Integrating Environmental Print Across the Curriculum, PreK-3: Making Literacy Instruction Meaningful

From billboards to lunch boxes, environmental print offers a powerful springboard to literacy! While learning to read and write takes time, there are effective ways to tap into what children already know and to use that information to jump start the literacy process. One way is through environmental print (EP), the print that surrounds children in their daily lives. Integrating Environmental Print Across the Curriculum, PreK–3, provides a wealth of activities that build literacy skills during time devoted to language arts, math, science, social studies, art, and dramatic play. Highlighting research from the National Reading Panel, the authors demonstrate that by activating prior knowledge and creating opportunities for authentic learning, EP is an effective tool in developing the early literacy skills of all children, including English language learners and those at risk for, or identified with, special needs. Each activity specifies grade range, materials, and instructions to help you: Meet the goals of Early Reading First and Reading First Assess children's ability levels in performing the activity Strengthen concepts with related literature and songs Communicate ways that parents can use EP with their children This friendly, research-based book is designed to assist you in creating an environmental print program that promotes the development of strong literacy skills for every child!

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments About the Authors Introduction 1. What We Know About Environmental Print and Young Children The Conceptual Framework for Using Environmental Print What We Know About Early Literacy Research on Environmental Print Environmental Print and Children With Special Needs Environmental Print and No Child Left Behind Summary of the Research Findings on Environmental Print Appropriate Ways to Use Environmental Print Throughout the Curriculum 2. Language Arts Activities Daily News Posters and Signs Dictionaries Writing Experiences Literacy Across Thematic Units Rebus Stories Wall Lists and Bulletin Boards Pocket Charts Text Innovations Word Boxes Book Boxes Newspaper Ad Word Search Recipes Lunchboxes Billboards Alphabet Scavenger Hunt Environmental Print Walk Restaurant Menus Alphabet Wall/Community Alphabet Alphabet Books Reading Inside the Box 3. Math Activities Puzzles Coupons Graphs Math Games Math in an Integrated Curriculum M & M′s Math Newspaper Ads Food Labels Enlarged Class Texts Lists Grocery Store Surveys Food Groups 4. Health and Science Activities Making Flavored Milk Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches Making M & M′s Coookies Making Chicken or Vegetable Stew Making Pizza Making Pancakes Pretend Shopping Real Shopping Good Food Versus Junk Food Snacks--How Good Are They? Where Does Food Go? Pretend Restaurant Matching Toothpaste Planting Seeds Using Cardboard Containers Weather Symbols Going on a Picnic 5. Social Studies Activities Using the Newspaper Postcard Travel Mapping the Community Community Helpers Transportation Schedules Home Sales and Rentals Environmental Print Graphs and Elections Careers and Environmental Print Social Studies "Me Books" and Journals Culturally Diverse Environmental Print 6. Creative Dramatics, Music, and Art Activities Art Collage Studying Artists Neighborhood Mural Me Boxes and "Myself" Delivery Vehicles MUSIC--Songs for Commercials Creative Dramatics--"Centers" Stage Musical Instrument Time Can You Make a Puppet? 7. Meeting the Goals of the National Reading Panel Through Environmental Print Activities Phonemic Awareness Activity: Starts Like... Phonics Activity: Blended Environmental Print Fluency Activity: Speedy Shopping List Vocabulary Activity: What Goes With This? Comprehension Activity: Where Do You Find It? Conclusion: Challenges and Opportunities in Using Environmental Print Reflective Teaching Transformational Teaching Resources Resource A. Environmental Print Book List Resource B. Sample Letter to Parents References