The Learning Ladder A Reading and Writing Curriculum for Early Care and Education Teachers, Children and Families

Supporting Writing

Creating Writers

Some children learn to write easily, and naturally develop writing skills. Early childhood classrooms can help this process by creating a print-rich environment.

What does a print-rich environment look like and what can a class do to make it?

• Fill the center with all kinds of reading material, including books, newspapers, and magazines.
• Teachers can put labels on familiar objects and areas. We can help children if we spell out words in upper-case letters. For example, teachers can hang a sign on the sand table at children's eye level that reads, SAND TABLE.
• Put labels on toy containers, cupboards and supply containers.
• At the children's eye level, hang posters of the alphabet.
• Write out the words of a song that you are singing in circle time. Point to the words as the children sing the song.
• Print out the children's names and label their cubbies, their coat hooks, and any other area that only they use.
• Help children to write out their names on their drawings. Tell them that they did a "good job" even when you can't read what they write.

Creating Writing Centers

In addition to making the center's environment print-rich you can create a separate writing center. You can design a writing center as part of a learning area in your classroom.

Children may visit this area for a number of reasons. They may go to the writing center to create props for their play. For example, children may go to the writing center to make money or tickets needed in their "airport". Other children may visit the writing center to make a birthday card for parents. Others may simply play with paper and pencil, creating pages and pages of pretend letters.

If you finished the reading, go to the activities for Part 4.

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