Classroom Labeling as Part of a Print-Rich Environment

Kids’s books and other reading materials are a necessary part of a young child’s early literacy experience and lay the foundation for a love of reading. As young Kids understand different types of print, they learn what all the letters and words mean in different contexts and how they influence their lives. Providing a print-rich classroom environment exposes Kids to reading in a useful way. One feature of a print-rich classroom is labeling. Labeling helps to make an atmosphere that puts Kids at ease and contributes to independent learning. Labeling also: • Helps Kids identify that words have meaning • Infuses the environment with print • Helps Kids develop responsibility as they care for the materials they use • Turns clean-up time into a important learning opportunity • Gives visual clues to the place of items • Makes it easier for the staff to keep list of classroom materials • Adds to the appeal and association of the classroom rnLabeling Guidelines Every early childhood care and education classroom should have its own character or fashion that reflects the Kids’s and staff’s welfare and personalities. However, to make labeling the environment a useful venture that contributes to a child’s perceptive of print, there are essential guidelines that should be followed. • Use upper and lowercase letters properly—only proper names begin with an uppercase letter. • Words are printed or typed neatly. • All words are spelled correctly. • The letters used in a label are of the similar size, type, and color. Bins and Baskets rnBins and baskets placed on classroom shelves at the Kid’s level can be labeled with words and pictures. To support in putting the bins away in the proper place, make sure the shelf is also labeled. By labeling the shelf, you help Kids know where the storage bin or basket belongs with a word and picture. Picture labels may come from a commercial labeling system, be cut out of catalogs or packaging, or be easy drawings. The word label should be typed or written carefully using proper capitalization and spelling and reading from left to right. rnKids will see the pictures and start to connect the written word with the object. Labeling of this kind provides young Kids the chance to practice sorting, matching, and organizational skills. Matching the basket label and shelf label also makes for easier clean up. Shadowing Items that are openly placed on the shelf such as unit blocks, dramatic play hats, or Kid’s scissors can be labeled using shadows as an alternative of pictures and words. Shadowing promotes easy clean-up, matching, and classifying—mainly with multiple items such as a big set of wooden blocks. Classroom Environment Labels rnCommon items such as the clock, bathroom, and sink must be labeled near the item. This encourages letter and word recognition and promotes reading. Cubbies and other individual spaces for Kids should be labeled clearly with every child’s name, using upper and lowercase letters as proper. For younger Kids, a picture of an animal, in addition to a kid’s name can be incorporated on the cubby label to make recognition of the room easier than with the name alone. rnIntroducing Labeling in the Classroom rnKids will notice the labels right away as a new addition to their classroom surroundings. They will need some help in the beginning to appreciate how to use the labels and what they mean. Challenge the Kids to try to figure out what they think the labels are to be used for. After you’ve made their list, give details that the labels help them find and restore materials in their classroom. Throughout the day, repeat and persuade them to find the two labels that match. It is also necessary that the staff model how materials are put away. Another idea by distance learning teacher training course is to help Kids know the labeling system, is to engross the Kids in the early process of labeling of the room. The staff might print the labels ahead of time and help the Kids in finding the item the label goes with. Kids can also look through catalogues for matching pictures.