Photo by Judi Moreillon

Irresistible Invitations! Early Literacy Engagements for Preschool and Primary Children

Symposium for International Reading Association
50th Annual Conference, May 2005
San Antonio, Texas

Presenters:
Yetta Goodman, Ph.D., Regents Professor of Education,
Department of Language, Reading and Culture, University of Arizona and Children's Book Author
Jane Kurtz, Children's Book Author
Jennifer Ward, Children's Book Author
Toni Buzzeo, Children's Book Author and School Library Media Specialist
Judi Moreillon, Ph.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, Northern Arizona University, and Children's Book Author

Description of Program:
Participants will engage in an interactive symposium, which will demonstrate strategies for developing oral language, vocabulary, phonological awareness, listening skills, concepts about print, and meaning making in young children. The presenters will invite participants to rejoice in the rhythms, the rhymes, and the stories as well as celebrating the research and theory to support a holistic, constructivist, multicultural framework for these irresistible early literacy invitations.

Objectives:
Participants will:
1. Experience rich and playful oral language, which forms the sociocultural foundation for early literacy;
2. Rediscover story listening and adult-child conversations about texts as vital components of literacy learning;
3. Experience the joys of decontextualized (book) language through scaffolded encounters for making meaning with authentic literature written expressly for young children;
4. Engage in conversations related to the power of children's literature for classroom instruction.

Evidence Base:
"Kidwatchers believe that all readers need sensitive and meaningful enculturation into the world of books" (Owocki & Goodman, 2002). Early literacy is influenced by a child's familiarity with the text and by textual features: the number of times a book is read to the child (Pappas & Brown, 1987), the number of times a book is read independently (Pappas, 1993), and the text features, including illustrations and narrative structure (Elster, 1998). Adults and older siblings have critical roles to play in providing demonstrations of literacy, which can invite young children into the "literacy club" (Smith, 1988).

Research has shown that storybook reading by parents, caregivers, and teachers builds positive attitudes toward books and reading and models skilled reading, while children learn conventions of print and intonation used in oral reading (Holdaway, 1979; Sulzby, 1985). "Children who are emotionally engaged enjoy listening to and reading books, and understand that literature can enhance, influence, and inform their lives" (Owocki & Goodman, 2002). Strategies will be offered and experienced in order to help participants and the families with whom they work get the most out of storytime, including rereading, involving the child in the story through labeling, asking open-ended questions, elaborating on the child's answers, and reading with enthusiasm, voice, and expression (Christie, Enz, & Vukelich, 2003).

Methods of Presentation:
The presenters' PowerPoint slide show will integrate research and theory with early literacy practices. Illustrations will include book jackets, excerpts of text, and multicultural, intergenerational images of adults, older siblings and children sharing stories. Children's book authors will engage the participants in storytelling, choral reading, puppetry and fingerplays. The presentation will be supported by this Web page to which participants can refer after the conference in order to revisit the concepts and strategies as well as access downloadable documents, such as children's literature bibliographies.

Beginning Upon a Lap

Judi Moreillon

and

Yetta Goodman

Does it Matter What We Read?

Jennifer Ward:
The Seed and the Giant Saguaro

Jane Kurtz:
Rain Romp

Toni Buzzeo:
Dawdle Duckling
and Ready or Not, Dawdle Duckling

Jennifer Ward:
Over in the Garden

Toni Buzzeo:
Dawdle Duckling

Judi Moreillon:
"My Hands/Mis manos"

Yetta Goodman:
The Little Overcoat and Variant Text Set

Judi Moreillon:
"Stories within Stories" Bibliography (pdf file)

Toni Buzzeo:
The Sea Chest

Jane Kurtz:
In the Small, Small Night

Toni Buzzeo:
Little Loon and Papa

Judi Moreillon
Playground Rhymes: "Ms. Sue"

Yetta Goodman:
Children Generating Text

Yetta Goodman:
Artists and Art in the Classroom

Jennifer Ward:
Forest Bright, Forest Night

Jane Kurtz:
Water Hole Waiting

Toni Buzzeo:
Ready or Not, Dawdle Ducking

Judi Moreillon:
The Canon

Jane Kurtz:
Do Kangarooms Wear Seat Belts?
In the Small, Small Night
Rain Romp

Toni Buzzeo:
Dawdle Duckling and Ready or Not, Dawdle Ducking

Yetta Goodman:
More Sophisticated Participation

Jennifer Ward:
Somewhere in the Ocean

Judi Moreillon:
Louise Rosenblatt - Transaction Theory

Yetta Goodman:
Questions and Comments

updated: 7 May 2005