Literacy Through Play First Book/ECRTR Meetings August, 2011

Play Board Games Blocks Outdoor Games Puppets Sports Dramatic Play Music

Play and Brain Development Exploratory Play Constructive Play Dramatic Play

Concrete object Abstract idea Marks on the pageMessage

Function vs. Feature of Print Function Reason or purpose of print Feature Letter-sound relationship Structure of grammar Meaning

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 Purposeful Play 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 YOUR LIBRARY How can your library support literacy through play?

On-site: Play Area Theme Props Environmental print Functions of print Social interaction Books or other library resources Storage

Shari Sloane Props Environmental print Functions of print Social interaction Books or other library resources Storage

2011/03/12/dramatic-play- center-ideas/ Restaurant

American Falls Props Environmental print Functions of print Social interaction Books or other library resources Storage

Grocery mplates.com/tag/editable-money- template/ 10/11/literacy-kindergarten-dramatic-play-centers- housekeeping-grocery-store.html

No room, budget, or staff time to create a dramatic play area in your library space?

Prop Boxes Theme Props Functions of print Social interaction Books or other library resources Storage

Prop Boxes Bins and tubs Trunks and suitcases In-house use: – Library staff – Parents Outreach: – Child Care Providers/Teachers

Outreach Deposit programs Check-out Site-visits

Madison Public Library (WI) Props Environmental print Functions of print Social interaction Books or other library resources Storage

Getting started…

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

Additional Resources Literacy Through Play, by Gretchen Owocki, Scholastic classroom blog: Literacy in Kindergarten Dramatic Play Centers kindergarten-dramatic-play-centers-housekeeping-grocery- store.html kindergarten-dramatic-play-centers-housekeeping-grocery- store.html Kindergarten Nana: Dramatic Play Center Ideas ideas/ ideas/ Shari Sloane, Dramatic Play Centers: Education World: The Prop Box--Setting the Stage for Meaningful Play Madison Public Library: Play Literacy