Summer Session
July 4- August 12, 1988
Tuesday and Thursday
1:00 - 4:50 p.m.
Location: MPX 7500
Instructor:
?
M. Kooy
. ?
.
EDUCATION 472-4 ?
Designs for Learning: English and Language Arts (Elementary)
This course focuses on language activity as both a means of communicating and making
meaning. Although language learning is a complex process, children come to school
language-smart. As Halliday (1982) says, children know what language is because they know
what language does. Consequently, informed language instruction "enables children to use
their language resources and build on them" (Jaggar, 1985,
p.
3).
Albeit language works integratively, we will initially explore the elements individually, always
recognizing the inherent dangers in such a venture. The processes of writing and reading will
form the major focus of the course. Languaging to make meaning will characterize the
questions: How do children make meaning in writing? reading? listening? speaking? How
does the current research on language acquisition inform our practices in teaching reading
and writing?
This establishes the context for examining beliefs about learning, thinking, reading and writing;
the role of the teacher in providing "assisted invitations"; and the implications for classroom
practices.
This course will consist of various activities: lectures; workshops and demonstrations;
seminars; individual writing tasks; small group work. The class structure will reflect the
repertoire of methods and materials applicable to actual classroom experiences.
OUTLINE OF TOPICS:
-
Language growth and development (literacy)
- The process of reading
- The process of writing (pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, publishing)
- Spelling, grammar, conventions and usage
- The relationship of reading and writing
- Writing/ reading to think across the curriculum
- The role of literature in the curriculum
Basal readers
- Developing an effective language arts program
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
-
Completion of assigned professional readings
- Class presentation: personal writing, professional article
- Major paper
REQUIRED TEXTS:
-
Lucy McCormick Calkins. The Art of Teaching Writing.
- Jane Hansen. When Writers Read.
- Brian Cambourne, Jan Turnbill. Coping With Chaos.
