Early School Students Build Foundation for Literacy Through Play-Based Learning

St. Margaret’s Early School prepares students to read and write through its play-based curriculum. At the Early School, the science of early literacy development is recognizing that play is not just a form of recreation, but a crucial component of learning. 

Students begin the literacy journey through playful interactions with each other and at independent play. Early reading skills include engaging with books, labeling pictures, commenting on stories, in addition to scribbling and making intentional marks which foster writing abilities. The Early School learning environment is supported with resources designed to guide students through developmental milestones. The curriculum encourages students to explore letters, shapes and symbols. Students learn to differentiate what these are, therefore transforming their understanding through hands-on experiences.

In the classroom, children may choose books to read with friends, or play alphabet puzzles. Moreover, the Early School Outdoor Classroom provides an environment  for students to engage in play-based learning by using chalk to draw arrows or write "go" and "stop" on the concrete, or creating traffic patterns for tricycles. Then, there are other opportunities to scribble menu items on clipboards or make birthday cards for friends through drawings and letters. 

Early School educators place an emphasis on the physical environment when creating opportunities for students to freely choose to read and write. For instance, food menus, envelopes, and paper are placed in the dramatic play area, while cardboard signs in the block area are intentionally set up to encourage students to engage with reading and writing. Furthermore, teachers model reading and writing every day at circle time or encourage curious minds as students ask how to spell a word. “Our learning environment provides rich resources to engage with to support early reading and writing,” said Early School Director Dr. Cris Lozon. 

 

Embedding literacy skills in play and providing these rich resources allows St. Margaret’s Early School educators to guide developmental readiness, as students learn about letters, shapes and colors through play. Ultimately, by weaving play into the fabric at St. Margaret's Early School, students are equipped to develop cognitively through developmentally appropriate practices rich in social connections, language, and learning.