EEC 4706 - Early and Emergent Literacy in Early Childhood

College of Education

Credit(s): 3
Contact Hours: 47
Effective Term Summer 2019 (560)

Requisites

Admission to Educational Studies and Community Leadership (Bachelor of Science) (EDST-BS)
Early Childhood Education subplan

Course Description

This course is designed to introduce the emergence of language and the fundamentals of early literacy development in children from birth to four years of age. Communication ranging from prenatal interactions through the preschool years will be explored along with the process of communication. Language, communication, literacy theory and current research are used to encourage the development of informed practices that are developmentally appropriate for the age of the child. (Note: This course requires 15 field experience hours in an early childhood setting.)

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

  1. The student will apply current theories of language and literacy development by:
    1. identifying specific theories of child development and describing their relevance to current language and literacy development theory.
    2. modeling specific knowledge and vocabulary associated with early literacy and language development in context.
    3. explaining relevant abilities and skills and adapting those into the students' own environmental design and teaching style.
  2. The student will examine the sequence of language acquisition by:
    1. analyzing observed simulations and classroom instruction.
    2. comparing examples of verbal language development and its relationship to phonological understanding and the knowledge of graphic symbols.
    3. describing the stages of language development.
  3. The student will construct a developmentally appropriate environment to encourage literacy development by:
    1. creating conditions and relationships to support the development of oral language, early reading and early writing skills which establish the foundation for later literacy.
    2. designing a wide range of developmentally appropriate experiences to support literacy.
    3. evaluating early childhood environments to identify best practices.
    4. creating criteria for judging quality children's literature.
  4. The student will plan assessments to inform and individualize the curriculum by:
    1. evaluating methods, tools and materials that prove helpful in isolating language and literacy skills.
    2. adapting materials that address these specific skills language and literacy and abilities while maintaining confidentiality and individual integrity.
  5. The student will determine various methods of involving families in the literacy development of their child by:
    1. assessing strategies, materials and activities that link family and program goals.
    2. recommending identified strategies to promote family literacy development.
  6. The student will compile methods of inclusion for children of all abilities, backgrounds and ethnicity by:
    1. creating a literacy environment that welcomes all children.
    2. developing curricular and methodological systems that address the needs of all children served, including children with special needs and non-English speakers.
    3. adapting materials to individual needs, abilities and learning styles.

Criteria Performance Standard

Upon successful completion of the course the student will, with a minimum of 75% accuracy, demonstrate mastery of each of the above stated objectives through classroom measures developed by individual course instructors.

History of Changes

C&I 4/28/09, BOT 6/19/09, Effective 20091(0415) C&I 4/27/2010, BOT 6/15/2010, Effective 20093(0425) C&I Approval: 04/27/2010, BOT Approval: 06/15/2010, Effective Term: Summer 2010 (425). C&I Approval: , BOT Approval: , Effective Term: Fall 2018 (550).
C&I Approval: 02/14/2019, BOT Approval: 03/19/2019, Effective Term: Summer 2019 (560)

Related Programs

  1. Educational Studies and Community Leadership (EDST-BS) (665) (Draft)
  2. Educational Studies and Community Leadership (EDST-BS) (660) (Active)
  3. Educational Studies and Community Leadership (EDST-BS) (610) (Draft)