Summarising ECD and Literacy Development

Day 3 Summary
Yesterday's participants provided a range of additional classroom strategies for early childhood professionals to support langage and literacy development. These included using children's own creative expressions to stimulate conversation, telling stories from pictures, using circle time to develop vocabulary and conversation and promoting children's story telling. The importance of exposing children to Standard English, without demeaning their own language, was also highlighted. Very importantly, the professional development of teachers in their own language and literacy skills was highlighted. One area that was not discussed was the role of teachers in supporting parents. Are parents welcome to EC classrooms to participate in activities? Are parents engaged in other ways, through PTA meetings etc.?
Another theme emerged yesterday, the role of communities in supporting ECD (this would have been a good Day 4 theme). The Parents' Place concept of supporting parents in the promotion of their children's development is a community driven initiative that is facilitated and supported by the Government of Jamaica.

Through these days of discussion, it has been apparent that early childhood development in general, and the promotion of language and literacy in particular, is everybody's business: parents, teachers, communities, and the Government of Jamaica.

Thank you all for your participation, both those who commented and those who read the comments. In this small community, let us see how we can act on the discussion points in each sphere where we work, study or parent.