Your role

As a teacher, look for opportunities to point out environmental print, especially words and signs children may already recognize. Comment about how they are reading this print.

Help children understand how print is used for various functions including names, labels and signs, directions and instructions, and in story-telling and books.

Provide alphabet letters in several forms and a wide variety of writing materials. Make these materials visible and available in many areas and centers of the classroom.

Read often, reading everything from signs to labels and instructions to books, including fiction and non-fiction. Talk about print conventions and use techniques such as tracking the print with your finger as you read a book aloud.

Model writing for various purposes and comment about how and why you are writing. Display the children's writings around the classroom and return to read the writing later.