Language and Literacy

Language and literacy skills are central to communication and to learning. Communication includes the ability to obtain information, clarify concepts and feelings, and convey ideas in ways that others understand. Learning involves reading for understanding, enjoying literature, and experiencing the power of putting ideas into print. Whenever we talk on the telephone, read the newspaper, write a letter, use electronic mail, discuss books and movies, or find out what time a store opens, we use language and literacy skills.

Young children come to school with a wide range of experiences and ideas about language and literacy. In infancy, they are surrounded by the sounds of language; they babble and adults respond, including them in conversations. Children see print all around them: they notice that cars come to a halt at the big red STOP sign; they see labels and signs in the supermarket; they listen to story books being read; they follow directions on the computer screen. Children also use writing as they play. They pretend to write grocery lists, messages, and letters. Teaching language and literacy means building on these early experiences in ways that convey our confidence that all children can learn to read, write, and express their ideas effectively.

An important goal in the primary grades is to help children see that language and literacy learning has a purpose. When children acquire language and literacy skills as part of meaningful activities, they see connections between what they are learning and their everyday lives. Classrooms can be places where listening, speaking, reading, and writing are integrated into all activities. Children can learn and use these communication skills on a daily basis.

This is only an excerpt from Chapter 7. You can read the rest of this chapter by downloading a PDF of Chapter 7. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader®, (it's free) to read and print this file.