In the above video, an educator demonstrates how reading a book can go far beyond storytelling. Through simple yet effective strategies like pointing to words as they are read, identifying the author and illustrator, clapping out syllables, and discussing letter sounds, students begin to develop crucial skills such as print knowledge, phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, and alphabet knowledge.
These foundational skills are not only important in the early years but continue to be built upon throughout primary school. In our Prep classrooms, these same strategies are explicitly taught through the Read It Again! Program, an evidence-based oral language and literacy intervention designed to strengthen vocabulary, narrative skills, and awareness of sound and print. The wonderful Prep team have also put information about Read It Again outside Prep B for more information about this program and how it supports our students' reading, language and literacy skills.
By embedding these practices across year levels, we create a language-rich environment that supports all learners, whether they're just starting their literacy journey or developing more advanced reading and writing skills. As a Speech-Language Pathologists, we collaborate and work closely with classroom teachers to embed these strategies across the curriculum, ensuring all students build a strong foundation for lifelong learning.