Concepts of Print Sorts

These Concepts of Print Sorts is a great way to work on print awareness skills with your learners!

You can find a free printable checklist for print awareness in this post.

*The free printable download can be found at the END of this post. Click on the teal download button to snag the PDF. Note: The sort has been updated and is correct now.

 

Concepts of Print Sorts – Large and Small

Concepts of print {or print awareness} include things like:

• What is a word?
• What is s a letter?
• What is a sentence?
• Where are the words on the page?
• Where do you start reading the words on the page?
• Where do you go when you get to the end of the line of words? {return sweep}

Just like knowing letters and letter sounds are vital to decoding, print skills are vital to reading as well.

After all, when you say to a child, “Point to the first letter and sound out the word,” a child has to know what a letter and a word are in the first place!

 

How Do Kids Learn the Concepts of Print?

Exposure to books/print and explicit teaching! When we hold a book to read to learners, we point out things like the title and the picture on the cover. We might say, “I hold the book like this, not upside down!” We might even point out the capital letters in the title or point to the words as we read them out loud.

Reading aloud in an interactive way {not just reading the book through} is one of the most effective ways to teach book and print awareness.

Integrating activities such as the ones found in this pack can also be an effective tool for teaching the concepts of print.

In this free pack {download found at the END of this post}, you’ll find:

 

1. Large Sorting Cards 

Use these cards to sort in a pocket chart, sort on the floor, or at a tabletop area.

• Cut out the heading cards and place them at the top of your workspace area.
• Cut out the picture, letter, word, and sentence cards and shuffle them. Hand the cards out to your learner(s).
• Have learners take turns sorting their cards under the correct column as either a picture, letter, word, or sentence.
• Ask the learner, “How did you know it was a ____?” so that you can understand his/her reasoning. This also makes thinking “visible” for your other learners.

*NOTE: Do not expect learners to read the sentences on their own!

 

2. Cut & Paste Sorting Activity for Individual Learners

Print the individual sorting pages your learners. Learners cut out the squares from the page then sort and glue them beside Picture, Letter, Word, or Sentence. Four squares are included for each print concept. This is great for independent practice, too.

*The original file, which is pictured above, is missing the letters for the individual sorts. They have now been added to the PDF that can download below.

 

 

 

You’ll Also Like…

 

Enjoy teaching!
~Becky