ECH ED 2106 - Language and Literacy Development in Early Childhood: Birth through Kindergarten

Institution:

Temple University

Subject:

Description:

The main focus of this course is to develop an understanding of the development of language skills and how language lays the critical foundation for pre-literary skills, which are necessary for learning to read. The course will cover the important theories of language development and the developmental course of language acquisition. Woven throughout the class will be a discussion of dual language learners and ESL learners as they encounter the task of reading at the same time that they may be learning to speak English. Early childhood classroom activities will be discussed in relation to the six critical language and pre-literacy precursors suggested by the National Early Literacy Panel (2009). A unique emphasis is on the children’s language and literacy development from birth to 6 years of age. There has been a dramatic shift in how early childhood language and pre-literacy development is perceived, taught, and learned. However, these new theoretical understandings have not translated into effective classroom practices. Through current readings and class discussion the following questions will be addressed: How should we think about language and the learning and teaching of literacy? How will we prepare young children for a world in which reading, specifically vocabulary development and comprehension will be increasingly important? How can activities be developed that embody the changes in reading teaching and learning advocated by recent recommendations? How can we form these changes to include all children, especially children in poverty and ESL children? NOTE: Background clearances needed.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Special authorization required for all students

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

WWW.TEMPLE.EDU

Phone Number:

(215) 204-7000

Regional Accreditation:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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