Date of Award
1990
Document Type
Practicum
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Center for the Advancement of Education
Advisor
Thelma B. Pittman
Committee Member
William W. Anderson
Keywords
children's literature, creative play, critical literacy, emergent literacy, family reading, fantasy, library services, newsletters, parent attitudes, parent participation, parent role, parents as teachers, play, preschool children, preschool education, pretending experience, program effectiveness, reading aloud to others, teacher attitudes
Abstract
The writer designed the practicum to solve the problem as stated. Preschoolers attending a weekly full-time daycare program needed more exposure to children's literature in order for their literacy development to be properly nourished. The first goal sought to ensure that books and literacy experiences become more available for children off-site at the preschool. The second goal centered around increasing individualized reading nurturing time for children in their homes by providing families with opportunities for shared reading experiences. A third goal aimed toward involving the community in assisting with preschoolers' literacy development.
To solve the problem, the writer/practitioner solicited the community support for an on-site preschool library collection of children's literature for the 65 regular preschoolers in attendance. More than 800 books were donated, guaranteeing 12 books per children. The writer color-coded books into eight categories to teach children classifications and how to select books and return them to their proper location in the preschool library. The writer designed a number of components to make the program attractive to parent and child: a library card indicating a literacy commitment to the child on the part of parents and preschool personnel, the motivational theme and logo, and a literacy song to be sung each day as a pre-reading activity.
Cultural presentations became a regular part of the program along with a link to the public library system through monthly storytelling sessions. The writers worked on creative play for previous study was incorporated into a program emphasizing merchant literacy via a newsletter to parents on how they could become involved in their children's reading process. Community groups supported the program with books, money, or labor. One service organized book showers, e-drops for returning books, and library counters with a child-height door to the literacy center. The library project will remain permanent, one that will generate annual fundraising activities for physical maintenance and updating of the facility along with stimulating literacy experiences for preschool youngsters.