[OPLINLIST] FW: Important Early Literacy Information

[Melissa Lattanzi]

-----Original Message-----
From: Sue Nespeca 
Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2009 8:54 AM
To: Melissa Lattanzi
Subject: Important Early Literacy Information

The following report was just released by the National Early Literacy
Panel from 
the National Institute for Literacy. You will note that their findings
include 
many of the same principles from the Every Child Ready to Read Project
--- it is 
great to know that we are on track! For a printout of the report go to: 
 
http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/publications/pdf/NELPReport09.pdf 
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The much anticipated National Early Literacy Panel report Developing
Early 
Literacy identifies researchbased literacy best practices, provides
clues for 
unlocking life-long learning, and underscores the need for translational

research to address the gap in our nation's understanding of literacy. 
 
WASHINGTON, January 8, 2009 - Learning to read and write opens doors to
progress and prosperity across a lifetime. The years before kindergarten
are a 
particularly fertile and profitable time to prepare young children to
read and 
learn by teaching them essential literacy skills. The challenge of
helping all 
children become successful readers requires early teaching, using home
and 
school instruction built upon proven research and effective practices. 
 
This is the message being delivered today as the National Institute for
Literacy 
(the Institute) releases findings from the much-anticipated report,
Developing 
Early Literacy: Report of the National Early Literacy Panel, A
Scientific 
Synthesis of Early Literacy Development and Implications for
Intervention. The 
National Early Literacy Panel's (NELP) report serves as the basis of
several 
powerful, research-based recommendations to the early childhood
community - 
educators, caregivers, Head Start providers, and parents - on promoting
the 
foundational skills of life-long literacy. 
 
"Literacy skills start developing the moment we're born and it is
literacy that 
enables a person's ability to participate in society. This new report
shows the 
scientific validity of earlier and more targeted investments in literacy

development," said NELP chairman Dr. Timothy Shanahan, a professor of
urban 
education at the University of Illinois at Chicago and director of its
Center 
for Literacy. 
 
Some of the key findings of the report reveal the best early predictors
of 
literacy, which include alphabet knowledge, phonemic awareness, rapid
naming 
skills, writing (such as writing one's name), and short-term memory for
words 
said aloud. Instruction on these skills may be especially helpful for
children 
at risk for developing reading difficulties. More complex oral language
skills 
also appear to be important. 
 
"These are very important findings," Dr. Shanahan added. "We can use the
report 
to shape educational policy and practice, determine how teachers and
families 
can best support young children's development, and guide future literacy

research initiatives. This is the most comprehensive synthesis of
published 
literacy research ever conducted by scientists on children from birth to
age 5, 
and it provides an important basis for actionable recommendations." 
 
In addition to presenting findings on which early measures of a child's
skills 
predict later decoding, reading comprehension, and spelling achievement,

Developing Early Literacy identifies a wide-variety of interventions and

instructional approaches that improve a child's early literacy skills.
NELP 
researchers also looked at the role of environment and at child
characteristics 
that may link to future outcomes in reading, writing, and spelling. 
 
Said Shanahan: "We have accomplished a major goal by synthesizing the
scientific 
evidence to better understand what matters when the youngest of children
are 
developing literacy skills. This report provides clear evidence that
early 
literacy interventions work. However, we need more investment and
research from government, business, philanthropy, and academia to
continue to build and 
strengthen the connection between scientific evidence and strategies
used in 
classrooms, early learning centers, and at home to make children better
readers 
and learners." 
 
The Institute convened the nine-member National Early Literacy Panel in
2002 in 
consultation with The National Center for Family Literacy, and was
supported by 
the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services.
Developing 
Early Literacy bridges a large gap in the early-literacy research
knowledge 
base. By synthesizing research on language, literacy, and communication,
the 
report clearly identifies which critical early skills or abilities and
proven 
instructional practices are precursors of later literacy achievement. It

provides important clues and insights into emergent literacy from birth
through 
age 5 and points the way for future literacy research and scientific
inquiry. 
 
Daniel J. Miller, Acting Director of the Institute, complimented the
work of the 
National Early Literacy Panel saying, "This report, a culmination of a 
systematic, meta-analytic review of the entire body of research on early

literacy, not only provides us with clues into fostering life-long
learners, but 
also clearly indicates the need for translational research that turns
theory 
into best practices. Developing Early Literacy will help us close the
gaps that 
have existed in literacy practices in the formative years." 
 
Laura Westberg, the report's Principal Investigator and Director of
Special 
Projects and Research for the National Center for Family Literacy,
joined Miller 
in praising the panel, adding, "We can now build on these findings to
create 
meaningful tools and materials to engage and support parents, families,
and 
communities. We can also encourage research-based changes in teacher
training, 
curriculum development, and assessment." The National Institute for
Literacy, a 
federal agency, provides leadership on literacy issues, including the 
improvement of reading instruction for children, youth and adults. A
copy of 
Developing Early Literacy, and related NELP information and products,
can be 
found at http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/publications/pdf/NELPReport09.pdf 
-- 
Sue McCleaf Nespeca 
 
Early Literacy/Children's Literature Specialist 
Email: nespecas at neo.rr.com; sue at kidlitplus.com 
Phone: 330.799.0310