Never Too Early: Foundations of Early Literacy Through Children’s Literature Hailey Paschold March 24, 2026

This course will early childhood educators with a deep understanding of how children’s literature supports literacy development in the early years. Participants will explore the foundations of writing development and discover the powerful impact of read-alouds and oral storytelling on language and reading growth. Through guided exploration of children’s books, participants will consider the importance of the “Open-Ended Mindset” in education and discover strategies to inspire children to use their imaginations.

Educators will examine key educational philosophies and program approaches that inspire best practices and strengthen pedagogy in early childhood settings, including Reggio Emilia-inspired education.

Participants will reflect on and evaluate their current practices and learning environments, drawing on collaboration with instructors and peers to discover fresh ideas for building literacy-rich spaces. By the end of this course, educators will have a toolkit grounded in research and informed by diverse literature choices filled with practical strategies and communication skills to foster vibrant, literacy-rich learning for young children.

Participants will receive six professional development credit hours from Northern Lights upon completion of the class. You must attend all three sessions and complete the required classwork in a Google Classroom in order to receive the credit hours. You will receive your set of books after the first session.

Never Too Early Training is suitable for educators who have taken the class before and those who have not. Assignments and in-class discussions will be tailored to various levels of participation, providing relevant and engaging experiences for everyone. We will offer different assignments and in-class conversations based on experience with the NTE offerings. There will still be two offerings under each topic, one emphasizing literature that supports child development, and the other focusing on curriculum and activities inspired by children’s literature. There is no limit on the number of times a participant can enroll in training.