Course Description

This course explores children’s language and linguistic development, with special emphasis given to the nature and function of language, theories of language acquisition, language and cognition, developmental stages in learning to talk, dialectical differences, and partnering with parents to foster language and literacy development.

Goals of the Course: This course surveys the literature on language in relation to children’s linguistic development.  Special emphasis will be given to such topics as the nature and function of language, theories of language acquisition, language and cognition, and developmental stage of language and learning to read.

Course Materials

Syllabus: 358SyllabusFall2013.doc

Schedule: This course is online, in eCollege, starting Monday, August 26. Some Gallery Walks will be scheduled on Wednesdays, 7.30-10.00pm, in Midlothian and Corsicana (you choose) to showcase our creative projects.

Our first meetings will be in Midlothian on Wednesday August 28 at 7.30pm in NCM2 Room 220

OR (you choose one to attend)

in Corsicana on Wednesday September 4 at 7.30pm in Bain Center.

 

Required Texts:

Morrow, Leslie Mandel (2012).Literacy Development in the Early Years: Helping Children Learn to Read and Write (7th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon. ISBN 9780132484824 (Note: earlier edition is acceptable).

NAEYC & IRA. (1998) Learning to read and write: Developmentally appropriate practices for young children.Available online on July 9, 2012 at http://naeyc.org/positionstatements/learning_readwrite & http://naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSREAD98.PDF

Texas Education Agency. (2009).English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS).Available online on July 9, 2012 at http://www.englishspanishteks.net/teachers/

Required Readings, as provided by the professor. For example:

Morrow. Leslie Mandel. (1998). "Creating a Framework for Literacy-Rich Environments," in Morrow, Strickland, & Woo.Literacy Instruction in Half- and Whole-Day Kindergarten: Research to Practice (pp. 98-111). Newark, DE: International Reading Association.

Recommended Texts:

Nemeth, Karen N. (2009).Many Languages, One Classroom: Teaching Dual and English Language Learners. Gryphon House. ISBN: 978-0-87659-087-4

Hadaway, Nancy L., & Vardell, Sylvia M. (2003).What Every Teacher Should Know about English Language Learners. Allyn & Bacon. ISBN:  9780137155477

Josh Thompson, Ph.D.

Associate Professor Early Childhood Education

Texas A&M University-Commerce
Midlothian Campus of the
Navarro College District
899 Mt. Zion Road
Room 207
Midlothian, Texas 76065
972-775-7230
Fax 972-775-7233

Cell: 214-663-6102

Email: note new email eddress: Josh.Thompson@tamuc.edu

 

Department of Curriculum & Instruction
Texas A&M University-Commerce
P.O. Box 3011 Commerce, Texas 75429-3011