Understanding Language and Literacy
Overview
This unit will help pre-service teachers to understand the development of language and literacy skills for children in the early years (from birth to eight years of age), and the implications that it will have on planning, teaching and learning. The unit introduces pre-service teachers to theoretical perspectives that underpin the development of language and literacy. Pre-service teachers will explore learning environments, experiences, activities and strategies for developing children’s oral language and early writing in different settings with links made to relevant guiding curriculum documents. In addition, pre-service teachers will examine culture and home language, develop strategies for teaching children learning English as a second language, and explore the concept of parent-educator partnerships.
Requisites
27-October-2024
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research into oral language development in the early years and the implications for teaching
- Examine and present an approach for teaching speaking and listening skills in the early years
- Demonstrate broad knowledge of, understanding of, and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and languages
- Design a culturally and linguistically sensitive approach that could support connecting with families and strengthen family literacy practices
- Demonstrate appropriate personal literacy skills
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
---|---|---|---|
Live Online Lecture | 1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
On-campus Class | 2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
Specified Activities Various | 6.00 | 8 weeks | 48 |
Unspecified Activities Independent Learning | 5.50 | 12 weeks | 66 |
TOTAL | 150 |
Swinburne Online
Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
---|---|---|---|
Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning | 12.50 | 12 weeks | 150 |
TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
---|---|---|---|
Essay | Individual | 40% | 1,2 |
Portfolio | Individual | 60% | 2,3,4 |
Content
- Definitions of language and literacy
- Theories of language and literacy development
- Components of language e.g. phonology, semantics, grammar, morphology, pragmatics
- Oral language development in the early years
- Early writing development in the early years
- Culture, language and oral traditions
- Strategies to support children whose home/first language is a language other than English
- Contemporary research into literacy development
- Digital technologies in language and literacy development
- Government policies and guiding curriculum documents related to English and literacy – links to EYLF (Early Years Learning Framework) and or the VEYLDF (Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework) and relevant National and/or State or Territory curriculum
- Personal literacy skills
- Graduate Attribute - Communication Skills: Communicating using different media
- Graduate Attribute - Digital Literacies: Information literacy
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.