The Power of Literacy

When I say to a parent, "read to a child", I don't want it to sound like medicine. I want it to sound like chocolate. Mem Fox

I love the power of literacy and the impact that this can have on a young learner. As a mum, I especially loved reading to my own children from a very early age. I was not a confident reader myself, so being able to overcome fear and spark a love of reading was compelling for me. My eldest began reading road signs from a really early age and I remember giving books to her in the back of the car to read on short trips and just loved, not only hearing her phonetically sound out words, but the joy in her voice as she grew in confidence to retell a story. Helpful that we loved Mem Fox’s books so she also picked up how to rhyme from an early age which also helped in the predictability of her fluency.

The bonus of being an early childhood educator, I was able to help her when she got stuck, but what I was amazed about, was her ability to remember this strategy and apply to other words. I knew, however, that this was a rarity and being an early years educator, reading doesn’t come fluently to everyone. But what I loved about juggling being a parent at home and a teacher at school, was the beautiful balance that I had to be able to see how important navigating learning to the need of the child and not the other way around.

She was a proficient reader by the age of 4. But what let her down, was the inability of educators to see this potential and release the writer earlier. Past is past and I would do things differently if I could, however, I now have a writer who has the potential to be a journalist, architect or OT, so something went right due to an inner drive and persistence on her part to not give up.

However, I also understand that literacy is a skill that doesn’t come naturally to some. The skill for an early educator to be able to manage, and create creative strategies that assist and align are vital. There isn’t a one size fits all approach and one of the best ways to make literacy available to all, is to make it fun. Fun and relevant. But also, meaningful. Children need to see that literacy is a skill that can be used in so many other areas. To envelope a love of learning with every day life. Creating signs from wood and charcoal outside after a small campfire, or creating shopping lists with illegible writing and pictures (or even squiggly writing- because that is writing!), to creating recipes with just 3 ingredients and the child represents the recipe as a series of pictures. Anything that portrays meaning or the desire to communicate is power. Speaking, writing and reading are skills that, once an educator understands the learner, empowers them to grow into a learner that wants to learn more.

Powerful learners are those who are not “gifted” or those who don’t struggle. Powerful learners have incredible educators who creatively design individualised activities and strategies that connect a child to how they best learn. Its not a one size fits all approach. I don't think I have spent hours making activities for various learning tasks and I don't think that i have replicated too many times, as the learners that I have been blessed to educate are all different. Active, passive, compliant, non- compliant, I've had them all. Powerful educators spend their time creating ways that empower learning.

One of my most favourite opportunities as an early childhood educator, was introducing my students to bookmaking with Lisa Burmann. The art of literacy leaving paper (or anything that can be used to write on) and writing implements available and students to create their own books was amazing. It was a crafted activity where other adults were asked not to support and for the children to work with one another to see how they could best create “something”. The most impactful time is the sharing time that comes following. Its not a structured sharing time, but one where the students have informal opportunities to share their “story”.

“Can I make a book??? Yes!!!”

“Can I share my writing??? Yes!!!”

“I can’t wait to show Dad when he picks me up what I’ve done!”

Young children now entering early years education may have heard a story through an ap or a screen. Minecraft or Roblox may just not devise the creative imagination that literacy does. They may have had someone re-tell a story and this is pivotal in cultures that pass down stories aurally, and the art of literacy, or the blessing of literacy comes generations before, and time. Time spent one on one. Time spent listening or sharing a story that sparks the imagination.

The fire of literacy is created by the emotional sparks between a child, a book, and the person reading. Mem Fox

The art, or power of literacy comes from simply spending time reading and writing and also modelling these concepts. Spending the time doing what you love so that you can pass this legacy onto the next generation. Not only because it is the right thing to do, but also because it creates new opportunities.

"Its the relationship winding between all three, bringing them together in easy harmony". Mem Fox

The power of literacy + relationships = building strong connection