03-31-22 | Eurydice

As an aspiring teacher in the future, we were taught about the different strategies that we should use in teaching young children. One of the literacies that were taught to us last semester was all about Emergent Literacy. It is  is the term used to describe the reading and writing experiences of young children before they learn to write and read conventionally (Teale & Sulzby, 1986).

For my co-writers in this platform who already have a child or even have a younger siblings, I hope that this article can help you to be guided on how to teach them effectively. This is purely based on my understanding from our discussions last year.

Repetition

It's not easy for a child to retain information in their minds that is why you have to teach them using repetition method. For an instance, you are going to teach your child about a specific word, you have to say the word first and allow them to repeat after you. This could make the children absorb and remember the words that you conveyed..

Systematic Exposure

You must remember that a child's mind is full with concepts, and they can't keep a lot of information, causing them to forget the lesson you taught in a single day. You must teach your lesson to the youngster over and over again or every other day in order for the child to remember and store the knowledge that you planned to convey. For example, if you taught your child about basic colors yesterday, you should not teach them another lesson the next day directly, because they are likely to forget what they learned the day before. Instead, go over the previous lessons with them and make sure they remembered them. Don't rush things.

Supported Play

You need to exert extra effort in teaching young minds. This means that you have to become creative and resourceful. If you can act, sing or dance, do it! A child can learn easily especially if the one teaching them are creative, flexible, talented and skillful. For example, if you wanted to teach your child how to distinguish different fruits, you could be imaginative and play the role of a fruit salesman offering your child fruits. Because you were able to design a scenario that could excite the child's thinking, this could pique the child's curiosity. It's important to keep in mind that remembering is a learned talent. The more experiences you have, the better you will be able to remember them.

Explicit Reading

Reading stories to children is one of the most effective strategies you can use to help them develop their listening and comprehension abilities. When reading children's stories to them, it's important to read them clearly and with a lot of emotion. Aside from that, you must also explain each line from the story so that the kids may understand and appreciate the story's thoughts and ideas. You must remember that children do not have a large vocabulary, which causes them to be perplexed over simple words. For example, you're reading the story of Cinderella. Then you'll say "Cinderella went inside the palace". You should not stop there, . You need describe what a palace looks like and why Cinderella stepped inside it.

Scaffolding

This is the famous strategy that was mostly used by every individual in teaching a child. In scaffolding, you need to assist your child in learning. You must teach them how to do things but you should not spoonfeed them at the same time. For instance, if you're teaching a child how to add, you have to give assistance. Use your fingers and let the child solve the equation using those. If it is 5-2, you have to open your 1 hand and let him/her count your fingers. After counting, tell the child to subtract 2 fingers and ask him/her how many fingers left. That's how scaffolding works, you're ou're somewhat guiding a child for a common goal.

Multi-Sensory Teaching

Multisensory instruction is a method of teaching that involves multiple senses at the same time. Using sight, hearing, movement, and touch to connect with what they're learning. Using clay is one of the hobbies that you can engage in. Instruct your child to make objects out of clay. This activity will encourage children to use their senses while also allowing them to enjoy and learn.

Use of Environmental Prints

For many emerging readers, environmental print serves as a bridge between letters and their first attempts at reading. Adults can benefit from all of this print by utilizing it to discuss letters, words, and print. For instance, everytime you go to Jollibee, expose your child by teaching him the logo of Jollibee. Time will come, everytime you pass in that establishment, the child will naturally recognize and read that it is a Jollibee Establishment just by seeing it's logo and text.

"Teaching children at their young age will help them develop their emergent literacy skills that could make them knowledgeable in the future. If your child was exposed to words, letters and prints, they are more likely to adjust easily in school and even become a topnotcher in the future." -author

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