What is a print-rich learning environment?
A supportive learning environment encourages all children to learn. The children need to:
- feel that they can make mistakes and take risks without being punished
- feel that their ideas and feelings are valued
- be encouraged to talk, listen and actively participate
- be allowed to be noisy as well as quiet
- have chances to learn with their minds (thinking), bodies (moving) and hearts (feelings).
Figures 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 show you some different types of resources that can make up a print-rich environment. Remember that displays should be regularly changed by the teacher; new curriculum topics are good opportunities to do this.
As well has helping children to feel safe and comfortable, your classroom can be a resource to support their reading. It needs to be ‘print-rich’.
One of the most important aspects of teaching literacy is to create a learning environment that interests children and supports them in developing different literacy skills. A print-rich or language-rich learning environment has as many examples of language in written form as possible. Aside from books, the examples could be simple – food packaging, pictures from old magazines or children’s comics – or, if you have the resources, posters and pictures. Could you ask the children to help you make or gather resources?
Activity 2.1: Print-rich classrooms
Look carefully at the different learning environments in Figures 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3. Write your answers to the questions below in your study notebook.
- What examples of ‘a print-rich learning environment’ do you see in the classrooms?
- Identify two examples of print material in the photographs that you already have in your classroom. Alternatively, identify two examples that give ideas for your classroom.
- Which classroom(s) need(s) greater development in creating a print-rich environment? What one thing could you suggest the teacher introduces?
Record your responses in your study notebook. Look at your own classroom and think about whether a visitor would describe it as a language and print-rich learning environment.
Activity 2.2: Auditing your classroom
Part 1
Answer the questions in this quiz. [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)]
Part 2
Arrange to meet with your colleagues to visit each other’s classrooms. Choose three new resources from this table of ideas for making your classroom as language- and print-rich as possible. You will need to complete this before attempting Activity 2.3.
Optional activity: ‘A language-rich classroom’, an OER from the TESS-India website, has several ideas that will help you to create a print-rich and language-rich classroom. How could you adapt these activities for your context?
Introduction