SLP Literacy Guide Chapter I: Early Building Blocks of Literacy

The intricate process of learning to read relies on acquiring several speech and language-related sub-skills, which starts well before the onset of formal reading instruction. Speech-language pathologists have an important opportunity to facilitate the development of crucial building blocks for literacy from preschool age, through targeting key predictors of long-term reading outcomes such as phonological awareness. This presentation will provide an overview of the speech and language-related sub-skills that serve as fundamental early building blocks for literacy development, and discuss the role of a speech-language pathologist in supporting children’s readiness for learning to read in early childhood. This course will then review emergent literacy skills and early literacy milestones. We will specify important opportunities speech-language pathologists have to target and monitor children’s emergent language and literacy skills within their direct scope of practice.

Explore Course

Presenters

Jennifer Zuk
PhD CCC-SLP
Jennifer Zuk, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is an Assistant Professor at Boston University. Her research focuses on factors in early childhood that shape language and reading development, with the goal to facilitate positive outcomes for children susceptible to reading difficulties. As an SLP, she is committed to translating research to practice to promote effective identification, access, and inclusion.

Learning Objectives

Describe key building blocks for literacy development.
Identify specific strategies SLP’s can leverage to support children’s readiness for learning to read in early childhood.
Describe practical strategies for jointly supporting children’s emergent language and literacy skills.

Agenda

10 minutes	Overview of early building blocks for literacy development
10 minutes	Define the role of the SLP in supporting children’s readiness for learning to read in early childhood
10 minutes	Discuss clinical strategies for jointly supporting children’s emergent language and literacy skills

Disclosures

Speakers - Financial	Jennifer Zuk is a salaried employee at Boston University. Jennifer is receiving compensation for this course.
Speakers - Nonfinancial	Jennifer Zuk has no non-financial relationships to disclose.
Course - Content	Jennifer Zuk has no additional content information to disclose.
Course - Financial Support & In Kind	This course is being sponsored by SLP Toolkit and ClassLab.

ASHA

This course is offered for 0.05 ASHA CEUs, Introductory Level, Professional Area

SLP Literacy Guide Chapter I: Early Building Blocks of Literacy: $10.00
This course highlights the vital role SLPs play in supporting early literacy development by targeting key speech and language sub-skills like phonological awareness before formal reading begins. Learn about foundational literacy milestones, emergent skills, and practical ways to monitor and foster children’s readiness to read within the SLP’s scope of practice. Includes access to the recorded course and optional ASHA reporting.