Thinking about Emergent Readers using Symbols

Literacy is an essential foundation for lifelong learning and before we can decode written words we all need to have established a basic understanding of spoken language and meaning by whatever means is possible - voice, gesture, signing etc.  

Written language is made up of various characters that may be thought of as symbols such as an alphabet, but in this blog we are talking about pictographic symbols or simplistic images working with words and phrases to help make complex or abstract concepts easier to understand by visually representing the ideas. Below we have mentioned 4 ways realistic, comic, cute and/or simply designed styled symbols may be useful when working with emergent readers.  There are many more ways these symbols can also help struggling readers, but as a start of a discussion we hope these ideas help.

 Supporting Shared Reading and Engagement

Shared reading is often at the heart of literacy development. Symbols can support participation by helping children comment on stories, identify characters, and anticipate events. Used alongside books, symbols can increase engagement, turn-taking, and expressive communication during reading activities.

Developing Phonological Awareness

Phonological awareness involves recognising and working with sounds in spoken language. Symbols can support this by representing objects that share initial sounds or rhyming patterns. Sorting or matching symbol cards by sound encourages children to notice sound structures that underpin later decoding skills.

Teaching Concepts of Print and Reading Routines

To become literate children need to learn how books work: how to hold them, turning pages, and tracking text from left to right / right to left and/or down and up. Visual symbols support these routines by showing the sequence of reading activities and reinforcing the structure of print without interfering with text.

Understanding Symbolic Representation

Recognising that one thing can represent another is another crucial aspect of literacy. Symbols can help children understand representation, preparing them for the abstract nature of letters and written words. Playful use of familiar symbols supports this transition.

From these examples it is easy to see how communication and literacy are inextricably linked. Pictographic symbols have the potential to act as a bridge between the two.  Used carefully and alongside evidence-based literacy instruction, symbols can enrich early language experiences and provide strong foundations for reading development.