CPA preschool rounded off their first quarter unit on literacy by hosting an event for Academy families, Early Childhood Literacy Family Night. Early childhood literacy addresses children from ages 0-8 and is defined as everything a child knows about reading and writing before he or she can read and write.
The event featured early childhood literacy scholar Lisa Maddox-Vinson. Maddox-Vinson has more than 20 years of experience working with children, and 15 years as the Children’s Library Director for the LaVergne Public Library, ranked fifth in the nation for its children’s programs. She currently teaches Early Childhood Education at Austin Peay State University, and trains teachers and librarians specializing in literacy development.
Parents enjoyed free childcare while hearing an expert’s perspective on reading with their children. The discussion emphasized the core developmental stage for childhood literacy from birth to age five, heavily reliant on literacy culture, interaction, and encouragement from adults in the child’s life. Maddox-Vinson outlined the areas of development as oral language, phonemic awareness, print concepts, and writing and alphabetic knowledge. She provided parents with a wide variety of suggestions for healthy development and interaction, and offered suggestions for her top 15 engaging children’s books.
“The power of literacy lies not only in the ability to read and write but also in an individual’s capacity to put those skills to work in shaping the course of his or her own life. Literacy changes everything for a child. How amazing that the Lord gifted us to be a part of that for our students!” says CPA Preschool Principal Kelly Fuller.
