Learning to read is a major milestone in your child’s life. Building early literacy and language skills early in life make learning to read easier and more enjoyable for your child later on. At Early Childhood Academy, we work on these skills daily to prepare your child for a lifetime of reading.

Vocabulary is a major predictor of reading success in children. The more words your child knows, the greater their ability to comprehend text. Building early literacy and a large vocabulary starts young. A study of 18-month-olds found that children who are surrounded by adults who speak with them have a vocabulary that is 185 words larger than their peers who have not been exposed to verbal interactions.

From birth to age 5, children acquire new words at a faster rate than at any time of their lives. Kindergarteners have mastered three-fifths of all the vocabulary they will ever acquire. This means your child’s time with us is a precious opportunity to build a large vocabulary that prepares them for reading success throughout their lives.

Every activity at the Academy is an opportunity to build your child’s vocabulary. On any given day, we may discuss the sizes, colors, and shapes of objects your child is playing with, or of objects in the room. We may point out the position of objects using location words (on, off, in, out, behind, on top of, over, under, etc.). This gives your child the language to describe the world around them.

Did you know how to handle a book is an early literacy skill? At the Academy, we include book etiquette as part of our early literacy and language curriculum. We teach children how to hold a book right-side-up and start reading at the front of the book. We show them how to turn pages one at a time and treat books with care. We also help your child understand that books live in a special place, and that we need to put them back when we are finished reading. 

Critical thinking is your child’s ability to evaluate a situation. This may be a real-world situation or something they encounter as they read or learn. Critical thinking questions encourage higher-order thinking that builds your child’s ability to think abstractly, make connections between two concepts, and solve problems. Higher-order thinking is what helps your child be a creative, evaluative, and innovative learner throughout their lives.

Developing higher-order thinking skills starts in early literacy. Here are some of the questions we ask our young readers during and after story times:

• What do you see in the pictures?
  
• Why do you think that character is acting that way?
• What will happen next?
• What was your favorite part?
• Which character would you want to be?
• How would you change the ending?
  

Finally, our teachers understand that developing your child’s early literacy and language skills is a joint effort. We encourage you to spend at least 20 minutes every day reading with your children. Reading at home is an enjoyable way to connect with your child, expand their knowledge of the world, and help them process strong emotions. 

Here’s how you can build early literacy and language skills at home with your kiddos:

• Choose stories or topics that interest your child.
• Find books with words that will expand their spoken language.
  
• Include informational books, such as books on animals, nature, trucks, space, etc.
• Ask your child to identify the letters they know and teach them the sounds those letters make.
• Use your finger to track the words as you read.
• Ask your child the critical thinking questions we use at the Academy.

At Early Childhood Academy, our teachers are committed to building your child’s early literacy and language skills throughout their time with us, from infancy to preschool. To learn more about our literacy curriculum or to schedule a tour of one of our location, get in touch with us today!

We are committed to providing high quality early childhood education to the community. We believe that all children deserve the opportunity to reach their full potential, and we are dedicated to providing them with the tools and support they need to succeed.

If you are looking for a high-quality early childhood education program for your child, we encourage you to contact us today. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have and schedule a tour of our academy.

Fall is school conference time! At Early Childhood Academy, we hold school conferences with our families to share their children’s progress, identify areas of need, and create a plan to address them. Your school conference provides us with the opportunity to share what we’re seeing at the academy and work with you to establish priorities for your child’s care and development, as well as address any concerns or questions you may have.

At Early Childhood Academy, we use the HELP assessment plan to identify areas of strength and areas of need for your child. This evidence-based assessment provides us with a data-driven framework to assess your child’s progress on developmental skills. It is designed specifically for children from birth to six years old and covers seven major areas of skill development, from cognitive, language, and social-emotional skills to fine and gross motor skills. It also helps us assess your child’s self-help and regulatory/sensory organization skills.

During the school conference, we will also review how your child interacts with peers and responds to guidance, which is crucial for their social development.
The school conference is a great opportunity to celebrate your child’s growth and to set new goals together.
An important part of the HELP assessment is the family conference, where you have the opportunity to discuss your priorities, questions, and concerns with us to round out the overall picture we have of your child’s developmental progress. Here’s what you can expect at your next conference at ECA.
We will highlight specific achievements during the school conference and discuss the skills your child is developing.
At the school conference, we encourage you to express any concerns or insights about your child’s development at home.

During your conference at Early Childhood Academy, we’ll celebrate all of your child’s milestone achievements, both big and small. We may have noticed that your infant has mastered the pincer grasp or that your preschooler is able to dress themselves when it’s time to go outside to play.

We will cover all seven areas of skill development during your conference. You will have the opportunity to share what you have noticed at home and share any concerns or questions you have about your child’s progress. We will also share what skill developments you can expect over the next 6 to 12 months.

We believe that the school conference is essential for building a partnership that supports your child’s educational journey.

Our team will ensure you have all the information needed to make the most of your upcoming school conference. We value your involvement and look forward to your insights.
Once we celebrate your child’s successes, we will take a close look at their areas of need. We may have noticed that your child is still struggling with toilet learning or having a hard time sharing during free play.
At your school conference, we will thoroughly review any and all areas of need our HELP assessment has identified for your child. We will work with you to create a plan for supporting your child in mastering these skills, including outside resources if our professional team feels that is appropriate.

Your conference is also a time for us to learn more about your child from you. We will encourage you to share any successes and challenges you are having at home and any strategies you are using to help your child achieve their developmental milestones. Our goal is that you see us as a trusted partner on your parenting journey, one that works with you to help your child grow.

If you are a current family, the team at your academy will reach out to you with information about how to schedule your next conference. If you’re new to ECA and would like to learn more about our evidence-based approach to childcare or schedule a tour of one of our locations, please get in touch with us.

We love our ECA families, which is why we’re committed to providing high-quality early childhood education to every child in our care. The entire ECA team looks forward to serving your family now and into the future. For more information on our centers, Contact Us Today or Call Us at Red Wing 651-388-8905. Please Stay Connected With Us Through Our Social Media Channels for the Latest Updates, Tips, and Special Offers on Facebook and Instagram.