How Can Literature Be Used to Support and Develop Language and Literacy for Students in the Primary Years? Rationalise the Use of the Text (Chosen Literature) and Literature More Generally for Developing Language and

Learning to read is beginning to develop earlier in elementary grades. Students are expected to be emergent readers by the time he or she leaves kindergarten and enters first grade. If a child is not, he or she is labeled as being behind. According to Hughes (2007) emergent readers are using early reading strategies in consistently, read easy patterned text, retell text with simple storyline, and respond to text at a literal level. Hughes (2007) also says literacy develops in young children through play, daily conversation and interactions with text of all kinds. Many children come with emergent literacy skills; can recognize signs and labels, scribble letters, retell stories by pointing at pictures and talking about them, and some have varying degrees of phonemic and phonological awareness. This essay will define and explain implication for each theory in learning to read.

As you read you see many different vocabulary that you may not know, and this allows readers to learn these vocabulary through context clues and repetition. Studies show that students who have poor reading comprehension, or do not read often, also have a low language comprehension as well. Studies also show that finding the same words in different context in different books often immensely helps to learn that vocabulary. Research indicates that reading can improve writing as well; University of California states that reading exposes you to good writing styles and techniques which can influence your own. Learning good writing skills can help in many aspects of life and school, as people have to write often for different classes and jobs. There’s also the actual content of the books that can enhance learning. Books can be very informative, teaching a wide array of subjects. Overall, reading strengthens numerous skills, including vocabulary, writing, and learning information, which can all help you in

Misty Adoniou, associate professor in Language and Literacy, tutor’s schoolteachers on how to appropriately educate children when it comes to literacy and using distinctive languages. Adoniou’s reading “Improving kids’ literacy - a little knowledge can go a long way” is about informing teachers on how to accurately demonstrate the parts of learning and developing all the right reading and writing skills to be intellectual and socially capable, as language is used to communicate.

Since literacy evolves with changes in cultural communicative practices and technological developments, so too do definitions of what literacy is. There is some agreement on what literacy involves, and most definitions include reading, writing, speaking and listening, and sometimes viewing or visual literacy. The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia [EYLF] (DEEWR, 2009, p.38) defines literacy as “a students’ capacity to access, manage, interpret and reflect on written texts in order to achieve their goals, to develop their knowledge and potential, and to participate effectively in society”. But why is literacy so important? Research shows that people with good literacy skills are more likely to have greater self-esteem, improved health, better jobs and higher wages than those with poor literacy skills. They are more able to take advantage of the opportunities that life may offer them. In order to acquire and share an important text, teachers need to consider a number of variables relating to students’, as according to Larson and Marsh in Making Literacy Real (2014) “literacy is grounded in social, cultural, historical and political practices”. In addition to appropriate literature, the NRP (National Reading Panel, 2000) noted that phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension are crucial for effective reading instruction. The recommendations were that all students be explicitly and systematically taught these five key components.

Children are able to connect the visual of seeing letters on the page and the vocal sound of their parent as they are being read to. They also learn their colors, shapes, alphabet, numbers, and expand their vocabulary. Each of these skills will assist in reading comprehension and literacy.

The development of literacy has taken a number of years. The effort to explain how people have improved on their education using universal formulas has become useless. The growth of literacy is similar to designing a car. Many people with distinct elements are involved, and some of the factors might or might not be done in our control. There is no clear process of improving a person’s education. Therefore, it requires the efforts of those who are specialised in different phases of this development. There are those who help learners perform well in the lower levels while others offer their expertise in later stages of education. In addition to this, if all the people play their roles in the best possible ways and be able to learn from other

I believe the more I read and the more I write, the easier it is for me to comprehend what is being told in the story line. For example, in Dr. Seuss’s ABC book, I was able to comprehend which words began with each letter in the alphabet as the book contained pictures and examples of each letter. The book Ten Apples Up On Top! by Theo LeSieg helped me gain a knowledge and understanding of counting numbers as well as learning my colors. Each page in this book displayed an apple in bright red color with one or more apples on each page. By doing so, this taught me to count each apple on the page and the repetitive use of the red colored apple taught me the color red. I believe it is imperative that all readers gain a knowledge and understanding of words being used in their

ACARA (n.d.) states that allowing the richness and varied nuances of English in Australia to be recognized and imparted to the students encourages students to be active and engaged in developing and expanding on their knowledge of reading and literacy. By enabling students to learn and progress at their own pace, in their own method, and working on activities that pique their interests, as well as including their individual interpretations of the English language within their portfolios, and utilizing appropriately designed reading checklists, students are provided with assessment strategies that allow for the development of a rigorous, relevant and engaging learning program (ACARA,

Kaylene Beer pointed out several significant areas of reading comprehension that help students increase their fluency. Inferences is a skill that helps students with their understanding of written text. Content area teachers must model and give large amounts of practice for developing this skill. Bear also discussed in chapter eleven word recognition which has a direct connection with fluency and reading comprehension. As she pointed out students need a repertoire of skills beyond sounding it out to help struggling readers with recognizing unfamiliar words (Beer,2003). We need to teach students strategies that can be used to comprehend the text not just give the meaning of

Literature teaches cultural awareness that can foster an understanding and tolerance for others. It provides education for the whole person motivating people to use their imagination and be creative. Literature engages emotions and helps develop empathy for others. In addition to building a rich vocabulary it also fosters language awareness. Teacher pedagogy plays an important factor in making the decision on which titles to use. There are many advantages of using classic literature in the classroom. It aligns with the educational standards outlined in the Common Core standards to encourage rigorous English and Language arts skill development. It is a excellent match for the text complexity that students needs to attain these goals however, if students are not interested in the subject of these books or if they are not academically prepared to find success in the reading then the assignment can turn into a negative experience which can result in aliteracy. Modern young adult literature also has a plethora of advantage for students. More modernized characters and themes are easier for students to connect with and make it easier to build literacy skills and use literacy

Comprehension is understanding and interpreting the text (rockets website). The strategies to develop comprehension used on this day was using good voice characterization to get the story to come alive and reading the entire story without stopping. Asking the children various questions to stimulate discussion about issues in the book and to be in character to use the message in the text to make a self to text connection (video). Children can become more engaged in the experience when they are connecting and drawing on their prior knowledge and experiences when connecting with the text (read, write, think). It is also important for children to decode what they read and think deeply about what they have read. (rockets). Without comprehension children are just following words on a page without

Literacy has a huge impact over how students present themselves in an academic environment. The utensils to effectively read, write and critically think are skill that not only help a person in a school setting, but also in today’s society. Through positive experience with academic literacy, people do not only learn to enhance their reading and writing capability, but they will also be able to apply this to their learning development in different subject areas. Creating an exciting environment for student to take part in and become more comfortable with their peers and teachers is an effective way to aid students. Teachers have a huge impact on how students will learn and apply their academic literacy. Literacy also provides students with

There are many benefits provided to students who are systemically and explicitly taught effective reading instruction and key reading skills, though children may not always have opportunities in order to benefit to the full extent. The main approach to teaching effective reading instruction can be broken down into two definitions; “Systematic instruction reflects several important characteristics. Skills and concepts are taught in a planned, logically progressive sequence” (A Closer Look at the Five Essential Components of Effective Reading Instruction, n.d.). Whereas explicitly taught instruction can be defined as ”the teacher states clearly what is being taught and models effectively how it is used by a skilled reader” (A Closer Look at the Five Essential Components of Effective Reading Instruction, n.d.). Children who have been taught key reading skills and strategies show more capability in simple reading tasks than those who have not been taught. There has been much debate about effective reading instruction and how teachers should be teaching the key components. These key components include phonological and phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, comprehension and fluency. Children who are systematically and explicitly taught effective reading instruction, key reading skills and are given opportunities to read interesting texts and apply what they have learnt become effective readers, writers and speakers in the future as well as enhance their literacy journey.

Reading can be challenging, and most students struggle with it. Evidence has shown that reading strategies is an important aspect between K-6. For some readers they can pronounce the words but the idea of comprehension can be quite challenging for them. Yet they are readers that cannot decode what they are reading. They find it difficult to make meaning of the sentences which brings us to why reading strategies are very important between K-14.

Reading is defined as the process of identifying and decoding symbols in order to get meaning out of the symbols. Reading is key in communicating and understanding the world we live in. It is vital to teach children to read, therefore, students can intake knowledge from the texts and books they read. Teaching a child to read from an early age has plentiful benefits such as early literacy, confidence in the class, increased vocabulary, as well as independence. Reading also serves a purpose to those who are hearing or speech impaired. Reading is often a skill that is overlooked and not seen as a necessary tool. Reading serves as a universal way to communicate all over the world, from the prehistoric world to the 21st century.