Children who have an awareness of print understand that the squiggly lines on a page represent spoken language. They understand that when adults read a book, what they say is linked to the words on the page, rather than to the pictures. Children with print awareness understand that print has different functions depending on the context in which it appears. Print awareness is understanding that print is organized in a particular way. Knowing that print is read from left to right and top to bottom is one example. It is knowing that words consist of letters and that spaces appear between words. Print awareness is a child's earliest introduction to literacy. Print awareness is a child's earliest understanding that written language carries meaning. The foundation of all other literacy learning builds upon this knowledge.
Here are some helpful guidelines to help build print awareness:
+ Make sure children know how books are organized
+ Read books to children that are easy-to-read with large print.
+ Draw attention to words and letters in the books
+ Label objects around their environment
+ Encourage children to play with print
+ Help children see the difference between written and spoken language
+ Reinforce the functions of print
+ Promote word awareness
+ Allow children to practice what they are learning
+ Provide plenty of opportunities for children to hear good books
I really liked your guidelines to help build print awareness. I feel like any parent or teacher reading this post would definitely benefit from these. I think the last guideline is very important as well, that not many people may think about. Some people may think that surely every book out there for children is good, but we as future teachers and possibly parents need to examine the books and make sure they are up to the standards of what we think our children need to read/learn. Great post!
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