Concepts of Print

Definition & Value: The term Concepts of Print encompasses an abstract array of ideas that surround instructional literacy. "Concepts of print" is a general knowledge about the function of print as a form of communication that is inextricably linked to but does not rely on verbal communication. These concepts are vital to reading and writing fluency, as they ensure comprehension of what may otherwise look like a jumble of symbols on a page. Concepts of print are a manual, a blueprint for reading and looking at printed material. They continue to develop in elementary school and beyond, depending. Concepts such as punctuation skills tend to develop later than most other concepts.

The following are key components of concepts of print:

-print represents language
-books/texts are composed of print
-the illustrations in a text are related to the print
-print (written language), unlike spoken language, is unchanging
-letters and symbols have a specific orientation in space that distinguishes them from other letters and symbols
-letters make up words
-words have a beginning, middle, and end.
-space separates and defines the beginning and end of words ("concept of word")
-punctuation marks define space in terms of thought patterns and expression
-sentences, paragraphs, and books have a beginning, middle, and end
-books have an author, and sometimes an illustrator
-some books have a table of contents, an index, and a glossary
-we read print from left to right
-we use "return" sweep to return to the first word of the following line
-there is a first word and a last word on a page that correspond to the top to bottom, left to right movement of reading
-there are many purposes for print

the alphabetic principle- the understanding that words are made of letters and that these letters represent the sounds we say when we say a certain word. Letters on a page "stand for" the sounds in spoken words.

Associated Assessment:

I decided to use a concepts of print assessment I found online, as it has a very convenient checklist that saves me from making my own. It also has a very accessible layout (very user friendly)--it is broken up into procedure, analysis, rationale, and assessment guidelines.
Source:
http://www.mlpp-msl.net/assessments/conceptsofPrint/Concepts-of-Print-A.pdf.

Duke, Nell. TE301, Section 003, Fall 2007, Power Point slide.

The New Brunswick Group (D. Strickland, C. Snow, P. Griffin, M. S. Burns, P. McNamara) (2002). Preparing our teachers: Opportunities for better reading instruction. Washington, DC: Joseph Henry Press.