# data[].attributes.body
In kindergarten, my teacher, Mrs. Ososki, had sandbox tables set up in a designated area in the classroom. There were times throughout the week that we could visit these sandboxes to practice writing our letters and sight words in the sand to develop beginning literacy skills. I remember this as one of my favorite “playtime” activities in kindergarten, not realizing I was learning.

# data[].attributes.body
There was a play area with a play-kitchen, pots and pans, play-food, and role-playing costume pieces where we could visit to “play,” not knowing then that my teacher was encouraging us to engage in authentic social and emotional interactions with peers and problem solving, communication skills.

# data[].attributes.body
My first-grade teacher, Mrs. Keim, had literacy stations set up around her room.  One of my favorite stations to visit was the listening station.  She would have a large basket of big books with cassette tapes and headphones on the carpet.  I liked being able to sit back in a bean bag chair, listen to the story on tape, enjoy the illustrations, and flip the pages when the chime rang.  By listening to stories with technology, students can hear what good reading sounds like with automaticity and expression, as well as track print while listening.

# data[].attributes.body
There was a station where we could use various materials and supplies to create our sight words.  She would have letter beads and a magnetic whiteboard easel so that we could practice reading and building our words kinesthetically.  These hands-on activities made learning fun and kept me engaged.

# data[].attributes.body
Now…as a kindergarten teacher: I have centers set up all around my room where students will visit 2 times a week as I meet with guided reading groups.  My five centers include: the listening center, the word work center, the art center, the dramatic play center, and the writing center.

# data[].attributes.body
The word work center: students engage in hands-on activities to learn and practice their sight words by using letter beads to string sight words on pipe cleaners, letter blocks, magnets on cookie trays, build using Play-Doh, magazine scavenger hunts, stamping words with letter stamps, and more.

# data[].attributes.body
Each center is explained on Monday so that students can rotate independently throughout the week.  After some practice, students are almost rotating completely by themselves and get the hang of it!  Our listening center has improved since my personal kindergarten experience. We use scanners and bar codes to listen to our stories on tablets or they can play a CD and choose their own book.

# data[].attributes.body
Using my personal memories of early literacy and what I learned through my undergraduate program at PSU, I can incorporate my childhood literacy memories into my classroom, knowing what an impact they had on me and my literacy achievements.  From my practice, creating a learning environment that appeals to all learning styles and keeps students motivated and engaged is crucial to a successful early literacy experience.