Literacy-Enhanced Props

A high-quality classroom literacy environment can positively support young children’s emergent literacy skills. Classrooms that provide children with a high-quality literacy environment are carefully arranged and contain a variety of literacy-enhanced props that refer to tangible literacy materials or resources (e.g., books, writing tools). Scholars such as Lee McGee have found that literacy-rich classroom environments for young children are rare. This entry discusses how early childhood educators might create classrooms that support literacy for young children by inserting literacy-enhanced props into their classroom environments.

Literacy-enhanced props include narrative and informational books, print props (e.g., posters), and writing tools and materials. A collection of high-interest children’s books influences the nature of children’s literacy activities and fosters their literacy skills. McGee suggests that almost all early childhood classrooms ...