About This Model
The goals for students’ literacy skills in Grades PK-3 include reading comprehension where learners fully understand the intended meaning and an emergent understanding of the mechanics and purposes of writing. Understanding the Learner Factors and strategies that impact literacy and how they connect to each other can help you build tools and lessons that support all learners.
Our research highlights several key themes about teaching and learning Literacy at the PK-3 level
Early language experiences lay the foundation for reading and writing.
Literacy development is rooted in children’s early language experiences, nurtured by their Home Literacy Environment.
Students develop the building blocks for reading and writing.
Children use their Alphabet Knowledge and Phonological Awareness to start Decoding—the ability to sound out words.
Supporting cognitive abilities can enhance learning.
Students’ Working Memory and Verbal Reasoning support their reading comprehension and writing by helping them make inferences and connections.
Dive Into This Model
Literacy PK-3 Factors
Literacy PK-3 Strategies
The Research Behind This Model
To create each Learner Variability Project Learner Model, we follow a systematic methodology led by our expert researchers. The process is also overseen by an advisory board of leading content area and learning sciences experts.
Advisory Board for Literacy PK-3
Dave Paunesku, Ph.D.
Cynthia Puranik, PhD/CCC-SLP
Bruce McCandliss, Ph.D.
Todd Rose, Ph.D.
Carol McDonald Connor, Ph.D.
Jeannette Mancilla-Martinez, Ed.D.
Early language experiences lay the foundation for reading and writing.
Literacy development is rooted in children’s early language experiences, nurtured by their Home Literacy Environment.
A stimulating environment with read-alouds from a rich library and playful literacy activities is related to higher levels of children's Motivation. Building students’ Vocabulary and Background Knowledge is key to supporting comprehension of both fiction and non-fiction texts and writing development. Modeling connections to the text and teaching through multimodal instruction can lead to greater understanding of texts.Students develop the building blocks for reading and writing.
Children use their Alphabet Knowledge and Phonological Awareness to start Decoding—the ability to sound out words.
Explicit phonics instruction helps learners figure out unfamiliar words when reading and when spelling, a component of Foundational Writing Skills. Reading fluency—students’ ability to read quickly, accurately, and expressively—develops along with their Sight Recognition and confidence. Daily reviews and classroom activities such as word sorts can help students recognize patterns and become independent readers.Supporting cognitive abilities can enhance learning.
Students’ Working Memory and Verbal Reasoning support their reading comprehension and writing by helping them make inferences and connections.
Modeling comprehension strategies and dialogic reading also guide students’ interactions with texts. Young students may also need support in sustaining their Attention for learning. Building in movement breaks and opportunities for Physical Fitness can support Self-regulation and students’ ability to focus on new concepts.