Enhancing literacy for Head Start students through “More Than Just Reading”

Teaching staff at Stricker Family Development Center

GLCAP Head Start educators are taking the next step to enhance literacy among young learners. The recent training session titled, “More Than Just Reading!”, was attended by teachers from the Stricker Family Development and Clyde Early Childhood centers. It focused on providing hands-on opportunities to engage children during classroom reading.

The training was led by the GLCAP teacher coaches and introduced teachers to interactive and fun strategies that foster a deeper understanding and love for reading among children aged 3-5. The training discussed ways to encourage children to summarize and retell stories, which boosts comprehension and retention skills.

The curriculum emphasized seven essential components of literacy, each important for development:

1. Literacy as a Sense of Enjoyment: Cultivating a love for reading through fun and engaging activities.
2. Vocabulary and Language: Expanding word knowledge and language skills.
3. Phonological Awareness: Developing an understanding of sound structures in language.
4. Knowledge of Print: Recognizing the forms and functions of written language.
5. Letters and Words: Identifying and understanding letters and words.
6. Comprehension: Enhancing the ability to understand and interpret text.
7. Books and Other Texts: Exploring a diverse range of reading materials.

The training provided teachers with research-based evidence supporting these literacy components. They were equipped with examples and materials they could implement in their classrooms, and they created their own materials to bring back to their classrooms. The goal is to foster an environment where literacy is intertwined with joy and discovery.

For more information about our Head Start programs, go to glcap.org/earlychildhood.

Teachers were able to create and take these items to enhance the literacy experiences in their classrooms