Literacy through Play

Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children Regional ConferenceCoeur d’Alene, IdahoOctober 19, 2013

Notetaking Version

Your PresenterStaci Shaw

Other Read to Me Coordinators:Stephanie Bailey-WhiteErica ComptonVISTA: Julie Armstrong

Who we are…

The Idaho Commission for Libraries assists libraries to build the capacity to

better serve their clientele.

Our vision is for all parents and caregivers to nurture their

children’s early literacy skills, and for all children to develop as

independent readers and become lifelong learners.

Libraries.idaho.gov/read-to-me-resources

Agenda

• Play and Brain Development• Functions of Print• Play Literacy vs. Play• Examples of Play Literacy• Activity: Let’s Pretend• Q and A

PlayBoard Games

Blocks

Puppets

Dramatic Play

Music

Sports

Outdoor Games

Play and Brain Development

• Exploratory Play

• Constructive Play

• Dramatic Play

Dramatic Play

Concrete object Abstract idea

Marks on the page Message

Function vs. Feature of Print

Function• Reason or purpose of

print

Feature• Letter-sound

relationship

• Structure of grammar

• Meaning

Stephanie orders cake at a “restaurant”

Erica writes

KAK

Four Major Functions

• Environmental Print

• Occupational Print

• Informational Print

• Recreational Print

Literacy Development Through Dramatic Play• Allows children to experiment with

purposes for literacy that they’ve seen at home

• Allows children to recognize that different tasks require different texts

• Allows children to produce a wide variety of texts

• Builds comprehension by allowing children to act out familiar stories/scenarios

Play Literacy is PurposefulPlay Area

• Sink, stove, dishes, table, refrigerator, food, aprons, place settings

Play Literacy Area• Kitchen: Recipe cards, grocery

list, books about food or cookbooks

• Pizza shop or restaurant: menus, cash register, money, step-by-step instructions for making pizza, books about making pizza or nutrition

Play Literacy is Purposeful

Play Area

• Stethoscope, doctor’s bag, pill bottles, pretend syringes, blood pressure cuff

Play Literacy Area

• Doctor’s office: clipboards, check-up checklist, x-rays, prescription pads, baby dolls, bandages, magazines for waiting area, books on bodies

• Veterinary clinic: exchange stuffed animals for babies, books on pets

PLAY LITERACY

How can you support literacy through play in your child care setting?

Play Area

• Theme• Props• Environmental print • Functions of print• Social interaction• Books or other resources• Storage

Shari Sloane www.kidscount1234.com

• Props

• Environmental print

• Functions of print

• Social interaction

• Books or other

library resources

• Storage

Restaurant

Madison Public Library (WI)

• Props

• Environmental print

• Functions of print

• Social interaction• Books or other library resources

• Storage

Doctor’s Office

• Props

• Environmental print

• Functions of print

• Social interaction• Books or other library resources

• Storage

Play spaces in public areas

http://www.printablekidsplaymoneytemplates.com/tag/editable-money-template/

http://blogs.scholastic.com/classroom_solutions/2010/11/literacy-kindergarten-dramatic-play-centers-housekeeping-grocery-store.html

Grocery Store

No room, budget, or staff time to create a dramatic play area?

Prop Boxes

• Theme• Props• Functions of print• Social interaction• Books or other resources• Storage

Prop Boxes

• Bins and tubs• Trunks and suitcases• Shoe boxes or photo boxes• Library collections• Library staff

What are some other ways to store or collect materials?

ResourcesLiteracy-Building Play in Preschool: Lit Kits, Prop Boxes, and Other Easy-to-Make Tools to Boost Emergent Reading and Writing Skills Through Dramatic Play, by V. Susan Bennett-Armistead, 2009.

Literacy Play: Over 300 Dramatic Play Activities That Teach Pre-Reading Skills, by Sherrie West and Amy Cox, 2004.

Let's Pretend: 50 Start-to-Finish Preschool Programs for the Busy Librarian That

Foster Imagination, by Rebecca C. Bane, 2010.

Activity: Let’s Pretend1) Scan “On the Farm” chapter2) See example with the addition of

print component3) Choose a dramatic play theme4) Add ideas for each of the four

functions of print (environmental, informational, occupational, recreational)

Additional Resources• Literacy Through Play, by Gretchen Owocki, 1999.• Scholastic classroom blog: Literacy in Kindergarten Dramatic Play Centers

http://blogs.scholastic.com/classroom_solutions/2010/11/literacy-kindergarten-dramatic-play-centers-housekeeping-grocery-store.html

• Kindergarten Nana: Dramatic Play Center Ideas• http://dbsenk.wordpress.com/2011/03/12/dramatic-play-center-ideas/ • Shari Sloane, Dramatic Play Centers:

http://www.kidscount1234.com/play.html • Education World: The Prop Box--Setting the Stage for Meaningful Play

http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev101.shtml • Madison Public Library: Play Literacy

http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/kids/play-literacy

Thank you for joining me today. Please let us know how we can support your efforts

to strengthen literacy in your child care setting.

Staci Shaw: staci.shaw@libraries.idaho.gov

Stephanie Bailey-White: stephanie.bailey-white@libraries.idaho.gov

Erica Compton: erica.compton@libraries.idaho.gov

Julie Armstrong:julie.armstrong@libraries.idaho.gov

Idaho Commission for Libraries325 W. State St., Boise, 83702334-2150 or toll free 1-800-458-3271