The Missouri Reader Vol. 36, Issue 2 | Page 25

IMPACT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS ON
LITERACY DEVELOPMENT
Hannah K. Sanders
nhancing children’s literacy
achievement has been identified as a top
priority in education policy and research
(Massetti, 2009). According to Massetti,
reading is a critical foundation for children’s
academic success. She contends a love for
reading and a solid foundation of basic literacy
concepts will help a child achieve more in the
school setting. Lynch (2011) states, “It is
widely known that early learning opportunities
are important for young children’s cognitive
development” (para.1). The preschool years are
important for children’s language and literacy
development and the practices of their teachers
have an impact on how much children learn
(Lynch, 2011). When teachers work with early
learners, they are responsible for laying the
foundation for their learning later in life. It is
critical and absolutely necessary that students
are encouraged to learn and encouraged to step
outside of their comfort zones while being
supported by a teacher. Teachers have to
consider outside factors when working with
early childhood students. Factors such as
family, home life, socio-economic status, and
developmental issues all play a role in how the
student will learn reading skills (Lynch, 2011).
Coles (2008) states:
Reading is the most essential life skill known
to man. Reading is the springboard to success
that every classroom needs to nourish, but
most importantly a preschool classroom,
where fresh minds are the most malleable.
(para.1)
According to Lynch, if children are not read to
at home and do not attend a preschool or early
childhood program before
kindergarten they are less likely to develop a
real interest in reading.

According to Gonzalez and Nelson (2003),
understanding language is
the first step to becoming
literate. Preschool and
early childhood programs
are a stepping stone for
children to be
thriving young readers
(Hooper, Roberts, Nelson,
Zeisel, & Fannin, 2010).
Making Early Learning
a Priority
Early schooling is still
doubted by much of the population even though
it has become more accepted over the last
decade. Bowman (2009) provided four
contributing factors that she believes are
Hannah Sanders’ passion for education comes
from the desire to make a difference in the lives
of young children, especially children who come
from disadvantaged backgrounds. Her goal is to
help them become productive citizens and selfsufficient life-long learners. She received
bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education and a
masters in Literacy from Missouri State
University. She is now going out into the field of
education to be a teacher and make a positive
impression on the lives of young children. In her
spare time she enjoys spending time with love
ones, being outdoors, exercising, baking, and
curling up with a good book.

responsible for the influx in approval of early
schooling and education in the past generation:
©The Missouri Reader, 36 (2) p. 24