We all know the importance of fostering a strong literacy foundation in our little learners. But with so much to juggle, ensuring we’re hitting all those crucial emergent literacy goals can feel overwhelming. Been there, done that and stressed about it! Without a sequential plan for preschool literacy like ‘Letter of the Week’ or a literacy curriculum, it can feel scary to trust in the process of teaching emergent literacy skills in non-sequential, yet meaningful ways.
I gave up LOTW many years ago for lots of convincing reasons, and you can read about that here. But, I do understand why many teachers still grasp to a step-by-step plan. It makes sense to our brains and makes us feel confident that we are covering the skills we should be (even if it’s done in a way that research tells us is not best for young children).
The truth is the children in your class are going to be acquiring different skills at different times based on what they already know, what they’re ready for, or what relates to them.
So, what is a teacher to do who wants to have a plan for preschool literacy while still providing the opportunity for differentiation? Well… for me… it was to make a different plan. I know! Hear me out!
What makes this plan different than a sequential curriculum or program?
- Intentional: The plan is to ensure that I provide the learning opportunities that children need to meet Emergent Literacy Goals. Truth is, if I don’t present it and set it up, children can’t learn from it. So, it’s not a plan to tell me what letter to teach or what activity must be done a certain day. It’s a list that I can use to make sure I’m planning the opportunities needed.
- Structured, Yet Flexible: This plan is divided into clear sections – Beginning, Middle, and End of Year – to ensure age-appropriate progression. Each section is further broken down by instruction type: Interactive Read Alouds, Shared Reading, Modeled Writing, Interactive Writing, and one-off Mini Lessons. This structure keeps things organized, while still allowing me to adapt based on my students’ interests and needs.
- Focus on Emergent Literacy Goals: The plan incorporates activities that target all the key areas of emergent literacy, including phonological awareness, print concepts, language, letters and words and writing.
- Engaging and Playful: Learning should be fun! This plan is packed with interactive to keep preschoolers engaged and excited about literacy.
And here’s the best part – this Master Literacy Plan is just a taste of what’s inside my “Get Your Lit Together” course!
The course provides the complete plan in a user-friendly Google Sheet format, making it easy to access and personalize. It also dives deeper into each activity type, offering creative lesson ideas and implementation tips. Not to mention the modules to teach you, in depth, how to implement the instructional vehicles!
–> Click to Learn more about the Get Your Lit Together: Preschool Literacy Made Easy course!
