NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN
"LEARNING TO READ AND WRITE: DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE PRACTICES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN”
This joint Position Statement was issued by the International Reading Association and the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Although reading and writing abilities continue to develop throughout the life span, the early childhood years—from birth through age eight—are the most important period for literacy development. It is for this reason that the International Reading Association and the National Association for the Education of Young Children joined together to formulate a position statement regarding early literacy development. Learning to read and write is critical to a child’s success in school and later in life. One of the best predictors of whether a child will function competently in school and go on to contribute actively in our increasingly literate society is the level to which the child progresses in reading and writing.