Literacy In Action: Learning to Read through the Environment

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Concepts of print refers to children’s knowledge of the functions of print and how print works. In order to understand how print works children should be exposed to print concepts on a daily basis. Print concepts can be used with all age groups.

Infants/Toddlers
Teachers should read to the children several times a day pointing out the title, author, illustrator, title page and pictures. Teachers should also point to the words as they read the story.

Threes/Fours/Fives
Teachers should read to the children several times a day pointing out the title, author, illustrator, title page and pictures. Teachers should talk about the difference between an author and illustrator and also point to the words as they read the story.

To take children beyond the first level of concepts about print teachers should demonstrate, through instruction, the following:

  • Locating the pictures in a book
  • Locating the words in a book
  • Locating the top and bottom of a book
  • Locating the front and back of a book
  • Pointing to where the story begins and ends
  • Talking about the difference between a letter and a wordAs children become more knowledgeable about concepts of print, teachers can continue to increase the child’s knowledge by describing and demonstrating the following:
  • Talking about how letters make up words
  • Talking about the spaces between words
  • Talking about how words make up sentences.Understanding how books are read is a vital component of teaching concepts about print. Books have several common characteristics. Here are a few examples of book concepts that can be covered:
  • Front cover
  • Back cover
  • Author
  • Illustrator
  • Title page

Modules

Learning to Read through the Environment

Lessons

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