To Hang or Not to Hang... That Is the Question. A Preschool Teacher Checklist

Are you ready to commit to early literacy in your classroom but don't know where to start? We've got your covered with this literacy-focused preschool teacher checklist!

I'll never forget the very first time I walked the classroom for my first job as the literacy enrichment teacher.

I walked in, looked around, and immediately thought...Where's the alphabet line?

I scanned the walls again. Nothing. So I finally asked the teacher, "Where's your alphabet?"

She smiled and said, "We're play-based. We don't believe in hanging the alphabet."

I smiled back (and maybe batted my eyes just a little) ...this was going to be interesting!

Thankfully, the preschool director was absolutely fabulous. She was open-minded and trusted that what I would bring to my lessons was developmentally appropriate and playful learning.

After that day, things began to change in the classrooms. Together, we created spaces where literacy and play worked hand in hand.

The alphabet wasn't wallpaper. It became a tool children actually used. Letters showed up in centers, in children's names, in songs, in games, and in everyday conversations. Books were thoughtfully placed throughout the room. Environmental print became part of purposeful connections, and intentional teaching was happening within the spectrum of play.

Looking back, it was the "Moving Little Minds approach" long before there was a name for it. And the results were incredible!

Families began sharing how excited their children were about letters and books. Teachers felt more confident in their literacy instruction. One day, a local private school even reached out to the preschool director asking what literacy program they were using because the children were arriving to their entrance exams so well prepared.

That experience taught me something I still believe today: A literacy-rich classroom isn't about hanging more things. It's about hanging the right things—and knowing how children will use them. Let's get your classroom prepped to do just that!

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How Do We Create a Literacy-Rich Environment?

As many of you get ready for another school year, I know exactly what's on your to-do list... the cutting, the laminating, and the hanging.

Before we dive into this conversation, I want to start with an important reminder:

YOU create a literacy-rich environment through the conversations you have, the real-life experiences you provide, the books you read, the songs you sing, the teachable moments you embrace, and those tiny moments of purposeful play.

Those interactions matter more than any curriculum manual, alphabet line, or perfectly decorated classroom.

However, the physical environment we create can help make all of those meaningful literacy moments easier, more accessible, and more intentional for young children.

So, before you start filling your walls, I want to encourage you to pause and ask yourself one important question:

How does this support children's literacy development?

When I walk into a classroom today, I'm thinking about the six components of early literacy:

• Oral Language

• Phonological Awareness

• Alphabetic Knowledge

• Concepts of Print

• Writing

• Text Comprehension

I'm asking...

• Do they make time for building vocabulary through meaningful discussions and visuals?

• Is there a poem on the wall to build phonological awareness?

• Is the alphabet displayed at an appropriate level for children, with a toolkit ready to make learning fun?

• Is print present in a way that children can relate to it, through names, labeled objects, and environmental print.

• Is it clear that stories are celebrated and extended through felt boards, puppets, etc.

Teacher Tip: I like to sit right on the carpet (yes, I literally sit in the middle of the room!) and look around from a child's perspective. It completely changes how you see your classroom.

Ask yourself: Can children actually use the visual supports you've hung, or are they simply serving as decorations? When we view our classrooms through their eyes, it's much easier to create an environment that truly supports independence and learning.

When we start with the taking a peek at the physical environment, our classroom becomes much more intentional.

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The 6 Main Components of Early Literacy

Before we share how to put our checklist into practice, it is first important to understand the six main components of early literacy and why they matter for our little ones!

Oral Language

Oral language refers to the ability to speak and understand spoken language, including vocabulary development, grammar, and the ability to express ideas clearly and listen effectively.

Why it matters: Strong oral language skills are the foundation for literacy development. They help children communicate effectively, support reading comprehension, and provide the vocabulary and language structures needed to understand and produce written language.

Concepts of Print

The understanding of how printed language works, which involves knowing that print carries a message, recognizing the difference between letters and words, and understanding the direction of text (left to right, top to bottom). This also includes understanding book orientation, such as the front and back cover, title, and author.

Why it matters: Grasping these basics helps children understand how books and print function, setting a solid foundation for future reading and writing skills. It's the first step in their journey to becoming a reader!

Alphabetic Knowledge

Alphabetic knowledge is the understanding of letter symbols, that letters represent sounds, and that these sounds come together to form words. It includes recognizing letter names, formation, and the sounds they make.

Why it matters: This knowledge is crucial for preparing children to learn to read and write. Mastering alphabetic knowledge enables children to connect letters to sounds and sounds to words.

Phonological Awareness

 Phonological awareness is the ability to recognize and play with the sounds in words. This includes skills like rhyming, alliteration, and breaking words down into syllables and individual sounds (phonemes).

Why it matters: Developing phonological awareness helps children understand the sound structure of language, which is essential for building readers and writers. It’s a key skill (specifically phonemic awareness), that supports decoding and spelling as they progress in their literacy journey.

Writing

Writing involves expressing thoughts, ideas, and stories through drawing, scribbling, and eventually forming letters and words.

Why it matters: Writing activities support the development of fine motor skills and help children make the connection between spoken and written language. These early writing experiences foster creativity and communication skills, which are essential for their overall literacy development.

Text Comprehension

Text comprehension is about understanding and interpreting the meaning of written text. It includes skills such as predicting what will happen next, asking questions, summarizing, and making connections to personal experiences.

Why it matters: Developing text comprehension skills ensures that children can grasp the meaning of stories and texts. This is crucial not only for reading enjoyment but also for learning from what they read, which supports their overall academic success.

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Putting the Theory into Practice with Our Preschool Teacher Checklist

If this feels a little overwhelming, don't worry...we've done the hard work for you!

Download the Literacy-Rich Classroom Checklist below. Instead of wondering what should go on your walls, this checklist will help you evaluate the literacy opportunities woven throughout your classroom across all six components of early literacy.

Take a walk through your classroom with the checklist in hand. Celebrate the areas that are thriving, identify opportunities for growth, and work alongside your colleagues and director to make meaningful improvements.

Remember, creating a literacy-rich classroom isn't about adding more. It's about being intentional. A few thoughtful changes can make a big difference for young learners.

Literacy-Rich Classroom Checklist.pdf

Download PDF • 312KB

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We believe that every child deserves a bright future, and this begins with a strong foundation in early literacy skills.  At Moving Little Minds, we are dedicated to providing research-based literacy activities in fun and engaging ways!  By merging instruction with play, we ensure that children are reaching their full potential and embark on their educational journey well-prepared for the future! Let's build those KEY emergent literacy skills together.

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