Children's Language: Connecting Reading, Writing, and Talk

Language and Literacy

by Judith Wells Lindfors

The more teachers understand about how children learn to talk, the more they can help children become avid, joyful readers and writers. Drawing on a large body of research and her own volunteer work at a family shelter, Lindfors concisely identifies several important commonalities across oral and written language. Taking the compelling perspective that it's all language, she traces children's emergent literacy from infancy through the early school years. The book incorporates abundant examples from a diverse range of children engaged in authentic literacy experiences. Lindfors describes a set of principles that teachers can build on as they help young students learn to read and write using the oral language processes they already know.

Book Features:

A new, more positive "language acquisition perspective" on children's literacy. Fascinating and insightfully framed quotes, writings, and drawings from children. A 24-page Guide for Instructors and Teacher Study Groups, available for download at www.teacherscollegepress.com. An Appendix containing an interview with shelter staff from SafePlace, a domestic violence shelter, offering basic information on how to identify children who are living in situations of violence and how teachers can respond.

Genres: Education, Professional Development

144 pages, Hardcover

First published June 27, 2008

Reviews

[Haleigh Carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great book. Although it addressed some really great points it is important to know that it's only covering one "side" of the current "reading war". It is a very whole language approach based book. It covers great points and puts things in a very insightful perspective but to me the reading wars is not a completely black and white issue. But overall very good!

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grateful for this careful look at emerging readers and writers. The authors argues well that the need to communicate drives learning, and shows convincingly that teachers need to pay attention to "authentic" and "inauthentic" texts. Conversation -- it's dynamism and responsiveness -- seems to be at the root of growth and connection.

[Jen Munnerlyn]

This book has been ordered for the 2009-10 school year on the advice of Katherine Casey who led the NESA Literacy Coaching group meeting in Jordan in November, 2008.

[Jennifer P · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a class I took over the summer.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Viewing the teacher-student dynamic as a master-apprentice relationship is a very pleasant and effective way of thinking about how you work with your kids.