Introduction to Emergent Literacy Development

Literacy development begins at birth, and literacy learning happens at home and in a child’s community. Families and caregivers are children’s first teachers and storytellers.

Children bring rich knowledge, values and experiences with them to school from these early interactions, which are the foundation for building literacy skills.

Learn about Emergent Literacy Development

Laying the Foundation for Literacy Development

Emergent literacy is the starting point in children’s literacy development and includes the knowledge, skills and attitudes that children develop before conventional reading and writing. Although this is the first stage, the lines distinguishing emergent, early and conventional literacy are blurred. Typically, emergent literacy begins at birth and extends through age 5, with children developing skills at different rates.

Components of Emergent Literacy

Background Knowledge

Children gather information as they observe the world around them; they start building their background knowledge as infants. Each interaction has the potential to become important information a child stores in their memory. Families, caregivers and communities can build children’s background knowledge through both planned interactions and in-the-moment learning opportunities.

Oral Language and Vocabulary

Children listen to the world around them and begin speaking by making their own attempts at sounds and words. They develop oral language through both of these actions and acquire vocabulary as they are exposed to new words and practice using them. Children develop oral language skills at different paces while they are influenced by their environments and their own attempts at expression.

Book Knowledge and Print Concepts

Children interact with written language all around them. Book knowledge develops as children are read to by adults and make early attempts to read books themselves by turning pages and noticing pictures. Children interact with print in books as they start to recognize that words and pictures carry meaning. This understanding extends to the world around them as they experience a print-rich environment, for example, from text on items at the grocery store and letters and symbols on street signs.

Phonological Awareness

Alphabetic Knowledge and Early Writing

Educator Reflection Questions to Develop Understanding

Why is it important to understand emergent literacy development?
What about emergent literacy development relates to your students?
How might knowledge of emergent literacy development influence the planning of literacy instruction?

Implement Evidence-Based Emergent Literacy Practices

Support early literacy with step-by-step instructions on shared reading practice.
Encourage emergent literacy with ideas for building knowledge of letters and sounds.
Learn how to build vocabulary and language for literacy development.
See research-based resources to support early literacy to learn more about promising programs and researched-based practices.
Find all the necessary guidance and materials to run your own professional learning community on emergent literacy.