Week Eleven: Language Learning and Communication

Reflection

Literacy, like numeracy is also a key focus of learning and development in the early years curriculum. It is important to acknowledge that literacy extends far beyond simply reading and writing. Everyday tasks that we as adults take for granted such as taking a photo, counting money, listening to music, and interpreting gestures all contribute to the literary education of students³. Multimodality is a key component of pedagogies of multiliteracies and illustrates the unique forms of communication that attribute to the literacy skills of young people⁴.

Incorporating a child's literary experiences external to the school environment is important in reinforcing concepts and ideas taught in the classroom². Working at odds with a child's home experience can be counter-productive and hinder literacy learning³. I always enjoyed integrating literary aspects of my schooling with my home life and vice-versa. I felt that it made the concepts more accessible and the learning experience more natural. To make literacy more accessible to my students I understand that it is essential to incorporate the use of multimodal literacies in learning.

This week's discussion involved looking at science journals as a multimodal approach to learning science. Journaling as visual literacy creates a new dimension to students learning, understanding and approach to lesson tasks. An example was given in which students considered perspectives in their diagrams by drawing an image larger next to another the same, only smaller to represent a foreground and a background. These are concepts that expand students knowledge of concepts in learning beyond theory and written text¹. 

Bibliography:

1.Brenneman, K., & Louro, I.F. (2008). Science journals in the preschool classroom. Early Childhood Education Journal, 36(2), 134-119.

2. Dunn, J. (2008). Drama and Literacy in the Early Years.In Marsh, J. and Hallet, E (Eds) Desirable Literacies: Approaches to Language and Literacy in the Early Years. London: Paul Chapman. 

3. Phillips, L. (2013). Week Ten: Early Mathematical Understandings [Powerpoint Slides]. Unpublished manuscript, EDUC2704, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia.

4. Yelland, N., Lee, L., Orurke, M., & Harrison, C. (2008). Rethinking learning in early childhood education. Maidenhead: Open University Press, Multimodality (pp46-81). LB1139.23R48 2008