This week we are learning about environmental print and how important it is for early literacy. Children become curious about print which leads them to experiment with reading and writing. When children see familiar logos in their environment they are able to make meaning based off of what they know. In a YouTube video shown in class, a five-year-old girl was asked what each logo represented. For example, this logo was one of the many presented:
The little girl said that it was GE and that her grandpa worked there. She made a connection between the logo and the fact that a family member works there. In the article "Print Awareness", an example of a toddler seeing a Burger King coffee cup and asking his mother for French fries is presented.
The activity our class worked on was a great way to collect environmental prints for several objects: Mott's Applesauce, Starbucks, McDonald's, and Pop-tarts were just a few that were brought into class. The books that we created will be helpful when we assess environmental print once we are out in the field. Observing and documenting environmental print awareness is important for effective teaching. Environmental print is very important for early literacy because it expands children's ability to learn language.