ThyThy WordWordCreating a Literacy Rich Creating a Literacy Rich

Preschool Classroom Preschool Classroom EnvironmentEnvironment

Presenter: Presenter:

Jean SmithJean Smith

•Babies are born with the instinct to speak, the way spiders are born with the instinct to spin

webs. You don’t need to train babies to speak; they just do. But

reading is different.

Steven Pinker, MIT

Presence of Print

There should be a widespread presence of print across the setting indoors and

outdoors displayed in ways that are attractive and appealing to young

children.

Proximity of Print

• The literacy environment should be matched physically and psychologically to the young readers and writers using it.

Productivity of Print

• The literacy environment should produce materials that make teaching more productive and powerful.

• Print is used for many things as well as for teaching for reading and writing.

• Printing press atmosphere-a place that documents classroom life together.

•Art/toy bins are labeled with words and pictures.

•Print serves a functional purpose in classroom.

Environmental print

•At child’s eye level

•Presented in a variety of formats (books, signs, child generated writings, environmental print, labels, charts ect.)

•In abundance

•Being created for a purpose.

Children’s Sign In Sheets with use of real print.

• Helper Charts are just one form of meaningful, purposeful environmental classroom print.

•Safe authentic, child generated and useful.

Introduction To Print Rich Environment

• Books, paper, writing tools, functional signs and symbols

• Opportunities for literacy-related playDramatic Play Area Block Area Writing Center Science Area Table Top Area Library Art Area

Dramatic Play Area

•Dramatic Play

Literacy opportunities abound in the dramatic play area with use of props that encourage real life situational play. Changes in dramatic play props encourage language, writing, and role play.

•Children write prescriptions, doctors diagnosis and more in dramatic play doctors office.

Special Speakers

•Field Trips

•Post Office: Helps children gain understanding about the importance and function of print.

Block Area: Children engage in building with blocks and relate their play to environmental print

•Writing Center:

Is equipped with a variety of materials to help children engage in a variety of writing experiences..

Table Top Activities

Children need many opportunities to manipulate and see letters. Here children have a variety of play related items to help them with letter recognition and beginning sound association.

Science Center

Charts

•Charts can be used in a variety of different ways in the classroom.

•Creating a hypothesis: children use their names to cast their hypothesis on whether our pumpkin will sink or float.

Library

•Library Area should be inviting and include areas for small group and individual readings.

•A variety of books should be on display and within easy which of the children.

•Library Area

•Child shares a favorite story with two stuffed friends in the library area. Another child moves over to share in the story reading.

•Create themed interest areas for your books.

Art and Literacy

Story people

Story people

Meaning of Writing

Writing Continuum Ladder

•Making Marks

•Early Scribble Writing

•Mock Letters

•A Few Letters

•Practicing Letters

•Mock Words

•Practice Writing •Mock manuscript letters

•Mock print letters

Invented Spelling