Early Literacy Matters: Empowering Primary Students Through Reading

by : Ms Dwi

Early literacy is one of the most important foundations for children in primary school. It isn’t just about learning letters and sounds; it’s about helping young learners become confident, curious readers who are prepared for all their future learning. When primary students are given rich opportunities to hear stories, talk about books, and explore print, they build the language, thinking and social skills that support them not only in reading but across all subject areas.

Why Early Literacy Matters

1. Firstly, early literacy prepares children to succeed in school. Research shows that children who enter school with strong literacy skill such as good vocabulary, listening comprehension, and familiarity with books are better able to follow lessons, participate in class, and make progress.

2. Secondly, early literacy supports cognitive and brain development. For example, hearing stories, recognising sounds, and exploring books helps children build neural connections that underpin reading, writing and thinking. 

3. Thirdly, early literacy has emotional and social benefits. When children are involved in reading and sharing books, they develop empathy, communication skills and confidence. They also see themselves as readers — which matters for motivation. 

Empowering Primary Students Through Reading

What can we do to empower primary students? Here are a few key strategies:

1. Create a language‑rich environment. Use lots of conversation, stories, and explorations of print (labels, signs, books) so children understand what print means and feel comfortable with books.

2. Shared reading and interactive book time. When teachers or parents read aloud and invite children to discuss, ask questions, predict and respond, students become active participants, not passive listeners.

3. Provide access to diverse and engaging reading materials. When students see themselves represented in books and are exposed to a wide range of topics, genres and cultures, reading becomes meaningful and motivating.

4. Teach foundational skills purposefully. Skills such as phonological awareness (recognising sounds in words), print awareness (knowing that print carries meaning), letter knowledge and vocabulary are important building blocks. Above all, they must be supported by rich reading experiences. (Education Endowment Foundation, 2024)

5. Involve families and communities. Literacy doesn’t begin and end at school. Parents, caregivers, siblings, and community members all play a role in encouraging reading, sharing stories and showing children that reading is important and enjoyable.

   
   

Building Lifelong Readers and Learners When primary students develop strong early literacy skills, they are better equipped to become lifelong learners. They are more likely to engage in reading for pleasure, which contributes to greater knowledge, better comprehension, and improved performance across subjects. They also develop self‑confidence and a sense of agency: “I can read, I can understand, I can explore.” Early literacy lays the groundwork for lifelong learning and life success. (Tennessee Department of Education, 2024)

Conversely, when children begin school behind in literacy, it becomes harder to catch up. Skills gaps widen and motivation may suffer. That’s why investing in early literacy is not just an educational priority but an equity issue: every child deserves the chance to begin strong. (IES, 2024)

In summary, early literacy matters—deeply. By empowering primary students through reading, we enable them not only to decode words but to make meaning, ask questions, interact with ideas, and become confident learners. Through thoughtful teaching strategies, language‑rich environments, family and community involvement, we can ensure that all children get the strong literacy start they deserve. When we do so, we give them more than reading skills; we give them a path toward curiosity, learning, and empowerment.

Resources :

YWCA Calgary. (2023). The Importance of Early Literacy: Why it Matters. https://www.ywcalgary.ca/the-importance-of-early-literacy-why-it-matters

LENA Foundation. (2025). What is Early Literacy in Early Childhood? https://www.lena.org/resources/blog-posts/what-is-early-literacy-in-early-childhood/

Tennessee Department of Education. (2024). Early Literacy Matters. https://www.tn.gov/education/districts/early-learning/early-literacy-matters-main.html