Every Child Ready to Read-Print Awareness

Print awareness is noticing that  the printed word is all around us. This skill focuses on how print is used,how to handle a book and  knowing how to follow the words on a page. We know that every book has a cover, a title page, and a spine, and that we read from left to right, from front to back. Becoming familiar with the printed word helps children become comfortable with books and that print is useful.

To help develop print awareness, here are some tips:

• Show children that print is all around them. Point it out in signs, on menus, and in books and newspapers. 
• Point to some words as you say them, especially words that are repeated.
• Turn the book upside down and see if child notices and corrects you; if not, do it yourself.

Some recommended books on Print Awareness (see
http://www.lcplin.org/children/ecrr-Pr-Aware.htm for titles):

• Hurry! Hurry!-Eve Bunting
• Wiggle-Doreen Cronin
• Book!-Kristine George