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

Timing: (We recommend that you spend about 20 minutes on this activity)

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.

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Figure 2.1: Classroom 1
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Figure 2.2: Classroom 2
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Figure 2.3: Classroom 3
  1. What examples of ‘a print-rich learning environment’ do you see in the classrooms?
  2. 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.
  3. 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

Timing: (We recommend that you spend about 30 minutes on this activity)

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?

What resources do you need to support early literacy and reading?