• Write Aloud: As you write notes to yourself, say what you are writing as you write it (“I am writing a reminder to myself – bring more paper tomorrow…”). Children are interested in everything you do. When you model the writing process for them in this way, you are teaching them an important literacy skill that begins with writing and is reinforced with reading.
• Play I Spy: When children begin to learn letters, make it a game. Challenge children to find letters in the writing they see around the room and in books. Encourage phonemic awareness with an I Spy twist – “I spy something that begins with the /b/ sound!”
• Use Her Name: Children’s names are very important words to them. Create class books in which the children write their names. When you read a story, replace the names in the story with the names of the children in your class (make sure they are positive characters). Infants and Toddlers love to see their faces and the faces of familiar people. Create picture books or hang pictures of them and their families and label the pictures with their names. Provide a variety of paper textures and writing tools for children to practice writing their names. Write their names on cardstock and let them decorate them with fun art materials.
• Find a Pen Pal: Writing and receiving letters is one of the most meaningful uses of literacy for a child. Ask another class, staff member, or even a friend to become a pen pal and correspond through mail or email. You can do shared writing activities in which the children tell you what they want to be written in the letter and older children can participate in writing the letters or words and illustrating the letter.

Literacy is a lifelong skill which begins from birth. Teach children the essentials of literacy. They must know its application to be motivated to learn, feel successful to continue to learn, and experience text in fun, social ways to become lifelong literate adults. Start today with your little bookworms.

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