Foundation Blocks for Early Learning - Literacy

Virginia K-12 teachers have the Standards of Learning to guide instruction, but what about our younger students? The Department of Education has written a set of Comprehensive Standards for 4-year-olds called the Foundation Blocks for Early Learning. These Foundation Blocks incorporate goals and objectives from each curriculum area and also include suggested learning activities.

Activities to meet the Literacy Standards

You can download your own Foundation Blocks Standards by clicking the image above. In addition to all of the suggested activities that are listed, here are links to some other developmentally appropriate ways to teach each standard.

Oral Language

The child will develop listening and speaking skills by communicating experiences and ideas orally.

Sequencing a Story (The Mitten)
Show & Share - from Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds
Story Telling - from Teach Preschool
How to Build Communication Skills - from Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds
Story Stones - from Teach Preschool
Using Pictures to Develop Oral Language - from Stay at Home Educator
Nursery Rhyme Activity - from Where Imagination Grows

Vocabulary

The child will develop an understanding of word meanings through the use of appropriate and expanding vocabulary.

Building Children's Vocabulary - from Teach Preschool
Opposite Words - from Playdough to Plato
Supporting Vocabulary Development - from NAEYC
Free Vocabulary Picture Cards - from Pre-K Pages

Phonological Awareness

The child will manipulate the various units of speech sounds in words.

Rhyming - Fun ways to practice
Phonemic Awareness Activities - from Pre-K Pages
Teaching Rhyming - from PreKinders
Rhyming Activities - from Fun-A-Day
Playing with Syllables - from This Reading Mama
Initial Sound Picture Sorts - folder games for easy practice
Syllable Songs - from Dr. Jean
Syllable Puddle Jumping - from Playdough to Plato

Letter Knowledge

The child will demonstrate basic knowledge of the alphabetic principle and understand that the letters in written words represent the sounds in spoken words.

Alphabet Sensory Bin - Letter learning and sensory fun
Literacy in the Block Area - from Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds
Making Letters - Construct letters on the light table
Hands-On Alphabet - activities to practice the letters
Spelling Names - Fun ideas to teach children the letters of their names
Name Recognition Puzzles - from Preschool Inspirations
Font Sorts - easy folder games
Magnetic Letter Activities - from Fun-A-Day
Alphabet on the Light Table - from And Next Comes L
Name Folders - 4 hands-on ways to practice

Print Awareness

The child will demonstrate knowledge of print concepts and understand the connection between the spoken and written word.

Pretend Writing - Why it's so important.
Simple Sight Words - Learning them through sensory play
Develop Concept of Word - using the pocket chart
Importance of Looking at Pictures - from Fun-A-Day

Writing

The child will write using a variety of materials and technology to convey thoughts, ideas, and experiences.

Salt Tray Writing - Incorporates a sensory experience
Watercolor Names - Art and writing
Letter Rubbing - Pre-Writing activity
Using Different Writing Tools - from Teach Preschool
Writing is a Developmental Process
Gross Motor Writing - Get them moving while they learn to write
Pencil Grasp - Information about development from Stay at Home Educator

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Our first day at Play to Learn Preschool is today. (Wish us luck. The first month is exhausting!) Whether you've been teaching for a while or are just ready to get started, I hope that you have a wonderful school year, full of lots of playing and literacy learning.