Key aspects of emergent literacy include:
* Print awareness: Understanding that print carries meaning, recognizing that books have a beginning and an end, knowing that text is read from left to right and top to bottom, identifying letters and words.
* Phonological awareness: Understanding the sounds of language, recognizing rhyming words, identifying syllables, manipulating sounds in words (e.g., blending sounds to make a word, segmenting a word into sounds).
* Vocabulary development: Building a rich vocabulary through conversations, reading aloud, and exposure to diverse language.
* Narrative skills: Developing the ability to tell stories, retell stories heard, and understand story structure.
* Letter knowledge: Recognizing and naming letters of the alphabet.
* Writing attempts: Scribbling, drawing, and experimenting with writing letters and words, even if they aren't conventionally spelled.
* Motivation and engagement: Developing a positive attitude towards reading and writing through enjoyable experiences.
Emergent literacy is crucial because it lays the groundwork for later reading and writing success. Children who have strong emergent literacy skills are better prepared to learn to read and write in school. It's a dynamic and ongoing process that continues to develop even after a child learns to read fluently.