Background Information
on Observing and Writing

Print in the Environment

The environments in which children live are filled with familiar symbols. For example, many children recognize their names and the names of their family members on address labels, luggage tags, mailboxes, and so on. They also recognize many brand names, certain restaurants, and traffic signs. It is important to notice and affirm children’s literacy skills whenever they identify these words and symbols.

Classroom Environments

Classroom environments that facilitate children’s learning are set up like laboratories for exploration. These classrooms have both
active areas and quiet areas where children can find what they need for learning and practicing literacy skills. Ideally, various centers offer small-group and individual activities: a reading center, a writing center (see next paragraph), an art center, a discovery (math and science) center, and a dramatic-play center.

A Writing Center

A writing center provides plenty of tools and prompts, including sharpened pencils, pens, crayons, markers, all kinds of paper, word walls (see next paragraph), posters, a place to file ongoing projects and papers (folders and journals), picture dictionaries, and the alphabet with key words (always posted at eye level for children).

Word Walls

Word walls are usually built gradually, often in alphabetical order, in the writing center. They are lists of words large enough for children to see and read easily. Words can be written on strips of paper or word cards. This tool offers young writers many of the words they need—at a glance. Word walls include high-frequency words—“everyday” words like the, to, are, of, and common nouns that children read and write regularly. (See the list below for some of the most common words.)

Establish Routines

Early in the year, establish routines for writing. Be sure the children know where to write their names on their papers, where and how to write the date on their papers (maybe your class will use a stamp), how to use their writing folders, where to sharpen pencils, etc. (Always have extra sharpened pencils available.)