Skip to Main Content

TEC Play And Lesson Plans: Language, Literacy, And Digital Storytelling

By: Jenna Herdzina – September 13, 2018

In early childhood, it’s imperative children develop language, literacy and storytelling skills. Children’s early language and literacy skills help children express and explore their identity, culture, and voice.  As educators, we must provide ample opportunities for children to explore language, literacy and storytelling with various tools.

There are many technology tools that support children’s exploration and practice language and literacy skills including apps, websites, green screen, kids podcasts, and video cameras, to name a few. Technology can be useful as a reading platform, but what makes technology special is all of the affordances as a tool for creation. With technology, there are more opportunities to learn through brainstorming, sharing ideas, writing stories, publishing books, and directing movies!

Play and Lesson Plans designed by TEC Center professional development participants:

As you read these plans note that many of them use photography and video that include images of children. The TEC Center promotes and believes that children have the right to know how and where their images and voices will be used and the right to refuse sharing their images, voices and work online.

Before you take pictures or video of children remember to:

  • talk to your school leadership first about your plans
  • ask parents/guardians to sign a release form provided by the school or program
  • ask each child for permission and tell children how their images will be used
  • protect a child’s privacy and digital footprint by putting a shape or positive emoji over a child’s face before sharing it on social media platforms to protect a child’s privacy
  • Before sharing images of children with parents and caregivers make sure to review guidelines for protecting their privacy with parents, including reminding parents to
    • ask for permission from your child if you can post an image, video or project online and respect your child’s wishes
    • share with care and post images of only your child online
    • be positive and a good digital citizen by posting only positive comments, photos and videos a child would be proud to show someone later in life-never shame your own child or another child online

Join the Erikson family with monthly news + events updates shared by academics, community members, and families.

Featured News & Press

Explore More Erikson News & Press

See All News & Press