recognition skills. The words on the wall should
also be flexible. By using Velcro or pins, the
words can be regrouped or alphabetized. In
addition, once all students have mastered a word,
it can be removed to make room for new ones
(Routman, 2005).
Conclusion
In order to make our students lovers of
reading, we must provide an environment that
promotes a love of reading and writing. Research
has proven that there is a link between the
classroom environment and the literacy skills of
the students within it. When teachers create a
learning environment that is inviting, stimulating
and rich in language, young children are
encouraged to try new activities (Inan, 2009).
Roskos and Neuman (2011) write that a literate
environment should energize students and create
a sense of belonging and ownership. It creates a
place where students learn together about real
words, discover how to use their mind, and
imagination. The different aspects of a literate
environment discussed in this article, can help
you do just that.
In my classroom, I have seen these aspects
greatly impact my kindergarten students. I see
my students looking at our word wall in order to
help them write their friends’ name inside their
books during writer’s workshop. I also love
seeing my students go into my classroom library,
pick out a book that I have read aloud previously
and try and read it themselves. I am confident
that the environment I have created for my
emergent readers and writers is effective.
Australian Journal of Basic & Applies Sciences,
3(3), 2510-2518.
Kuby, P., & Aldridge, J. (2004). The impact of
environmental print instruction on early
reading abilities. Journal of Instructional
Psychology, 3(2), 106-114.
McGee, L.M., & Schickedanz, J.A. (2007).
Repeated interactive read-alouds in preschool
and kindergarten. The Reading Teacher, 60(8),
742-751.
Roskos, K., & Neuman, S.B. (2011). The
classroom environment: First, last and
always. The Reading Teacher, 65(2), 100-114.
Routman, R. (2003). Reading essentials: The
specifics you need to teach reading well.
Portsmouth: Heinemann.
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