What does emergent reading encompass?

Emergent reading encompasses the experiences and skills that children engage in prior to receiving formal reading instruction, particularly those that occur in the years leading up to elementary school. This phase is characterized by a wide range of activities that lay the foundation for reading and literacy development, such as being read to, exploring print in their environment, recognizing letters and words, and beginning to understand the concept of storytelling. These activities help children develop phonemic awareness, vocabulary, and comprehension skills that are crucial for successful reading in the future.

In contrast, some of the other options provided focus too narrowly on specific aspects of literacy or teaching methods rather than the broader scope of emergent reading. For example, experiences related strictly to writing or those limited to audio books do not fully capture the spectrum of experiences that contribute to emergent reading. Similarly, confining reading to teacher-selected texts overlooks the diverse reading experiences that children can have and limits the natural exploration and enjoyment of books that are essential for building a love for reading. Emergent reading is about fostering a rich context for literacy that engages children in a variety of ways before they transition into formal schooling.