Print and Alphabetic Knowledge: Literacy Foundations 4
Literacy foundations for preschoolers build on their understanding of oral language (as covered in the previous three resource posts), but also on their beginning understanding of symbols. By the end of preschool, most children should know about 10 letters and their associated sounds.
Children who have been exposed to books from infancy learn how to handle and appreciate books and that the words on the page carry meaning. Any child who asks, "What does it say?" or who says of a repeated reading, "Read it the right way!" is demonstrating that they understand that print represents language. Teachers can expand this knowledge as they link print to children's understanding of words and the sounds of language!
The most important messages are: Read to every child every day. Plan to intentionally notice and incorporate print into play every day.
Use books as provocations to literacy learning. Books like Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault can be paired with alphabet magnets and cookie sheets to inspire literacy play. Albert's Alphabet by Leslie Tryon can be paired with blocks or loose parts to encourage building letters.
Point out words as you read them. Books with words IN ALL CAPS, in speech bubbles, or different colors are fun to read with preschoolers, because the author wants us to read them differently. Try The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak or the Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems to illustrate this idea. Read the book multiple times so that you can appreciate the story AND the print with children.
Model print use in different areas of the classroom: make maps, signs, lists, books, labels, schedules, and name tags! Use naturally occurring opportunities to point out the words to children and explain what they mean.
Incorporate environmental print into children's play spaces: menus, food packages (e.g. cereal boxes), and cookbooks for the kitchen area; labels and price tags for a store; tickets, brochures, and maps for a train station; notepads, envelopes, and posters for the doctor's office; signs and books in the block area.
Use print during transitions and routines: Develop a sign-in routine, ask children to help make labels to organize materials, create signs that remind children of expectations or choices, point out writing on snack or meal containers.
Transcribe children's words: Write down children's stories and words on their drawings. Show children the direction of print, how you make spaces between words and how the sounds they hear are represented by letters.
Give children the vocabulary to describe books. Preschoolers are ready to hear about authors, illustrators, and titles. They can understand the difference between a story or fiction book and an informational or nonfiction book.
Notice words that start with the same letter - even when they make a different sound. "Ophelia and Owen and Otto all start with the letter 'O', but can you hear how they sound different at the beginning? What are the sounds you hear in Otto's name?"
Go on a letter hunt once children are ready. Once children are inspired by letters, how many can you find in print in your classroom or local community? Take photos of found letters and make an alphabet book of the letters you find around you.
Have an alphabet chart or strip available. Near a writing area in the classroom, display an alphabet chart that children can use to identify both uppercase and lowercase letters (and ideally a keyword starting with the sound). All kindergarteners use the Fundations chart, so that's a nice one to have on hand. There are also lots of other options, including ones children can help to make with found objects.
Think about which children are most challenging to engage with print: How can you find ways to engage them? Is it making traffic signs or a map for the toy trucks or labeling tickets for the "bus station"? Could they make a sign that tells others to be careful of their block structure? Do they want to tell you a story using a sand tray or loose parts?
Sample Book List for Print & Alphabetic Knowledge:
The Book with No Pictures by B.J Novak
Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
I Don't Want to Be A Frog by Dev Petty
My Truck is Stuck by Kevin Lewis and Daniel Kirk
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin
Hug by Jez Alborough
Albert's Alphabet by Leslie Tryon
LMNO Peas by Keith Baker
Dr. Seuss’s ABC by Dr. Seuss
Discovering Nature's Alphabet by Krystina Castella and Brian Boyl
I Spy Letters by Jean Marzollo and Walter Wick
The Hidden Alphabet by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Alphabet Under Construction by Denise Fleming
The Construction Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta
Oops, Pounce, Quick, Run!: by An Alphabet Caper by Mike Twohy
Z Is for Moose by Kelly Bingham and Paul Zelinsky
If Rocks Could Sing: A Discovered Alphabet by Leslie McGuirk
And so, SO many more alphabet books, books with interesting print, and even wordless books!
Dig Deeper:
Get books into every child's home with Addison County Readers which will mail books to children every month until they turn five!
Check out the beautiful photos of co-constructed alphabets on this blog!
Here's a video of a teacher who has really concrete examples of low-prep transition activities to build literacy skills.
Creating Dramatic Play Areas That Support Literacy Development by Jemmael Joseph
Take a look at the videos and this article about Essential Instructional Practices in Early Literacy: PreKindergarten which offer concrete tips about supporting literacy development in preschool.
Head Start offers a teacher guide to support Book Knowledge & Print Concepts
The Center for Early Literacy Learning (CELL) has some helpful printables and activities for families of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers
Raising Readers also has a monthly print-out for families with tips and books for young children
The book Literacy Learning for Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers: Key Practices for Educators by Tanya S. Wright, Sonia Q. Cabell, Nell K. Duke, & Mariana Souto-Manning is based in research and has excellent tips for early childhood educators
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