Print rich environments in early childhood education

     A carefully planned early childhood print rich environment encourages children to communicate with each other and to engage in a wide range of literacy experiences while supporting them progressing from pre literate to readers and writers. The physical design of an educational setting or family child care

space can promote enriched language and the development ofcomplex sentence structures. A

strong print rich environment will have print in most areas of the classroom.  This post will provide tips and resources to get you started.

Writing Center

     This tends to be an easy one for teachers.  Writing centers are in the preschool classroom to promote pre writing skills and literacy.  To accommodate children who are at at various levels in their fine motor development, it is important to provide a variety of writing utensils. (Large crayons, small crayons, markers, etc)

Dramatic Play Area

     In the dramatic play area, you can add books about the theme, signs, menus, business cards, food boxes, labels, and more.  Children can help make the signs.  (as shown below)  For some themes you can also add notepads and writing utensils so that the can take orders.

Computer Center

     The best way to add literacy to the computer center is to choose games that promote this skill.  Lakeshore Learning, and a number of other preschool suppliers, carry literacy games.  Below is an example of one.

You can find it here: http://products.lakeshorelearning.com/nav/subcat/educationalsoftware_language/grade/preschool/cat/educationalsoftware/0

     Since the computer center is often a popular area, you can also have the kids sign up for their turn.

Science Center

     The science is often a harder area to add print to because is tends to be a more tactile area of the classroom.  You can make this area by adding labels with your visuals, maps, or charts.  I found this idea on Pinterest. (A teacher's best friend :-) )

Reading/Literacy Area

       

     Having a reading and literacy area together is ideal; this allows the children to read and look through stories and then use the props in the literacy are to reenact the stories.  Props can include puppets,puppet theaters, flannel boards, stuffed animals, costumes, etc.

Around the classroom

  Your daily schedule

Labels (Add print)

 Your posted class rules

Resources

1. )  https://www.naeyc.org/files/tyc/file/V4N4/Creating_print-rich_learning_centers.pdf

2.) http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=11&ved=0CCgQFjAAOAo&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nefec.org%2Fdocument175%2Fdownload%2F&ei=MmF5U7FhjrGhBMjrgOAJ&usg=AFQjCNHL0IpyG4d9fO8eFDiMF83N7ga7AA&sig2=0nrbcyncEHSTK1JfxMwAIQ&bvm=bv.66917471,d.cGU&cad=rja

3.)  http://www.hwtears.com/hwt

Next:  Social and Emotional Supports in the Classroom