Environmental Print

Every year, I have the chance to meet every kindergarten student in our district for an initial benchmark assessment. I arrive at their classrooms and tell them we will be doing a little reading together. I am so surprised at the number of students who always exclaim that they don't know how to read yet. For someone who has only been on the earth for approximately 1600 days, their expectations for themselves are very high.
One of the most important goals I have for my students is to see themselves as readers. Even if they can't exactly process functional print yet, they are already emerging readers with a great understanding of the contextual clues around them that they identify with everyday.
This environmental print is everywhere and a great starting point for young readers. It is a concrete connection that allows them the ability to "read" within the context of their everyday experiences. From the breakfast cereal box they choose at the grocery store, to recognizing their favorite places like McDonald's or Target, kids are using those clues in their environment and are easily comprehending its meaning.
http://www.hubbardscupboard.org/i_can_read_.html

until later~
b~