A Message to Teachers: Part II

Teachers are by far some of my favorite people!  I love their creativity! As previously mentioned, I believe that all teachers are literacy teachers and I say this fully aware that this is a huge charge.  To effectively reach and teach all students, creative teachers must:

• Teach through a culturally responsive approach
• Provide a reading and writing rich environment; and
• Hold all students to high expectations

Please see Part I of this series for insight on culturally responsive teaching.  In this post, I want to examine the power of providing a reading and writing rich environment or what's commonly known as a print rich environment.  Ask.com states that "a print rich environment is an environment whereby both reading and writing are used for a wide variety of day to day purposes."  This means that reading and writing are an authentic part of the classroom setting and students are exposed to both, giving them many opportunities to read and write.

These opportunities are vital to the acquisition of early literacy skills.  Research shows that effective teachers believe that a print-rich environment is necessary for children to learn literacy.  According to Instructional Lead Teacher, Cassondra Heilig, "A reading and writing rich environment is crucial for student learning."  These environments are created with text materials such as books, student work, anchor charts, word walls, maps, reading, writing and listening centers, school information posters and even classroom rules.

A supportive, inviting and attractive classroom environment is a must for motivating and involving students in reading.  There is a clear relationship between classroom environments and literacy-related behaviors and learning.  In classrooms that are too sterile - or worse - overly cluttered and unorganized, students tend to take on the qualities of their setting.  They are less likely to take care of their learning materials and more likely to feel justified in doing so.

In contrast, a supportive, print rich environment aids in learning.  Heilig adds that, "A reading rich environment creates a love for reading in children. While in early elementary, children learn to read. They are able to take those same reading skills and use them to read and learn once they are older." 

Clearly, the learning environment has a powerful impact on student learning! With that said, the entire classroom should encourage reading, writing and talking which will support children's literacy development. Creative teachers are doing this and I thank them for their dedication to student literacy.  Happy Reading!