Phonics for Kids – Developing Early Literacy Report 2002 (USA) Findings
“Literacy skills start developing the moment we’re born and it is literacy that enables a person’s ability to participate in society.” Timothy Shanahan. Chairman National Early Literacy Panel (USA) 2002.
Thousands upon thousands of studies on early literacy have been undertaken because literacy is such an important skill for people living in modern society.
Governments know that illiterate people miss out on opportunities and end up costing the state financially.
It is now evident that early and more targeted investments in the literacy development of young children would be cost effective for governments.
The Developing Early Literacy Report states the following skills are what pre-school children need to develop before formal literacy instruction.
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Alphabet knowledge
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Understanding of sounds associated with letters
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Ability to write individual letters
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Ability to remember information
“Children’s early literacy development should not be left to chance states,” Timothy Shanahan.
The Report analysed nearly 300 quantitative studies but many areas in literacy could not be studied because there was a lack of empirical data regarding them.
For example the practice of reading to young children as recommended widely by experts was found to have inadequate research data to demonstrate it’s effectiveness.
The Report was focussed more on the Alphabetic Code because the Code is what has been studied.
Susan B. Neuman, an early-childhood literacy researcher in the USA points out that what is known is that the code alone will not solve educational problems. What is also known is that vocabulary development and general knowledge are also important components.
“But what we always have to keep in mind is that we are dealing with very young children, so the instruction needs to be playful and engaging.” says Susan Landry a panel member.
Experts who commented on the Report stated the importance of presenting age-appropriate structured activities to young children.
The source for this article was
Early-Literacy Findings Unveiled by Kathleen Kennedy Manzo January 9 2009 published online.
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