Building a Community of Readers and Writers

Integrate Reading and Writing Throughout the Day

Before watching this video, read the text below. When instructed, watch the video from the beginning to end.

When developing children’s reading and writing skills, you can design your environment and curriculum to include constant interaction with print and print materials. Whether through formal or informal lessons, reading and writing should be integrated throughout every day.

• Flood the environment with print. Wherever they look, children should see print and be prompted to connect words to things, people, and actions (e.g., labels, name tags and signs).
• Utilize learning centers to engage children with reading and writing across the curriculum. (e.g., prompt children to use their knowledge of environmental print by creating a “Post Office” or a “Restaurant” in the Pretend and Play Center).
• Incorporate reading and writing into daily routines, such as calendar activities and assigning daily responsibilities to children using name cards).
• Make the ABC Center a regular routine. In the center, children can learn letter recognition, alphabetical order, letter matching, and eventually, initial letter-sound correspondences.
• Incorporate a “Question of the Day.” This practice empowers children to consider an idea, express an opinion, and record their thoughts. For example, Would you rather eat broccoli or peas? Why? Or, How many fruits and vegetables can you name that have seeds in them?

In this video, you’ll see educators integrate reading and writing into almost all activities of the day. As you watch, look for effective strategies used by the educators in the video and jot down answers to this viewing question in your Learning Log.

• How do the educators incorporate reading and writing throughout the day?
• What is the role of learning centers and daily routines in creating opportunities for reading and writing?

Review

How can reading and writing be integrated throughout the day, every day?

• Flood the environment with print. A literacy-rich environment invites constant interaction with print and print materials. Wherever they look, children should see print.
  • Use name tags whenever possible. They are a powerful tool to teach letter recognition, beginning sounds, and the important idea that print carries meaning.
  • Have printed material, such as books, magazines, and signs easily accessible and at eye level.
  • Name objects and areas in the learning environment (e.g., smocks, puzzles, quiet area, clocks, etc.).
  • Describe instructions or directions. (e.g., “Wash Your Hands” and “Line Up Here”).
  • Categorize items with labels in bins, on shelves, and so forth (e.g., “Books About Dogs,” “Extra Mittens,” and “Lost and Found”).
  • Hang signs in play areas (e.g., “Doctor’s Office,” “Post Office,” “Restaurant,” and “Movie Theater”).
• Plan materials and activities at learning centers to include reading and writing. For example, have children:
  • Write numbers at the Science and Math Center (such as estimations).
  • Draw a picture and write or dictate a caption in response to a story at the Writing Center.
  • Record what happens on each day after planting grass seed at the Science and Math Center.
  • Write the name and author of a book they like at the Library Center.
• Integrate reading and writing into daily routines. For example, children can:
  • Dictate and write a message of the day during meeting time.
  • Interact with words and numbers during calendar routines.
  • Sign in each day on chart paper.
  • Read the posted classroom rules.
• Make the ABC Center a daily routine. Tasks can include having children write their names, match upper- and lowercase letters, or put letters in alphabetical order.
• Incorporate a “Question of the Day.” Use a question to encourage children to consider an idea, express an opinion, and record their thoughts. (How many fruits and vegetables can you name that have seeds in them? Which is cuter—a puppy or a kitten? Why?)
• Work with names and name tags. You can assign daily responsibilities to each student using name tags and help children sound out, write, and spell their own names.
• Play letter games such as a memory game where children have to match the same letters, or a lower-case letter with its upper-case format.

Reflect

Think about the learning environment in your own program as you answer these reflection questions in your Learning Log.

• What strategies do you use to integrate reading and writing throughout the day?
• What did you learn that you will put into practice in your own learning environment?