Purpose
Literature-based intervention is used to facilitate both early language and emergent literacy goals, which supports success in later reading and writing. Best practices in choosing picture books to facilitate specific goals are limited, but one line of research asserts that different genres align with different goals. However, metafiction is one genre that is yet to be explored as a context for facilitating emergent literacy goals. Metafiction uses a variety of devices to draw attention to itself as an artifact providing unique learning opportunities. The purposes of this clinical focus article are to (a) introduce the different devices authors use in metafictive writing, (b) correlate individual devices with specific foundational literacy goals targeted in therapy (i.e., oral language, phonological awareness, print awareness, and alphabet knowledge), and (c) provide a sample session. A variety of metafictive picture books will be offered to illustrate these connections.
Conclusion
Metafictive picture books provide a rich context for facilitating emergent literacy goals because of the specific devices authors use in these texts.
Children's use of touch-screen tablets is increasing as these mobile devices become increasingly available. The interactive, tactile touch-screen interface and easily downloadable applications make tablets especially popular with pre-schoolers. This chapter's literature review provides an overview of recent research into tablets and emergent literacy development at home and in the pre-school setting. A multi-faceted synthesis of research on children's use of tablets and its impact in emergent literacy skills was conducted. The evidence indicated that mobile learning via touch-screen tablets has the potential to broadly enhance emergent writing and may facilitate the development of letter name/sound knowledge, print awareness, letter writing and name writing skills, and phonological awareness. The relation between the use of tablets and emergent literacy development seems to be complex as it is mediated by factors such as the type of multisensory experiences through literacy applications and the type of scaffolding used by adults. Recommendations and directions for future research are discussed.
Play is one of the five practices every parent uses to help their young children get ready to read. Through research and evaluation, Dr. Susan Neuman identified five simple but powerful practices and simplified the language used in Every Child Ready to Read (ECRR 1st edition) from the six skills (print awareness, letter knowledge, phonological awareness, vocabulary, narrative skills, and print motivation) to the practices (reading, writing, singing, talking, playing) used in ECRR 2nd edition.
Electronic storybook design, kindergartners' visual attention, and print awareness: An eye-tracking investigation