Integrated Language Arts Summer 2000 Learning the Language

Integrated Language Arts Summer, 2000

Learning the Language Arts l Components of language arts instruction observing thinking -speaking -listening -reading writing reflecting viewing

Terms to know technological literacy morphology phonology semantics language arts instruction

How do children learn language? Constructivist theory l Sociolinguistic theory l Phonological system l Semantic or morphological system l Syntactical system l Pragmatic system l

Emergent Language Arts Abilities Begins at home l Close link between parent-child interaction and young children’s language use (teachers also) l Building home, school, teacher, and community partnerships is not a frill l All children pass through similar stages in language development l

Principles to Create language learning activities l 1. Language arts classes must be positive, comfortable, and challenging environment. In these classes students learn concepts that they value. l 2. Students engage in authentic tasks l 3. Classroom instruction in speaking, writing, reading, listening, writing, and viewing is integrated so that one can improve another.

l 4. Language arts teachers know they are an important force in their student’s lives. They continuously work to nurture the characteristics that correlate to high student achievement.

Specific actions to take Give clear purposes and directions, explain why you are teaching is important, and help them set their own language goals. l Develop students’ positive attitudes toward language arts, and promote high self-esteem l Co-construct class rules: share class responsibilities so students can pay attention to their own personal and learning needs without having to ask for permission. l

Engage students’ problem solving abilities by posing possibilities, exploring student questions, and talking about problem solving strategies l Scaffold and perform think-alouds to support students initial attempts at language arts tasks. l Become a continuous learner and reflect how you are doing as a teacher l

Maintain high expectations of yourself and your students. l Become an advocate for your students. l Listen intently and actively l

l 5. Technology is enhancing the role that books, magazines, and newspapers serve for student’s language learning.

6. It is important to solicit student’s voices and choices in language learning. This pursuit increases student’s confidence and broadens their perspectives. l 7. Language arts instruction should center around quality literature. l

Integrating the Language Arts Use varied genres l enhance cultural understanding – Use common experiences in all cultural groups – add structure, clarity, redundancy, enthusiasm, and appropriate pace to this culturally-based content to maximize student engagement l

Ask culturally diverse students to employ the language arts to address broad social concerns. l Enable students to demonstrate their language achievements orally, visually, and dramatically, as well as in writing. l Engage in dialogues using knowledge while being sensitive to individual unique dialects and language variety. l

Things to remember l Scaffolding l Provide policy statements to parents l Journal types – daybooks – personal – dialogue