Date of Award

2016

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Honors Thesis

Department

Education

First Advisor

Kelli Esteves

Abstract

The Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education emphasizes the principle that the environment is a child’s third teacher. While the relationship between the teacher and the child is critical to learning, the physical classroom space plays an equally important role in the child’s educational journey. It is through intentional planning of a space from an educator that an environment can foster inquiry from a child. By using this principle as a foundation, this research attempts to answers the question- How do I create an environment that fosters literacy and an interest in books? The research conducted over the past year examines the importance of classroom libraries and how they play a vital role in a child’s reading identity, while providing them with authentic literacy experiences.

Over the course of the past year, schools, public libraries, and bookstores have been visited and observed to uncover how teachers, librarians, and retailers entice children to pick up a book and start reading. A wide variety of professional texts were reviewed and one-on-one interviews were conducted in these settings to talk about the vital integration of classroom library use into the daily literacy instruction of the elementary school children, while looking at how marketing strategies can influence children when they select books outside of the classroom setting. Research was also done on how international and multicultural children’s literature can enhance a classroom library. Data was collected during the Children’s Literature Study Tour of Great Britain.

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