BE023771: Reading and Writing as Language Acquisition from the First Year of Life.

Notes:

19 p. In:

Abstract:

The author describes the approach she has used to introduce reading to very young children, her own daughter and granddaughters among others. In natural and playful settings, these children have learned written language just as they have learned spoken language. The findings of these case studies have shown that in natural interactions based on the meanings of words, children begin to pay attention to the structures of written language by themselves. Experiences with these children have turned around the idea that children need to first acquire sound sequences and then attach them to written form. Instead, the child is exposed to the written word in parallel to early exposure to oral language, enhancing the acquisition of both modes simultaneously. This kind of reading may promote bilingualism and has been shown to be successful with deal children and language handicapped children. The article also explores the relevance of the theories of Lev Vygotsky to the conceptualization and practice of reading and writing as language acquisition. (Contains 28 references.) (SLD)