Kindergarten teacher typed children's stories as they were dictated to her because it offered the children an opportunity to articulate ideas, practice using language effectively, weave pleasing stories, and create bonds between children and adults. (DF)

Outlines a five-day sequence for implementing the language experience approach (LEA) and addresses questions commonly asked by primary grade teachers after they have tried to use LEA to teach reading. (FL)

Describes the steps involved in adapting the language experience approach for teaching second language learners in the regular classroom as: involving the discussion of student experiences and knowledge related to the text reading selection; recording student experiences and knowledge into written language; and considering student review or…

Examines the behaviors of two teachers during language experience dictation events to describe the "productive ambiguity" of their decisions about how and when to translate children's talk into "school" language. Finds two conceptual categories of teacher behavior--scaffold building and gatekeeping. Suggests that scaffold building increased…

Samples of kindergarten children's drawings and language, especially as used in dictation, illustrate that children invent symbols for figures, objects, and events; engage in the thinking processes of organizing and abstracting as children work to portray their concepts; and communicate their ideas to themselves and others. (BB)

Presents examples of young children using written language. Shows teachers and parents what they can learn from children's developing sense of written language. Suggests activities by which parents and teachers can spur child language development. (RL)

Discusses ways teachers can create a supportive literacy environment in the classroom for young children. Considers activities that encourage children's language use, and recommends creating an unhurried atmosphere, responding to cultural differences, and including a mix of planned and child-initiated activities. (JPB)

To successfully apply methods and materials to the student's individual needs, a teacher must be familiar with many reading methods and approaches. This book is designed to provide insights to nine different reading approaches: basal reading, language experience, individualized, linguistic, phonic, alphabetic, programed instruction, preschool…

Teachers of reading must fully appreciate the two concepts of reading: (1) a skill acquired only through formal reading instruction, and (2) the result of a natural emergence of language development. (Author/MB)

Discusses the language experience approach (LEA) to teaching reading and offers suggestions for six types of LEA stories: student selected, class shared, shape, patterned, written dialogue, and directed language teaching. (FL)

The child approaching reading for the first time comes well-equipped with developmental tools to lighten the task. Linguistically speaking, in addition to some decoding skills, the child has a full-blown syntactic system consisting of the basic syntactic forms, though some of the more intricate forms will not be mastered until much later.…

Uses the philosophy of Taoism as a metaphor in describing the whole language approach to language arts instruction. The discussion covers the key principles that inform the whole language approach, the resulting holistic nature of language programs, and the role of the teacher in this approach. (16 references) (CLB)

"Journeys Unlimited," a piece of theater-in-education performed by Australia's Bouverie St. Theatre-in-Education team during one term in 1979 and described in this paper, formed an integral component of a larger curriculum development program undertaken in Australian primary schools. This analysis of "Journeys Unlimited" is…

Suggests that, by adding LEA, individualized reading, and varied language arts activities to the basic reading program, teachers, helped by parent aids and peer tutors, can enliven reading instruction. (FL)