ECI 309 Spring 2001 (Section 01)

Course Description

This class will focus on language acquisition and emergent literacy development in children from birth through third grade. Throughout the course students will examine contexts in which children develop language and literacy including cross-cultural contexts. Research that has generated new theories of learning and supports past theories will be explored. This class will also focus on the developmental stages of language and literacy. Children's literature will be used as a basis for looking at children's language development and culturally specific storytelling structures. Instructional strategies that nurture emergent literacy will be demonstrated as well as practical methods of assessment associated with them. Preparation and organization of an environment that supports literacy development will be discussed. Students will be encouraged to construct appropriate approaches to implementing child-centered programs that support literacy development for children birth through third grade. The course explores the following questions:

• How do young children develop language and literacy?
• How do young children develop home and family literacy?
• How do young children develop language and literacy across different cultural contexts?
• What are the specific issues relevant to second language learners?
• How do we provide appropriate experiences for both first and second language learners in school?
• How do past and current learning theories shape literacy practices?
• What are the developmental stages of literacy development and the implications for instruction?
• How does a literate environment support literacy development?
• How are the language arts embedded in an integrated curriculum model?
• What authentic assessments document children's literacy development and guide instruction?
  
  

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