Essay – Early Literacy and Emergent Readers

In this assignment, you will use what you learned from this week’s readings in addition to outside research to write a 4- to 5-page essay discussing the importance of early literacy skills in language development and analyzing how recent research has influenced instruction in these areas.

  • Create a paper in a Word document for your response.
  • Use APA format for the paper, title page, references page, and in-text citations.
  • Develop an introduction and conclusion for your paper.
  • Follow the steps to complete the assignment.

Step 1. Access
Access the resource, US Department of Education: Early Literacy Resources, for use in this assignment. https://www.ed.gov/early-learning/resources

Links to an external site.

Step 2. Summarize
Provide a brief overview of each of the five areas of instructional focus identified by the National Reading Panel as critical for a successful reading program. Address the following in your summary:

  • Outline the five areas of instructional focus: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and reading comprehension.
  • Summarize the five essential universal components of most language systems: phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics.
  • Identify at least five early predictors of developing strong literacy skills.

Step 3. Analyze and Reflect
Analyze and reflect on how research over the past two decades has contributed to the understanding and delivery of reading instruction and the implications this has for students and educators. Address the following in your analysis and reflection:

  • How listening and speaking develop the foundation for reading and writing in language development
  • The relationship between early literacy skills and learning to read and why early literacy skills are essential for developing readers
  • How research has influenced reading instruction and the implications this has for all teachers

Step 4. Submit
Submit your final paper.