Where to Learn More
- University of Washington: Institute for Learning & Brain Science (I-LABS)The Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences (I-LABS) is the world’s leading interdisciplinary research center on early learning and brain development. Parents and Caregivers can access free resources that highlight the science of child development through handouts and learning modules.
- Center on the Developing Child at Harvard UniversityThe Center strives to present information, especially scientific information, in a way that is accessible to a wide range of readers.
- Reach Out & ReadReach Out and Read is a national nonprofit that champions the positive effects of reading daily and engaging in other language-rich activities with young children. Reading together promotes healthy brain development, furthers language acquisition, and helps families build meaningful bonds.
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Developmental MilestonesSkills such as taking a first step, smiling for the first time, and waving “bye bye” are called developmental milestones. Children reach milestones in how they play, learn, speak, act, and move (crawling, walking, etc.).
- Saroj Ghoting Early Literacy ResearchSaroj Ghoting is an Early Childhood Literacy Consultant and national trainer on early literacy. She has presented early literacy training and information sessions at national, regional, and state conferences, and training for library staff and their partners. She has been a consultant for the Public Library Association and the Association for Library Service to Children of the American Library Association on the Every Child Ready to Read @ your library® early literacy initiative.
Brain Development
- Axon - the "output" fiber that sends impulses to other neurons
- Dendrites - short hair-like "input" fibers that receive impulses from other neurons
- Cell body - processes the inputs
Neurons relay messages to and from the brain. If the collective "inputs" to a single neuron are strong enough, it will "output" its own message, sending it to the brain to be processed.
Children use every part of their brain when they learn to read.
- Frontal Lobe - responsible for movement, problem solving, concentrating, thinking, behavior, personality, and mood.
- Temporal Lobe - processes hearing, language, and memory
- Brainstem - responsible for consciousness, breathing, and heart rate
- Cerebellum - responsible for posture, balance, and coordination of movement.
- Occipital Lobe - Processes vision and responsible for perception.
- Parietal Lobe - processes sensations, language, and perception and is responsible for body awareness and attention.
When we read, all the parts of our brain work together. Early literacy skills help our brain learn to use all of these parts together so we're ready to read when we go to school.