Literacy through Play

1. Literacy through Play Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children Regional Conference Coeur d’Alene, Idaho October 19, 2013 Notetaking Version

2. Your Presenter Staci Shaw Other Read to Me Coordinators: Stephanie Bailey-White Erica Compton VISTA: Julie Armstrong

3. 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

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

5. Play Blocks Dramatic Play Outdoor Games Puppets Sports Music Board Games

6. Play and Brain Development • Exploratory Play • Constructive Play • Dramatic Play

7. Dramatic Play Concrete object Abstract idea Marks on the page Message

8. 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

9. Four Major Functions • Environmental Print • Occupational Print • Informational Print • Recreational Print

10. 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

11. Play Literacy is Purposeful Play Area 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 • Sink, stove, dishes, table, refrigerator, food, aprons, place settings

12. Play Literacy is Purposeful Play Area 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 • Stethoscope, doctor’s bag, pill bottles, pretend syringes, blood pressure cuff

13. Play Literacy How can you support literacy through play in your child care setting?

14. Play Area • Theme • Props • Environmental print • Functions of print • Social interaction • Books or other resources • Storage

15. Props • Environmental print • Functions of print • Social interaction • Books or other library resources • Storage Shari Sloane www.kidscount1234.com

16. Restaurant

17. Doctor’s Office • Props • Environmental print • Functions of print • Social interaction • Books or other library resources • Storage Madison Public Library (WI)

18. Play spaces in public areas • Props • Environmental print • Functions of print • Social interaction • Books or other library resources • Storage

19. Grocery Store http://blogs.scholastic.com/classroom_solutions/2010/11/literacy-kindergarten-dramatic-play-centers-housekeeping-grocery-store.html http://www.printablekidsplaymoneytemplates.com/tag/editable-money-template/

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

21. Prop Boxes • Theme • Props • Functions of print • Social interaction • Books or other resources • Storage

22. 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?

23. Resources Literacy-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.

24. Activity: Let’s Pretend • Scan “On the Farm” chapter • See example with the addition of print component • Choose a dramatic play theme • Add ideas for each of the four functions of print (environmental, informational, occupational, recreational)

25. 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

26. Thank you for joining metoday. Please let usknow howwe 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 Libraries 325 W. State St., Boise, 83702 334-2150 or toll free 1-800-458-3271