECCE). One of its goals is to provide a firm and comprehensive basis for lifetime learning and well-being by addressing each child's social, emotional, cognitive, and physical requirements. In ECCE, we have the opportunity to cultivate caring, competent, and responsible citizens of the future. The training procedure includes a commitment to study, improve individual and be directed by one's instructor through religious observance and moral living. The freedom and the interconnectivity of the self are highlighted all across the learning experience. The section presented important impacts for self-directed education from an analysis of self-cultivation. The simulation analysis shows that the proposed EP-IP model enhances children's performance and concentration level compared to other popular methods. • ECE and young children's psychological activities utilizing multimedia • It encourages the degree of implementation of technological advances. • Lack of early childhood literacy provides considerable significance.

Sensing and configuring the world with text: bringing neo-Vygotskian thinking into dialogue with more-than-human literacies in early childhood

ABSTRACT Research framed by evolving sociocultural theories have been fundamental in advancing the study of early childhood literacies. More recently the field has been enriched by posthumanist theories that have shifted the analytic gaze from children’s participation in literacy practices and events, to the fluid relationality of literacies. Concurrently, neo-Vygotskian scholars have advanced cultural-historical concepts to study a child and their environment in unity. This paper brings neo-Vygotskian thinking into dialogue with ‘more-than-human’ literacies in early childhood. Drawing on vignettes generated from an ethnography involving 3–4-year-old children, the paper explores the in-between-ness of young children and the socio-material environment during encounters with text, to seek insights into the emerging idiosyncratic, subjectively, and relationally produced experiences. From this conceptual space, the paper considers the ways in which children’s intention and orientation emerge with text and how micromoments in relations can be sites of potential transformation.

Toddlers as active, competent story weavers: Lexie’s story

Communication and literacy development of young children is shaped by the nature of social and cultural relationships in everyday situations. Few studies, however, have explored early story experiences encountered by infants and toddlers in naturalistic settings. We argue that personal stories about everyday lived experiences are a vital context for considering how toddlers develop communicative competencies as they participate in these stories within their families and communities. The paper presents selected findings from a qualitative study underpinned by a broad theoretical view of story embedded in a sociocultural, participatory framework. We contend that stories are collaborative, social endeavours in which intersubjectivity is accomplished collectively and multimodally. Evidence is offered of the communicative process enacted by 1-year-old Lexie, her parent, teacher and peers, as they shared meaning together in a personal story about eating lunch. Lexie and her family were participants in a wider study of the story experiences of 1-year-old toddlers, within and across their family home and early childhood settings, in a culturally diverse community of Aotearoa New Zealand. Drawing on multimodal ethnography and video data, findings illustrate how Lexie and her family, teacher and peers actively participated together in the weaving of a shared personal story using verbal, visual and kinaesthetic forms of communication. The study contributes to the field of early childhood literacy by providing unique insights into the potential of everyday personal stories as a valuable context for exploring ways children’s communicative competencies are developed through relationships in family and community settings.

Unique effects of book-reading at 9-months on vocabulary development at 36-months: Insights from a nationally representative sample of Irish families

It is well-established that participation in shared book reading interactions with caregivers supports children's early language and literacy development. Most of this literature focuses on reading experiences during the preschool period. Less is known about the nature and importance of such practices during infancy. Therefore, the goal of this study was to examine literacy practices between parents and infants in a large cohort study, Growing Up in Ireland. Interview, survey, and direct measurements of children's language skills were used to examine whether parent-report of book reading practices when children were 9-months predicted child expressive vocabulary at 36-months (N = 9171). Regression analysis indicated that approximately 80% of 9-month-old Irish children are read to by parents. Characteristics of families who were more likely to report reading with children emerged: those with higher educational attainment, fewer depressive symptoms, and those who report a high-quality home language environment (e.g., reported talking more to children during everyday activities). Furthermore, children who were read to at 9-months had stronger expressive vocabulary skills at 36-months, even after accounting for socio-demographic and home literacy environment covariates measured at both 9- and 36-months. Results are discussed using a bioecological framework to describe how proximal and distal factors in the child's environment converge to impact early childhood literacy development.