Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

The student will develop knowledge and understanding of the normal development of language in the young child and the
teacher's role in fostering and facilitating this development.  Hands-on experiences with language stimulation activities and
the application of literature will be offered.  Also, the student will assess and develop techniques for evaluating and using a variety of types of literature with the child.
 
  This is an Early Childhood Education elective course.

REQUIRED STUDENT COMPETENCIES:
 
                          1.0 LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT                 
 
  Instructional Goal:
  The goal is to review the process of normal language
  development from birth to age six and the concepts and theories related to
  this process.                 
   
  Objectives:
  1.1   Identify and define developmental stages in language
   acquisition including:
        a.   Definition of what is language
        b.   Development of expressive language
                  1.   preverbal
                  2.   words
                  3.   sentences
        c.   Development of receptive language
  1.2   Explain how children use language in:
        a.   Communication of needs and wants
        b.   Metalinguistic awareness
        c.   Language play
                  1.   sound
                  2.   pattern
                  3.   meaning
  1.3   Identify and explain major groups of language acquisition
          theories including:
        a.   Psycho-linguistic
        b.   Behavoristic/social learning
        c.   Piagetian
  1.4   Identify normal ranges within language development stages
          and list sources for referral if additional help is
          needed.
 
                             2.0 TEACHER'S ROLE
 
  Instructional Goal:
  The goal is to develop an understanding of the teacher's
  multiple roles in facilitating language development.
 
  Objectives:
  2.1   Identify ways in which a teacher models language through:
        a.   Attitudes
        b.   Uses of language
                  1.   written
                  2.   oral
        c.   Learned techniques such as self-talk
  2.2   Select and list a variety of language development
          curriculum ideas and activities including those related
          to:
        a.   Auditory discrimination and memory
             b.   Visual discrimination and memory
             c.   Oral skills
             d.   Pre-writing skills
  2.3   Identify and define ways in which a teacher interacts
          with young children through:
        a.   Indirect language stimulation techniques
                  1.   parallel talk
                       2.   description
             b.   Asking questions
                  1.   description
                       2.   open-ended
             c.   Expansion
             d.    Elaboration
 
                               3.0 LITERATURE
 
  Instructional Goal:
  The goal is to recognize the variety of literature for infants,
  toddlers and young children and its function.
 
  Objectives:
  3.1   Identify and list a variety of literature including:
        a.   Poetry
  3.2   Ancient literature
        a.   Myths
        b.   Folktales
        c.   Fables
  3.3   Written books
        a.   Picture books
        b.   Wordless books
        c.   Non-fictional books
        d.   Alphabet and word books
        e.   Seasonal and holiday books
        f.   Teacher and child-make books
  3.4   Rhymes, chants, songs, and finger plays
  3.5   Told stories
  3.6   List and identify the educational values of literature
          for young children.
 
                       4.0 EVALUATION OF LITERATURE
 
  Instructional Goal:
  The goal is to develop techniques in evaluating and selecting
  literature for young children, ages 6 weeks to 6 years.
 
  Objectives:
  4.1   Describe awards given to books including:
        a.   Newberry Medal
            b.    Caldecott Medal
  4.2 Identify criteria for assessing children's books including:
            a.    Age level appropriateness
            b.    Author's style
            c.    Attitudes and models presented
            d.    Educational value
  4.3   Use the criteria and apply the techniques for selection
          of a variety of children's books.
 
                       5.0 PRESENTATION OF LITERATURE
 
  Instructional Goal:
  The goal is to develop knowledge and skills in presenting
  children's literature using a variety of methods.
 
  Objectives:
  5.1   Develop and use appropriate techniques from
        a.   Reading aloud from books
            b.    Telling stories without books
            c.    Presenting flannel graph stories
  5.2   Presenting stories using audio-visual equipment
  5.3   Select and apply techniques for writing children's books
          with:
        a.   The teacher as the author
            b.    The child as the author
  5.4   Identify and use a variety of techniques in using
          puppetry with young children including:
        a.   Puppet construction techniques
            b.    Implementation
            c.    Set design and construction
  5.5   Identify and apply a variety of techniques in using drama
          with young children including:
            a.    Selecting stories suitable for dramatization
            b.    Types of drama
            c.    Props
            d.    Techniques of implement
 

  This course includes lecture discussion, demonstrations, hands-on  experiences, audio-visual materials, and a variety of guest
  speakers.

  Grading policy will be distributed with a Course Handout during
  the first week of class.  Grades will be based on:
        a.   attendance and active class participation
        b.   written exam or quizzes
        c.   other methods which may include one or more
               of the following:  projects, research papers,
               book reviews, oral presentations and problem
               solving activities