Early Literacyand Feltboards

DIY: Feltboards WorkshopOctober 18, 2014

Homer Public LibrarySponsored by the

Homer Early Childhood Coalition

Claudia HainesYouth Services LibrarianHomer Public Librarychaines@cityofhomer-ak.gov@claudiahaines

What is Early Literacy?Early literacy is what children know about language, reading and writing before they know how to read.

Early literacy is strengthened by our children’s first experiences, conversations, relationships with people who care about them and yes, books. When combined, these parts create a strong foundation so children are ready when they are formally taught to read.

6 Early Literacy SkillsPhonological AwarenessPrint AwarenessPrint MotivationVocabularyLetter KnowledgeNarrative Skills

Phonological AwarenessThe ability to hear and play with the smaller sounds in words.

Feltboards are tactile tools for sharing rhymes and songs that let kids play with sounds as they talk and sing.

Print AwarenessNoticing print everywhere; knowing how to handle a book; knowing how we follow the words on a page.

Felt letters on a feltboard reinforce the concept of print awareness.

Print MotivationA child's interest in and enjoyment of books.

Feltboard activities extend the book and story experience making it more memorable. They also provide opportunities for kids to explore the story and included concepts further.

VocabularyKnowing the names of things.

Felt characters or things can be used to reinforce or introduce names of things and provide a jumping off point for new vocabulary, processes, and ideas.

Letter KnowledgeKnowing that letters have names and are different from each other, and that specific sounds go with specific letters.

Feltboards in their simplest form can be used to display letters so their names and sounds can be reinforced or introduced. Use felt letters to play letter games or the letters can be used as prompts for singing.

Narrative SkillsThe ability to describe things and events and tell stories.

Feltboards are valuable storytelling tools, fostering narrative skills. Kids can retell beloved tales or create their own stories. Feltboards can be used collaboratively or individually and offer open-ended play.

Types of FeltboardsStandard

Pocket Folder

Pizza Box

Canvas

Table top

Digital Feltboards AppsFeltboard- Mother Goose on the Loose

Making Feltboards ● Make pieces that can be reused in multiple stories to

reduce your workload● Use tacky glue, hot glue, or stitches depending on your

comfort level, intended use, audience, & available prep time

● A die cutter makes cutting faster and easier● Find templates online ● Cut up old picturebooks and attach felt to the characters

and objects to retell the the story● Add felt to flashcards or magazine pictures

Using Feltboards with Kids● Practice with the story/activity before using it with kids● Let kids know if they can have a turn during the activity

or afterwards● Rhymes and songs should be repeated- kids are

instantly attracted to the pieces and how they are used, in other words the technology, and need the repetition to then learn the song or process

● keep notes on rhymes, songs and stories for each felt- keep with felt pieces

Early Literacy ResourcesGrowing Readers (Homer!)

American Library Association’s Every Child Ready to Read

Zero to Three

Reading Rockets

Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy

Saroj Ghoting and Early Literacy

Let’s Make Feltboards!