Integrating Emergent Literacy Supports across the Curriculum Angela Oesterly Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Section for Child Care Regulation Emergent Literacy Ongoing process from birth until children achieve conventional reading and writing skills Print rich classroom Story book reading Shared reading and writing Projects and thematic units Opportunities to engage in meaningful reading and writing during center time activities Science Based Reading Research Large and Small Group Instruction Oral language Phonological awareness Alphabet knowledge Concepts about print Targeted (direct) instruction 1
Blended Reading Instruction Emergent Literacy Fully implement emergent literacy strategies Plenty of opportunities to practice skills learned in SBRR Science Based Reading Research Skills are reinforced during center and play time Direct instruction in groups or individual Importance of Classroom Environment Designing a print-rich classroom environment Classroom library Writing Center Literacy-enriched play areas Environmental and functional print Print Rich Classroom Various types of print prominent throughout classroom Place similar or related centers next to each other Well-defined areas with quiet centers close together Literacy materials embedded in all centers 2
Classroom Library Books of all types Set library apart from the rest of the room Ample space Comfortable furnishings Open faced and traditional shelves Labels for organization Listening center Writing Center Many different kinds of writing instruments Various types of writing paper Folders for storage of each child s work Alphabet chart at eye level Comfortable seating Clip boards! Writing Center Bulletin board to display writing Bound class written books Mailboxes Blank books Card sets of special words Dry erase boards Letter stamps 3
Literacy Enriched Centers Prop boxes* Signs in block/ transportation area Label shelves Clipboards/writing supplies in all center areas Environmental / Functional Print Bulletin board Alphabet Chart Folders Individual Booklets Sign in sheet Center sign up sheet Labels Helpers Schedules Directions Calendars Environmental / Functional Print 4
Dramatic Play PROP BOX Camping in the Woods! Choosing a Theme Age appropriate topic Familiarity Interesting to boys and girls Opportunities for lively discussion, reading, and writing during dramatic play Camping In the Woods Regardless of their background, most children know about camping. Their only experience with tents may have been a blanket over some chairs in the living room or a scene in a movie, but most have previous exposure to tents, campfires, and roasting marshmallows. Boys and girls alike will enjoy exploring this theme! 5
Fiction Books Flat Stanley Goes Camping, Jeff Brown The Berenstain Bears Blaze a Trail, Stan and Jan Berenstain Providing an ample selection of themerelated, age-appropriate fiction books will help pique a child s interest! Books should provide characters of interest to boys as well as girls. Curious George Goes Camping is an excellent introductory book because George appeals to all children. Maisy Goes Camping, Lucy Cousins Curious George Goes Camping, H.A. Rey More Fiction Books Camping Day, Patricia Lakin When Daddy Took Us Camping, Julie Brillhart Because Your Mommy Loves You, Andrew Clements and R.W. Alley English Language Learner Support Providing literature or displays that are labeled in English and Spanish will encourage all children to try to read the words in both languages. Here, a close-up of a campsite display. 6
Non-Fiction Books Making available a variety of non-fiction camping books provides real-life photos to expand the children s understanding of the theme. They can see real children in action and will be inspired to act out what they see. Listening Center Don t forget camping books for the listening center! Local Literature Magazines and materials from the child s home state or region will make the camping in the woods theme even more meaningful and authentic. Shown here are the Missouri Conservationist and Xplor, a local children s nature magazine. 7
More Local Literature Additional related local literature to make the camping in the woods theme more relevant. Conservation agencies often provide these materials at no cost. Authentic Campground Literature Children can plan their camping in the woods experience by studying a binder of campground maps and brochures from campgrounds throughout the state. Camping Props Ranger cap Empty sunscreen tube Small fishing rod with line and lure Walkie-talkies Sunglasses Lantern Backpack Sticks with roasted marshmallows 8
Campground Store Props Plates, cups, spoons, forks, and knives Empty food packages for the campground store Tip: Stuff empty boxes and wrappers with tissue to make them more realistic. Cotton balls keep much better than marshmallows and can be put on sticks and colored to make them look roasted! Make the campground print-rich! Signs for campground areas Labels for common campground objects Numbers for campground tents Tip: Place plastic tablecloths over tables or desks to make tents. Keep one side open for adequate supervision. Children can read books in the tents! Creative Literacy Materials Twist-up crayons Crayons Markers Watercolors Colored pencils Multi-color construction paper Blank sketch book Ageappropriate scissors Stencil ruler Glue sticks 9
Campground Writing Activities Checklist of items needed for camping trip Campsite booking form Postcards for writing to friends and family Checklist of animals spotted in the woods Sketchbook for drawing and writing about the camping experience Paper for sign-making Inventory List Reading Writing Props Fiction books Non-fiction books Spanish books Books on CD Local magazines Campground brochures/maps Campground signs Camp item labels Tent numbers Campsite booking forms Postcards Camping checklists Sketchbook to write story Paper to make signs Crayons Markers Colored pencils Watercolors Scissors Stencil Ruler Glue Sticks Lantern Empty sunscreen Walkie-talkies Marshmallow sticks Fishing rod & lures Ranger cap Backpack Cups & silverware Tablecloths for tents Empty food packages Cotton balls Labeled Prop Box Container Camping in the Woods prop box materials and inventory list are stored easily in this labeled box. Despite the small size, this prop box provides a variety of engaging items that will extend and enrich language-literacy play activities. Boys and girls will have fun pretending to Camp in the Woods! 10
What s in YOUR Prop Box? What is your theme? Which props will encourage conversation, reading, and writing? What kind of reading will add to the theme? What types of writing opportunities will you have? What types of writing supplies will work best? Themes Baseball game Safari Little Red Riding Hood Restaurant Airport Circus Post Office What else? Restaurant 11
Doctor s Office Grocery Store Ice Cream Shop 12
Camping in the Woods Resources: Camping checklist, campsite booking form, and tent postcard retrieved from: www.sparklebox.co.uk http://www.angelfire.com/dc/ childsplay/prop_box_ideas. htm 13