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Parents reading picture book to their two young children

Literacy at Home

Discover how to support your child’s growth as a young reader and writer. Here you’ll find our Reading 101 for Families guide, bilingual parent tips, ideas for building your child’s knowledge about the world, Q&A with experts, guidance on how to help a child who struggles, and ways to connect with your child’s school.

Elementary teacher explaining social studies lesson to group of kids in classroom

Literacy Implementation Guidance for the ELA

This guidance from the International Reading Association represents a consensus of the thinking of literacy leaders in the field who support thoughtful implementation of the Standards for student literacy achievement. Seven key topics are addressed: use of challenging texts; foundational skills; comprehension; vocabulary; writing; content area literacy; and diverse learners.

two young children using laptops and headphones in class

Literacy Instruction with Digital and Media Technologies

This article describes how digital and media literacies are woven into a fourth-grade classroom. Background on how a teacher and school brought new literacies to students through the use of technology is revealed so that other teachers can engage in similar instructional support.
Young mother with toddler child drawing with a crayon

Literacy Milestones: Ages 3-4

Identifying a reading problem is a challenge without a sense for what typical literacy development looks like. Find out what language accomplishments are typical for most children at the age of three to four.

Young mother with toddler child drawing with a crayon

Literacy Milestones: Age 5

Identifying a reading problem is a challenge without a sense for what typical literacy development looks like. Find out what language accomplishments are typical for most children at age five.
Young mother with toddler child drawing with a crayon

Literacy Milestones: Age 6

Identifying a reading problem is a challenge without a sense for what typical literacy development looks like. Find out what language accomplishments are typical for most children at age six.
Young mother with toddler child drawing with a crayon

Literacy Milestones: Birth to Age 3

Identifying a reading problem is a challenge without a sense for what typical literacy development looks like. Find out what language accomplishments are typical for most children from birth to age three.

Literacy Programs Evaluation Guide

Literacy Programs Evaluation Guide

If you are planning to purchase a literacy program for instruction, get as much information as you can about a program’s benefits and effectiveness. This article includes links to reputable review sources, where you can find basic comparative information about a range of commercially available literacy programs.

Two elementary children sitting on rug listening to read aloud

Literacy in the Inclusive Classroom

With thoughtful planning, reading and writing instruction can be adapted to meet the needs of every student in the classroom. Get ideas to help you design an inclusive language arts program, including tips about your classroom library, integrating technology, visual supports, read aloud strategies, teaching comprehension, and more.

Elementary teacher explaining social studies lesson to group of kids in classroom

Literacy on the Move: A Journal for the Journey

Give your students a chance to deepen and share their travel experiences through narrative writing, diagrams and illustrations, and the reading of all kinds of print (including maps, brochures and menus). Authentic reading and writing experiences help students connect what’s happening in class to the real world outside.

Young boy holding turtle in nature center

Literacy in the Sciences

Here you’ll find ideas for pairing STEM-themed books with hands-on activities, booklists, interviews with children’s authors, links to science-themed shows from PBS Kids, and more. 

Literacy-Rich Environments

Literacy-Rich Environments

The literacy-rich environment emphasizes the importance of speaking, reading, and writing in the learning of all students. This involves the selection of materials that will facilitate language and literacy opportunities; reflection and thought regarding classroom design; and intentional instruction and facilitation by teachers and staff.

Literature-Based Teaching in Science: Poetry Walks

Literature-Based Teaching in Science: Poetry Walks

Read and discuss poetry with nature imagery with students. Take students on a poetry walk around the school, neighborhood, or community to observe and collect sensory images from direct experience with nature: the sights, sounds, smells, and textures of things outdoors. Students can take a poetry journal with them to write down words as they observe, listen, smell, and touch things outside the classroom.

3 elementary students writing on flip chart in social studies unit

Literature-Based Teaching in Science: Q&A Reports

Using students’ questions as a basis for investigations in science education is an effective teaching strategy. Not only do students pose questions they would like answered, but they are asked to find ways to answer them. This article also recommends nonfiction science books that use a question and answer format to find information and model how to communicate what you know.

3 elementary students writing on flip chart in social studies unit

Literature-Based Teaching in Science: What’s in the Sky?

When students practice observing in science, they use their senses to collect information about objects and events related to a question, topic, or problem to solve in science. Learn some strategies to help students organize and analyze their data through presentations, sharing, and discussion.
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