Full Description
Children's speaking, reading, and writing skills are closely connected, and this engaging text guides preservice and practicing teachers in choosing instructional strategies that promote the integrated development of these skills. The authors explore the foundations of language in the developing brain and show how language acquisition in early childhood influences later literacy and language use. Chapters cover phonological skills, vocabulary, grammatical knowledge, comprehension, and writing, as well as instructional techniques and programs. The book examines why some students struggle with particular language and literacy tasks and how motivation and sociocultural factors affect proficiency. Rich classroom vignettes and examples of effective teaching strategies are accompanied by accessible explanations of relevant research.
Contents
I. Introductory Issues 1. Introduction2. Brain Development, Language, and LiteracyII. The Development of Spoken Language Competence3. An Overview of Spoken Language Competence4. The Development of Phonological Skills5. The Development of Word Meaning and Vocabulary6. The Development of Grammatical KnowledgeIII. The Development of Reading and Writing Skills7. Beginning Reading8. The Development of Reading Comprehension9. The Development of Writing SkillsIV. Individual and Group Differences in Language and Literacy10. Motivational Issues in Speaking, Reading, and Writing11. Sociocultural Issues in Speaking, Reading, and WritingV. Instructional Techniques and Programs12. General Principles of Effective Instruction13. Language and Literacy Programs That Work
