Did You Know That...
Teachers can use the kinds of print students have at home to enhance literacy learning?
A recent study examined the kinds of texts found in most homes, in school, and in both settings. Across economic levels and ethnicities, some types of print are found in both places -- for example, children's books, individual words and letters, and lists. Some are unique to school -- worksheets, individual sentences, math story problems. Others are familiar in homes but rarely in schools -- labels, newspapers, comics, catalogues, game-related print. It is these familiar items that provide teachers an opportunity to build on students? literacy strengths and knowledge as they seek to foster further literacy development.
The Reading Teacher, September 2003.