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Creating Environments for Learning: Birth to Age Eight© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Developing Literacy CentersChapter 7
Creating Environments for Learning, 1eBullard
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.7-2
Early literacy skills lay the foundation for current and later
success in oral and written language.
Did you know?Literacy skills at the end of the preschool years are predictive of later reading and academic success (Farran, Aydogan, Kang, & Lipsey, 2006).
Creating Environments for Learning, 1eBullard
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.7-3
Oral language development
Around 18 months, children learn their first 50 words (Berger, 2006).
After learning approximately 50 words, children go through a naming explosion gaining 50-100 new words per month (Berger, 2006).
By 60 months most children understand between 5,000 and 20,000 words and have an average sentence length of six or more words (CDC, 2007).
Creating Environments for Learning, 1eBullard
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.7-4
Stages of writing
Random scribbles Controlled scribbles (linear scribbles used to
represent print) Letter-like forms (mock letters with letter-like
forms) Letter and symbol relationship (begin to write
their name and other words within their environment)
Invented spelling (write their own words spelling them phonetically for example wuz for was)
Standard spelling (conventional spelling)
Creating Environments for Learning, 1eBullard
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.7-5
The literacy center enhances children’s:
Oral language Listening skills Print awareness (organization of print, print
carries meaning) Phonological awareness (sounds of speech) Alphabet principle and phonemic awareness
(relationship between letters and sound) Positive attitude toward reading and writing
Creating Environments for Learning, 1eBullard
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.7-6
The literacy center can also assist children to:
Increase knowledge in all curriculum areas Learn about new worlds, both real and
imaginary Cope more effectively with difficulties Improve social interactions Be entertained and experience enjoyment
Creating Environments for Learning, 1eBullard
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.7-7
The effective literacy center contains:
A reading area A writing area A listening area Literacy manipulatives
Creating Environments for Learning, 1eBullard
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.7-8
An effective reading center is: in a quiet, clearly defined, separated area of the
room well-lit large enough to accommodate five to six children comfortable and aesthetic enticing (for example, contains book related
displays or objects that go with highlighted books) engaging (opportunities for active reading through
such things as flannel boards or puppets) well stocked with quality books responsive to the needs and interests of the
children representative of a variety of cultures
Creating Environments for Learning, 1eBullard
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.7-9
Well stocked with quality books The literacy center contains 5-8 books for each
child in the classroom (Reutzel & Morrow, 2007).
There is a display of books with their covers showing.
Additional books are categorized in baskets or on shelves.
Did you know?Every year more than 4,000 children’s books are published (Sawyer, 2004). Since we can expose children to so few of these books we want to choose the highest quality literature we can locate.
Creating Environments for Learning, 1eBullard
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.7-10
Criteria for high quality books:
Interesting and enjoyable Developmentally appropriate for the audience
(appropriate topic, length, amount of text on each page, print style, and print size. The location of print should help children to understand that reading in English proceeds from left to right and top to bottom)
Literary value (credible, consistent, realistic characters; descriptive, “rich” language; interesting, engaging well-developed plot)
Quality illustrations and photographs (award winning art work, well integrated with the text, demonstrates attention to detail, mood in artwork complements story, allows the child to “tell” the story from the pictures)
Creating Environments for Learning, 1eBullard
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.7-11
free from stereotypes (authentically portrays diversity, does not promote stereotypical views of gender, culture, or families)
appealing to you as an adult (if you enjoy the book you are more likely to demonstrate this joy as you read the book)
quality binding and paper that will last through many readings
Creating Environments for Learning, 1eBullard
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.7-12
Did you know?
To prevent bias by omission, books need to be representative of the children in the classroom as well as expose children to those not present in the classroom, including those from cultures different than their own and those with disabilities.
Creating Environments for Learning, 1eBullard
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.7-13
Critique this reading area.In addition to the rocking chair, a comfortable futon is available for the children to sit on while reading.
Creating Environments for Learning, 1eBullard
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.7-14
Literacy manipulatives:
may be located in the literacy center or other classroom centers such as the manipulative center
literacy manipulatives include oral skills materials alphabetic awareness materials phonemic awareness materials materials to enhance the knowledge of words
Creating Environments for Learning, 1eBullard
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.7-15
An effective writing center includes:
a table and chairs author’s chair an assortment of writing materials a variety of materials to write on including
journals, transitory surfaces, and computers book making supplies alphabet strips and sample words planned special activities such as creating big
books
Creating Environments for Learning, 1eBullard
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.7-16
This aesthetic journal center encourages children to write.
The Children’s Center at Paradise Valley Community College
Creating Environments for Learning, 1eBullard
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.7-17
An effective listening center includes:
A tape player or CD with multiple headphones A variety of labeled CD’s or tapes with stories,
activities, finger plays, music, and listening games
Blank tapes so children can record their own stories
Comfortable seating Materials to encourage active listening (for
example, children might act out the recorded story using puppets)
Creating Environments for Learning, 1eBullard
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.7-18
The two rocking chairs in this listening center encourage children to share a story.
Creating Environments for Learning, 1eBullard
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.7-19
Teachers facilitate language through:
Providing opportunities for children to gain background knowledge
Expanding children’s language Intentionally using rich language and new
vocabulary words Modeling active listening Asking appropriate, open-ended questions
Creating Environments for Learning, 1eBullard
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.7-20
Supporting peer interactions and discussions Reading to children Developing interest in books Converting oral language to text Modeling the use of reading, writing, and
storytelling props Offering individual and group instruction for
reading and writing Meeting the needs of all learners
Teachers facilitate language through:
Creating Environments for Learning, 1eBullard
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.7-21
In supporting children who are learning English as a second language
Teachers should view the second language as additive, rather than in a negative light.
Teachers need to continue to support the first language while teaching the child the second.
Did you know? When children first begin to learn a new
language they often will understand up to 500 words and respond nonverbally before beginning to speak the new language (Reed & Railsback, 2003).
Creating Environments for Learning, 1eBullard
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.7-22
According to research, children who live in low socio-economic households begin kindergarten:
With lower vocabularies With fewer literacy skills such as recognizing the
alphabet With poorer background knowledge (Neuman, 2006)
Did you know? Often children do not catch up. One classis study
revealed that if a child is a poor reader at the end of first grade there is an 88% chance they will still be a poor reader at the end of grade four. Therefore, it is crucial to provide rich literacy experiences in early childhood settings (Juel, 1988).
Creating Environments for Learning, 1eBullard
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.7-23
Literacy centers for infants and toddlers:
Are rich with books, pictures, language, and experiences
Assure books are within children’s reach Contain quality books
relevant to the children wordless or with few words realistic illustrations small enough for little hands durable enough for rough exploration
Contain some personalized books (such as a small photo album with pictures of the child’s family members and pets)
Creating Environments for Learning, 1eBullard
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.7-24
Caregivers of infants and toddlers need to:
Talk to children throughout the day including during routine caregiving
Read books to children Sing songs with children Engage in conversational give and take Respond to all children’s efforts to
communicate Expand and extend speech as children begin
to use words
Creating Environments for Learning, 1eBullard
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.7-25
Literacy can also be enhanced in the playground
Place reading and writing materials in outdoor centers.
Label areas with signs. Take advantage of outdoor events as a
catalyst for new vocabulary and to encourage children’s oral language.