Teachers can transform reading into a magical adventure by leveraging creative techniques. Reading out loud to young learners while asking them to use their imagination, play a role, or act out scenes helps make the learning experience fun and more inclusive.
Last month, the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) hosted 150 educators for a three-day training full of creative ways to teach critical literacy skills. The training focused on “Joyful Literacy,” an evidence-based approach to helping children develop language, literacy, and critical thinking skills through playful learning activities.
Pre-kindergarten through second-grade teachers learned about culturally and linguistically sustaining practices that build on children’s experiences and backgrounds, valuing culture and language to maximize learning. Foundational reading skills developed in an explicit and systematic, yet child-friendly manner are part of the comprehensive instruction. In addition to many helpful resources, teachers received copies of eight books for use in their classrooms. They also learned from award-winning author Minh Le, who wrote one of the books they received: Drawn Together. The dynamic speaker explained how art is a universal language and has the power to connect individuals across diverse groups, including intergenerational relationships.
SCOE and its partners have been conducting a series of professional learning sessions on the Joyful Literacy teaching approach for over a year. The Summer Institute was the largest and most extensive thus far. Attendees included representatives from school districts across multiple counties, charter schools, the Sacramento Public Library, and the California Department of Education. The team of facilitators involved multiple SCOE departments, including Early Learning, Curriculum and Instruction, Expanded Learning, and Multilingual Education. A professional learning program for education leaders, SCOE 21CSLA, helped sponsor the training and the author’s appearance.
Sacramento READS Literacy Initiative
The series of Joyful Literacy training sessions is just one piece of a broader SCOE literacy initiative called Sacramento County READS. It is an investment in the development and implementation of collaborative systems of teaching and learning, community partnerships, support services, and family engagement. The effort is focused on the science of reading, which promotes reading and literacy success. The goal is for all learners in Sacramento County to meet reading and literacy milestones and become proficient readers.
More About Joyful Literacy
Additional Joyful Literacy training is planned for the 2024–25 school year. Sessions will be listed in SCOE’s Professional Learning Registration System.
Resources for Educators
- Joyful Reading and Creative Expression with Young Children Planning Guide
- Joyful Reading and Writing with Young Children Resource Collection
- Video: Joyful Reading and Creative Expression with Young Children (Planning Tips and Tools)
- Video: Teaching Routine for Academic Vocabulary in Grades PreK–1