An Ecosystem Approach to Developing the Foundation for Reading in the Early Years

The path to becoming a confident, skilled reader begins very early in life- in fact, even before a baby is born. To learn and thrive, develop a deep reading brain, and benefit from an education that promotes choice and a voice to advocate for your rights and a more just society, children must experience a relationships-based, language-centered ecosystem anchored in the responsive interactions they experience with the meaningful adults in their lives. This course supports your understanding of how our Cox Campus B-5 coursework is integrated. It presents an overview of an ecosystem approach to developing the foundation for reading in the early years and introduces nine essential elements, why they matter, and the best practices associated with each element. Also included is the Ecosystem Construction Measure, a tool to assist in monitoring the construction of the ecosystem and supporting goal setting and action planning.

By the End of This Course Youʹll Be Able To

  • Be familiar with the ecosystem approach and the nine essential elements that contribute to a solid foundation in language and literacy.
  • Define the elements, explain why they matter, and identify exemplary practices associated with them.
  • See the connection between the elements and all relevant B5 coursework on Cox Campus. Learners will also be familiar with the Ecosystem Construction Measure and ready to use it at their sites or classroom, as a guide to setting goals and planning action steps for improvement leading to radical child outcomes.

Course Category

Early Learning (Birth-PK)

Recommended for

  • Teachers, leaders, instructional coaches, and other professionals caring for and working with children B5 and their families and seeking to understand what children need to experience in the early years in order to have a solid foundation in language and literacy.

Training Hours

3.5

Why It Matters

Although children do not begin their formal instruction in reading until the first years of formal schooling, the path for developing a fluent, confident reader begins early in life, in fact, in infancy. A strong foundation in language and emergent literacy in the early years is required for children to fully be ready to benefit from reading instruction in the elementary years. Teachers of children in the early years play a critical role in supporting the construction of a reading brain and need support to develop the knowledge and skills to implement practices that define a relationships-based, language-centered ecosystem - a learning environment that supports children's language and literacy development, in preparation for reading.
Dianne Simpson - Facilitator
Activities:Type
Lessons
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Pre-Course Survey for An Ecosystem Approach to Developing the Foundation for Reading in the Early Years
Pre-Course Survey
Rolling Out the Welcome Mat!
Lesson
The Sciences Behind the Practices
Lesson
An Ecosystem Approach
Lesson
The Climate Elements – The ones that make it safe to learn
Lesson
The Content elements – The ones that fill the backpack
Lesson
The Connections Elements – The ones that deepen and extend learning
Lesson
Ecosystem Construction takes off!
Lesson
An Ecosystem Approach to Developing the Foundation for Reading in the Early Years End of Course Assessment
Assessment
Overview
Image of Course
Type:Course
CEUs:0.75
Credit Categories

Estimated Learning Time:

Min 3h 45m
Max 3h 45m
CEUs

The following credits are available upon completion of these activities.

Total credits:  0.75
Key Dates
Enrollment