Press Room

Promoting Literacy
by Valerie Rhomberg

Are you looking for ways to foster literacy in the young children in your care? The following websites offer useful information and tips on promoting early literacy in children. The bookmark indicates the excellence of the site.

Child & Family Canada: Literacy
http://www.cfc-efc.ca/menu/eng007.htm
Lists articles about and tips for promoting literacy in young children.

National Network for Child Care (NNCC): Children’s Literacy
www.nncc.org/Literacy/literacy.page.html
The NNCC site shares a wealth of information about children and child care with parents, professionals, practitioners and the general public. Children's early literacy topics include promoting literacy in your child care program, language development and selecting books for children.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children
www.naeyc.org/woyc/woyc_handbook4.htm
This web page lists specific activities that focus on reading and writing. Links to the 1998 document, “Learning to Read and Write: Developmentally Appropriate Practices for Young Children.”

KidSource
http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource
Offers education and health care information for ECEs, teachers and parents. Use the search tool to find practical suggestions on promoting literacy. For example, lists 13 simple things child care providers can do to contribute.

Pennsylvania State University
http://www.ed.psu.edu/k-12/instruction.html
Penn State’s College of Education has organized links to resources that are useful to teachers. Site offers practical resources for early childhood educators and for literacy learning through play.

The Center of the Book
http://lcweb.loc.gov/loc/cfbook/cob4.html
This site offers a database of organizations and programs whose purposes and interests stimulate public awareness of books, and promote reading and literacy. Links to organizations such as
the Children's Book Council, First Book, KIDSNET, National Book Foundation, Children's Literacy Initiative and Laubach Literacy Action.

The Literacy Empowerment Foundation (LEF)
www.literacyempowerment.org/lef/index.html
This non-profit organization is dedicated to promoting literacy by providing inexpensive children's books. LEF has several programs available to teachers, non-profit groups and reading programs.

Jean and Alexander Heard Education library
http://www.library.vanderbilt.edu/education
This site has organized information under various topics. Under Internet resources, select the literacy link. Lists numerous child and family literacy resources, including Child & Family Canada.

Valerie Rhomberg is a licensing specialist at the Ministry of Community and Social Services, Toronto region office, and a faculty member at the School of Child and Family Studies, Canadian Mothercraft in Toronto. She is co-chair of the professional development committee of the AECEO. Over the past 20 years, she has held many positions in child care, and has written numerous articles and a book. She sits on the advisory board of the Neurodevelopmental Research Project. © CCCF