Integrated Language Arts Summer, 2000

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

Terms to know technological literacy morphology phonology semantics language arts instruction

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

Emergent Language Arts Abilities l 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

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

l 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.

Integrating the Language Arts l 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.

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