Once upon a time, it was believed that literacy training could begin only after children’s brains had matured — at about six years of age. But experts now know that the skills and habits of literacy are gradually acquired during the first years of life (see “Much More than the ABCs: The Early Stages of Reading and Writing,” by Judith A. Schickedanz, National Association for the Education of Young Children, 1999). What then can a third- or an eighth-grade teacher do to influence the reading readiness of the infants and toddlers who could one day become their struggling students? The answer lies in grassroots literacy partnerships.
Read More: Scholastic