Literacy Elementary Early language learning (birth-age 8) can be supported with oral story-telling, and at home this would mean giving children ample opportunities to talk about their day, or talk about a story book that was read to them. It is critical to have books on hand and read to your child; local libraries are a great resource for everyone. Children love to engage in creative exploration of the world around them, and at home it is important to expose them to a variety of new materials, even the loose parts of broken toys (ie. a random yellow tire may make them think of the sun, and a rock may conjure up thoughts of a beach), to see what they can come up with! It is important to have ‘mark-making materials’ around the house, so children can make books or draw/write stories about their experiences. It is also important to support conversational skills in our children, therefore asking them hard questions about current events or helping them to critically analyze situations that are part of their world. In terms of homework, teachers often instruct their elementary students to read every evening; there is a clear relationship between exposure to books and ability to read fluently and with comprehension In making this a nightly activity, you will see many benefits. A program called Raz-Kids is often used for reading practice at home.