Literacy in the Room

Writing their words down to show voice to print as well as having words all around them all the time.

The people tell us how many friend are allowed in the center.  The word and the number underneath help the children to make a connection between all 3 and the fact they all mean the same thing.

A simple phrase I ask MANY times a day (while pointing to it) will help them to start to read these three words; every word counts!

I use text to answer questions they may have. This is displayed right over the sensory table so they can answer what is in there and be reading the words of what is in there while they play with it, making the connection.

Everything in the room is labeled.  Also, to check in students must find their name and place it in.  Later in the year, I will change it to their last name, they must find that to check in when they arrive.  Name recognition is important as well.

Every week we focus on a letter. We read books on the letters  (Scholastic's AlphaTales), find the words that start with that sound in the book, decorrate that letter with something that has that sound or looks like that letter, make a handprint alphabet book page, find it in our room, learn the letter in sign language, and more.  (See my letter of the week page)

Even the carpets are labeled with the objects name.  This one is bilingual!

Signs posted around the room in the play areas allows students to connect things in real life to the words that correspond.

Names on everything for them to work on name recognition.

My writing center has bubble letters for them to practice writing inside, letters on lines with directional arrows, hand writing sheets, and our Alphatales characters with dotted lines to practice writing, their names, and other common words they may want to write.  I laminate EVERYTHING and allow them to use dry erase markers and practice again and again.  There is regular paper and markers also available if they are read to start writing something to their friends and families.