Building Literacy Skills With Early Talk

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"How can I use conversational turns and early talk to help build literacy skills?"

Words and conversations are the building blocks of early literacy. Supporting these early skills — identifying sounds, vocabulary, comprehension — are essential when children begin unlocking the process of reading on their own.

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Turning children's books into conversation starters

Staying engaged and animated when you’re reading to very young children is not always easy. Turn read-aloud time into interactive conversation time with infants and toddlers using our five suggestions.


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Top 5 Talking Tips for Reading CoP_Top5_Mar

LENA partners share their favorite ways to spark conversation and enhance a child's experience during story time!


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Shared Reading resources Reading handout graphic

Transform story time into a lively conversation! Download and share our Questions to Ask During Shared Reading and Conversation Starters for Reading to help support meaningful conversations with infant, toddler, or preschool children using any book.
Available in English and Spanish.

YOUR STORIES

Educators share their experiences with early literacy practices.

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Strategies to promote literacy in your community
YW Calgary, LENA Start partner

Our friends at YW Calgary (formerly Calgary Reads) share specific strategies to inspire parents, educators, and community members to help children become lifelong readers.

"Every time a family visits, each child selects a book of their own to take home. This is one of our literacy strategies for book ownership, because we know that children who own books are more likely to be readers and see themselves as readers."
     — Sharon Walker

Read more innovative strategies employed by YW Calgary to support the diverse families they serve. 

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Shared reading advice for adults who may struggle with reading
Araceli Luna Diaz, Education Manager at The Concilio

 

Learn (and watch) more about connecting brain-building interactions to early literacy.