How do hands on, play based centers impact early literacy in a kindergarten classroom?
Allyson Hovorka
Seminar Title
How do hands on, play based centers impact early literacy in a kindergarten classroom?
Concept/Strategy
Focus of the Research
Early Literacy
Grade Level
Research Was Applied
Kindergarten
Relevant Grade Level
Connections
Elementary
Discipline
Where Research Was Applied
Language Arts
Additional Discipline Areas
I see Application to
Mathematics
Invitation/Commercial
Watching kids learn and discover new things while playing is one of the greatest joys of teaching. How do teachers find time for this while also addressing the long list of academic standards that need to be covered? Play based centers are a great way to achieve both. My students practiced letters and sounds, cvc word families and high frequency words through a variety of hands on, play based centers. I implemented this in a kindergarten classroom, but we know that opportunities for play are important to the development of all kids as well as an engaging way for them to learn. The early literacy skills that my students practiced continue to be of focus in most primary and early childhood settings. This approach was applied to literacy in my kindergarten classroom, but could also be applied to other grade levels and subject areas. My hope is that you will leave this seminar with ideas of how to provide students with opportunities for play, address academic standards and not compromise the two.