Literacy Curriculum Overview

Literacy skills in young children is a key component of their success in reading and writing. We feel that it
is important to engage children in a wide variety of learning opportunities which will support and nurture
these developing skills.

Children learn to read as a result of several pre-literacy activities that they encounter both at home and
school. These pre-literacy skills are embedded in all the activities we do throughout the day. Our
teachers encourage children to talk by engaging them in rich conversation, asking thoughtful
questions designed to stimulate their thinking. The use of dramatic play helps them to develop their
speaking and listening skills, the very foundations for learning to read and write. This approach
increases children’s vocabulary and improves their listening and language skills.

We emphasize an awareness of syllables, words, sentences, and rhyming words. Our
comprehensive library of picture books about people of all cultures supports our monthly
themes, Social Studies units, holidays and special events.

With our commitment to this early literacy program, your children will enjoy animated,
interactive stories during their daily circle time. Stories and books will also be introduced as
part of the art, math, cooking, science and gross motor skills components of your child’s
curriculum. Incorporating stories that children already know and love will give them many
opportunities for hands-on experiences. Our literacy enriched environments will provide all
children with many valuable language and print experiences, helping them to develop all of
the skills needed to have a life-long love of reading and writing.