Preschool concepts about print
Concepts about print include the basic things about how we read books. This is critical knowledge! It is often taken for granted that children understand these concepts, but if they don't, it can lead to a great deal of confusion. This can be avoided by simply addressing these concepts in the beginning.
Book Concepts
What is important
- What is a book
- Covers
- Pages
- Pictures
- Words
How to help children develop these concepts and skills
- When reading books together, point out these different features in the book.
- Play a game where have the child try to find the various features in several different books.
Direction Concepts
What is important
- Knowing where to start reading
- Direction to turn pages
- Direction to read print -- left to right (see video below)
- Direction to read print -- top to bottom
How to help children develop concepts about print skills
- When reading books together, start by giving the child the book. Have him or her show you something about the book, for example, how to hold the book, where to start reading, or which direction to turn the pages.
- Make a big chart of a familiar song or rhyme. Read it together and point together to the words.
Functions of Print
What is important
- Print carries meaning
- Spoken words can be written down
- Print is all around us
- We use print language for many different things
How to help children develop these concepts and skills
- Make a book together. Let the child dictate a story while you write it down. Then read the book together.
- Involve the child in literacy activities that you do throughout the day such as reading a recipe, writing a list, reading instructions to put something together, finding information, or writing an email.
To see all of the skills in the experimental reading and writing stage, click on the links below
Letters and Sounds
Sight Words
Beginning Writing
Vocabulary and Oral language
Phonological Awareness
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