Language, Literacy, and Play

Undergraduate

The focus of this course will be to demonstrate the complicated role that play has in the development of language and literacy skills. A major part of each topic presentation will be a discussion of the role that play has in the curriculum in enhancing these developmental areas. There is a widespread consensus that play is an essential component of a developmentally appropriate early childhood curriculum. Research indicates that play enhances a child’s creativity, intellectual development and social emotional development. Because learning to play, learning language and learning literacy skills are all part of the process of thinking and communication , the course will provide a view which attempts to demonstrate the integration of language, literacy and play in an early childhood education curriculum. Theoretical aspects of each of these developmental areas will be examined first, and it will be that theoretical understanding which will be the basis upon which ideas about curriculum will be explored, experienced and discussed. Students must arrange to do a weekly one-hour observation (in-person or virtually) of a child under age 6 and an additional 2 hour in-person classroom observation at Calvin Hill Day Care Center or another early childhood program. Total observation time commitment is 3 hours per week. If you are unable to find a child to observe, please do not register for this class. Introduction to Child Development ( CHLD 1250 /PSYCH 1425EDST 1125 recommended. Permission of instructor. Enrollment priority will be given to juniors, seniors, and Ed Studies students. WR , SO RP W 1:30pm-3:25pm