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5 Powerful Ways to Use Book Sharing to Boost Language and Literacy in Your Classroom

5 Powerful Ways to Use Book Sharing to Boost Language and Literacy in Your Classroom

In today's digital age, the art of sharing books and stories with children is more crucial than ever. The research article "Sharing Books and Stories to Promote Language and Literacy" provides insightful strategies that practitioners can implement to enhance language and literacy skills in young learners. This blog post distills key takeaways from the research, offering practical tips for integrating these findings into your classroom or therapy sessions.

1. Phonological Awareness

Phonological awareness is the ability to recognize and manipulate the sounds of spoken language. The research emphasizes the importance of incorporating phonological awareness activities into book-sharing sessions. Here's how you can do it:

2. Print Awareness

Print awareness involves understanding the forms and functions of written language. To foster this skill, use the "print referencing" technique during shared book reading:

A structured program, such as a 30-week print awareness curriculum, can be particularly effective in a classroom setting.

3. Letter Naming Knowledge

Letter naming knowledge (LNK) is a critical predictor of early reading success. To teach LNK during book sharing:

Consider cultural differences in how families approach letter learning to make your teaching more inclusive.

4. Dialogic Reading

Dialogic reading transforms book sharing into an interactive dialogue between the adult and the child. This method is particularly effective for toddlers:

While this technique is powerful, be mindful of cultural differences that may affect its implementation.

5. Vocabulary and Inferential Language

Building a robust vocabulary and developing inferential language skills are essential for later reading comprehension:

Structured activities and group discussions can further enhance these skills.

By incorporating these evidence-based strategies into your book-sharing sessions, you can significantly boost the language and literacy development of the children you work with. For more detailed information and additional strategies, consider reading the original research paper, "Sharing Books and Stories to Promote Language and Literacy," available here.


Citation: Hayward, D. V. (2007). Sharing books and stories to promote language and literacy. Canadian Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, 31(3), 109-160. Retrieved from https://cjslpa.ca/files/2007_CJSLPA_Vol_31/No_03_109-160/Reviews_CJSLPA_2007.pdf
Marnee Brick, President, TinyEYE Therapy Services

Author's Note: Marnee Brick, TinyEYE President, and her team collaborate to create our blogs. They share their insights and expertise in the field of Speech-Language Pathology, Online Therapy Services and Academic Research.

Connect with Marnee on LinkedIn to stay updated on the latest in Speech-Language Pathology and Online Therapy Services.

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