How to Teach Concepts of Print in Kindergarten

There are so many things to teach and so many things to do at the beginning of the school year for all teachers, but especially in kindergarten. Students come in with very little classroom experience and at all different levels of understanding, making your job as a teacher even more difficult. 

Teaching reading in kindergarten is a HUGE undertaking for exactly that reason. You’ve got to start at the very beginning, the true basics, to get your little readers reading. Large-scale curriculums often throw the basics into lessons throughout the year, leaving your students without this knowledge for months into the school year or just skipping it altogether. 

So I’ve created my Kindergarten Reading Units to guide you and your students from the true beginning to the end of kindergarten.

The first unit, Print Concepts, is designed so that by the end of the unit students will understand and explain the contents of a book and how to look at a book properly. Students will also be able to check out a book from your classroom library based on their interests and track print by pointing to each word. 

This unit is setting them up for success all year long. 

So, what will I be getting when I purchase this unit? 

Short answer: so so much. 

Long answer: When you grab this unit you will gain access to 20 print-and-go lesson plans, a schedule showing you the layout of those lesson plans, tips for setting up your classroom library, a list of common core standards used,  anchor charts, printable practice pages, alphabet and CVC decodables, and fully editable slides. 

You can see everything that's included here! 

This seems like A LOT, is it going to be overwhelming to start? 

I have specifically designed these lessons with teachers in mind. Each lesson is print-and-go so that you can easily teach with very little prep involved. 

On the lesson plan page itself, you will find a teaching point, the materials you’ll need (with screenshots of any anchor charts so you can find them easily!),  a brief, scripted mini-lesson, a description of the student activity, and finally, share time. 

The lessons themselves are each about 20 minutes long INCLUDING time for the activity or independent reading. This is not meant to be a curriculum that takes up most of your morning! It is a developmentally appropriate reading curriculum built with your students in mind. I won’t ask them to sit for longer than appropriate and activities are engaging for kids their age! 

How do I use this in the classroom? 

Like I have said, the lessons themselves are print and go! You could pick it up and start it today. However, to get the most out of these lessons I do recommend doing a few things to set up your classroom beforehand. 

Ive included several tips on how to set up a classroom library! I highly recommend getting this area of your classroom organized and ready to go PRIOR to the start of this unit. You want to have firm procedures in place (or ready to be modeled) and a variety of books for your students to choose from. 

You’ll also want to plan out your own classroom routines for independent reading time. 

After your library is set up, print off the anchor charts and find a spot to hang them that is visible to ALL students. OR get those slides set up so that they are ready to rock when you begin your unit. 

Is there a writing unit that works well to teach alongside this unit?

Well, I am so glad you asked! My Labeling Unit is the PERFECT match for this reading unit. Both are teaching the basics and setting students up for a successful school year. While you teach concepts of print in reading, you’ll be teaching concepts such as writing beginning sounds, stretching out words, and writing short sentences using the sounds they hear!

You can read about how all of my reading and writing units align in this blog post! 

By the end of your first month of school you will have built firm foundations in both reading and writing. Students will be ready to build those reading skills and begin writing words. 

I am sold! Where can I buy it? 

You can buy the individual Print Concepts Unit here. However, I highly recommend grabbing the entire Kindergarten Reading Bundle! This is a growing bundle that currently includes only units 1 and 2 of the reading curriculum… meaning you are only paying for units 1 and 2. But, when I add the rest of the reading units you will get them all for FREE just by redownloading. Huge bang for your buck right there. 

I have so many developmentally appropriate, engaging reading center activities and decodables! Take a minute to look at my entire store here!