Thinking with Young Children: Language and Literacy

This unit focuses on making meaning through language and literacy when children (including children with English as an additional language) are viewed as capable. Through this perspective, children's approaches to learning are understood as complex, offering ways to build on children's experiences and understandings. Underpinning this unit is the recognition that language and literacy are a social act, representative of power in navigating life. Meaning making in regard to language and literacy includes experiences that hold purpose in rich, thoughtful environments and which include critical and multi-literacy experiences. Language and literacy do not occur as isolated skills, rather as part of how young children express themselves and they are unique to each child.