Language and literacy are interrelated. Print awareness is a vital part of language and literacy. Print awareness is the beginning knowledge a child gains about written language.
Children will learn that letters make up words and that words give printed messages. Children see that reading in English moves from left to right, that their names can be written down and used in a purposeful way. This beginning knowledge about written language can start with the strategy of making sure each child can see their name around the room. If their name is up 10 times, they’ll be sure to see it so print awareness can develop.
So, just where are some places for children’s names could be?
On the back of their chair.
On their art work.
In the writing center
On a tongue depresser so their name can being drawn out for turns
As a transition activity, as part of a game, as a name tag
At the beginning of the day as part of sign in. They pick up their name and move their name to show they are here. So here we see that Josh and Kerrie are here today. Soon everyone else will be here also.
On their own journal and inside their journal
On their toothbrush
On their plate at meals when it’s time to find their place
Other locations can be on their cubby, by their coat hook, on the letter wall, by their family photo, on a job chart, a laminated name for classroom management during free play, in a class book, on charts such as birthday charts, and on graphs.
For a child at home, in addition to the locations already mentioned additional places could be on their dresser drawers, on a book, on their backpack or book pack, their name inside their coat, on their cup, and more.
When you counted, how many places did you find in your classroom? Did you find names x 10? What other places did you think of?
Awareness Tip: To limit enthusiasm so names don’t appear on every possible object, then the children will ignore it.
