Every Child Ready to Read Comes Alive at DCM

A teacher reads during a field trip to DCM

Early literacy begins with you! Early educators, parents and caregivers alike have a unique opportunity to connect with children and encourage the very skills that will help children get ready to read.  Even Play Facilitators, right here at DCM, enhance early literacy learning experiences for our visitors each and every day!  This message was shared by Early Literacy Librarian with the Naperville Public Library Karen Burke during a presentation given to DCM staff this week. 

Burke provided information and resources on Every Child Ready to Read, a project of the Public Library Association and the Association for Library Service to Children, divisions of the American Library Association, and is supported by many public libraries throughout the United States. 

Every Child Ready to Read offers six pre-reading skills that children can start learning from birth:

Narrative Skills           

Being able to describe things and events and tell stories

Vocabulary

Knowing the name of things

Print Motivation

Being interested in and enjoying books

Phonological Awareness

Being able to hear and play with the smaller sounds in words

Print Awareness
Noticing print, knowing how to handle a book and knowing how to follow the words on a page

Letter Knowledge

Knowing letters are different from each other, knowing their names and sounds and recognizing letters everywhere.

A visit to DCM can enhance the skills promoted through Every Child Ready to Read! Exhibits invite children to narrate and increase vocabulary; books are available throughout the Museum to enhance print awareness and story times in the Family Resource Center offer adventures in phonological awareness, print motivation and letter knowledge.