Last year the National Early Literacy Panel (NELP), released its report, "Developing Early Literacy: A scientific synthesis of early literacy development and implications for intervention." Renowned researchers evaluated the soundness of all the early literacy research out there and distilled it so that we practitioners can use it. The purpose of the panel and the report is to contribute to the decisions that we make about how to support children's language and literacy development. The report identifies the skills that give children the strongest foundation for learning to read, spell and write.

Now we have a guidance document based on the NELP report which is written for teachers: "What Works: An introductory guide for early language and emergent literacy instruction" . I recommend this very readable document to you. It may help to increase your focus on doing things that make a "significant difference" in young children's early literacy learning.