Course Description
This course serves as an introductory methods course in early childhood language and literacy development. Students explore the typical and atypical development of language from birth-age 8. Students learn, plan, and implement effective strategies and developmentally appropriate activities to promote and support language development for all infants, toddlers, and preschool age children including those with developmental delays and/or disabilities. Students also learn how to create literacy-rich environments for the purpose of supporting all young children in developing listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. This course includes 10 field experience hours in the form of observation and practice, which are required for completion. A grade of ‘C’ or above is required in this course’s key assessment. (3 credits)
Prerequisites
- ECE 101: Introduction to Early Childhood Education
- ECE 176: Health, Safety and Nutrition: Birth to Eight
- ECE 210: Observation and Assessment in ECE Program
- ECE 217: The Exceptional Learner
- ECE 222: Curriculum for Young Children - Methods and Techniques
- ECE 247: Child Development: Birth to Eight
- ECE 261: Infant / Toddler Care: Methods and Techniques
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
- Demonstrate understanding of how children acquire oral language and explain the interrelatedness of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in preparing all young children including those with developmental delays and/or disabilities to become capable and competent communicators. [NAEYC PS&C: 1a, 1b, 1c │ EI/ECSE (CEC/DEC): 1.1, 1.2, 4.1]
- Collaborate with families as partners in their child's language development, using effective communication strategies [NAEYC PS&C: 2a, 2b │ EI/ECSE (CEC/DEC): 2.1, 2.2]
- Use assessment information related to the child’s language for the purpose of planning appropriate experiences to meet each child’s development needs. [NAEYC PS&C: 3a, 3b, 3c │ EI/ECSE (CEC/DEC): 4.1, 4.2, 4.3]
- Apply effective, developmentally appropriate teaching strategies related to language and literacy when working with young children, including children who are bilingual learners or those with special learning needs. [NAEYC PS&C: 4b, 4c, 5a, 5b, 5c │ EI/ECSE (CEC/DEC): 5.1, 5.2, 6.1]
- Engage in reflective practices to continuously improve language and literacy instruction and support all children's learning and development. [NAEYC PS&C: 6d, 6e │ EI/ECSE (CEC/DEC): 7.2, 7.4]
Course Activities and Grading
| Assignments | Weight |
|---|
Discussions (Week 1-8) | 25% |
Blog/Vlog Assignments (Weeks 1-8) | 20% |
Assignments (Weeks 1-6) | 25% |
Quiz (Week 8) | 5% |
Key Assessment (Week 7) | 25% |
Total | 100% |
Required Textbook
(Available through Charter Oak State College's Book Bundle)
- Collins, Molly and Schickendanz, J. (2024). So Much More Than the ABCs: The Early Phases of Reading & Writing. Washington, D.C.: NAEYC.
Course Schedule
Week | SLOs | Readings and Exercises | Assignments |
1 | 1,3,4,5 | Topics: Language Acquisition and Literacy Development Overview Read and Review: - Read Communication, Language and Literacy from birth to five, Chapter 1: Early Language Development (Sage Publications, (Sage Publications, 2008)
- Read An Early Childhood Educator’s Guide to Receptive Language (Brightwheel, 2025)
| - Read assigned materials
- Review Key Assessment Instructions
- Review the Lecture material
- Participate in the discussions
- Participate in the Blog/Vlog
- Submit Assignment - Center Talk Analysis
|
2 | 1,5 | Topics: Language Development - Oral Language Read and Review: - Read Serve and Return: Back-and-forth exchanges (Harvard Center for the Developing Child, n.d.)
- Read Speech and Language Developmental Milestones (NIH, n.d.)
- Read Dialogic Reading: An Effective Way to Read Aloud with Young Children | Reading Rockets (Whitehurst, n.d.)
- Read The Word Gap: The Early Years Make the Difference | NAEYC (Colker, 2014)
- Watch Supporting Oral Language Development in a Language Rich Environment [YouTube video] (The Center for Early Childhood Education, 2021)
- Watch Stages of Oral Language Development through 30 Months-Hayes [YouTube video] (LilMizLaRaeElizabeth, 2010)
- Watch Why talking to little kids matters | Anne Fernald | TEDxMonterey [YouTube video] (2014)
- Watch Still Face Experiment Dr Edward Tronick [YouTube video] (Zero to Three, 2016)
- Watch Engaging Children in Oral Storytelling to Support Oral Language Development [YouTube video] (The Center for Early Childhood Education, 2016)
- View Storyteller Diane Ferlatte/ Brer Rabbit's Dance [YouTube video] (Ferlatte, 2009)
| - Read the assigned materials
- Watch the assigned videos
- Review the Lecture material
- Participate in the discussions
- Participate in the Blog/Vlog
- Submit Assignment - Early Learning Development Standards: Language and Literacy
|
3 | 3,4,5 | Topics: Linguistic or Language Diversity in Our Classrooms Read and Review: - Read Many Languages, One Classroom: Supporting Children in Superdiverse Settings | NAEYC (Olsen, Espinosa, Hayslip, and Magruder, 2019)
- Watch Say it With Me: How to Help Children With Speech Delays and Language Delays [YouTube video] (Pearson Clinical Assessments, 2024)
| - Read the assigned material
- Watch the assigned video
- Review the Lecture material
- Participate in the discussions
- Participate in the Blog/Vlog
- Submit Assignment - Language Usage Observation Tool
|
4 | 1,5 | Topics: “Children learn to read being in the presence of books.” Horace Mann Read and Review: - Read So Much More: Introduction: A Time to Begin and Chapter 1
- Listen to To Weather the "Literacy Crisis," Do What Works (Anderson, 2023)
| - Read the assigned material
- Listen to the assigned audio
- Review the Lecture material
- Participate in the discussions
- Participate in the Blog/Vlog
- Submit Assignment - CT Common Core State Standards
|
5 | 2,4 | Topics: Books! Books! More Books! Then What? Read and Review: - Read So Much More, Chapters 2 and 3
- Read and View Basics: Print Awareness | Reading Rockets (n.d.)
- Read and View Roots of Reading | Reading Rockets (n.d)
- Review the Key Assessment Instructions located in the Course Policies folder
| - Read and review the assigned materials
- Review the Lecture material
- Participate in the discussions
- Participate in the Blog/Vlog
- Submit Assignment - Dialogic Reading of Expository Text
|
6 | 2,4 | Topics: Phonological Awareness & Comprehension Read and Review: - Read So Much More, Chapters 4 & 5
- Read Phonemic Awareness VS Phonological Awareness - Why SHOULD You Care to Understand the Difference? - Learning Reading Hub (n.d.)
- Read Introducing Environmental Sounds at Home - The MED-EL Blog (2107)
- Read Phonological and Phonemic Awareness: Activities for Your Kindergartener | Reading Rockets (2017)
- Read Visual Imagery | Reading Rockets (n.d.)
- Watch Alliteration is Cool [YouTube video] (Jack Hartmann, 2021)
| - Read the assigned materials
- Watch the assigned video
- Review the Lecture material
- Participate in the discussions
- Participate in the Blog/Vlog
- Submit Assignment - Partnering with Families: A Phonological Awareness Game for Home Use
|
7 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Topics: Alphabetic Principle & Comprehension Read and Review: - Read So Much More Chapters 6 & 7
- Read The Alphabetic Principle | Reading Rockets (n.d.)
- Read Beginning Letter Recognition (Alphabet Station, n.d.)
- Read Fry Word List - 1,000 High Frequency Words (K-12 Reader, n.d.)
- Read Dolch Word List by Grade (alphabetical) (Dolch, n.d.)
- Read Think Aloud Strategy - TeacherVision (TeacherVision Staff, 2024)
- Read Blogs About Reading (Reading Rockets, Various Authors, n.d.)
- Read Using Multiple Texts to Guide Children's Learning | NAEYC (Shedd, 2013)
- Watch What is the Alphabetic Principle: Five Stages of Early Literacy Development | Kathleen Jasper [YouTube video] (Jasper, 2023)
- View ABCs - Learn the Alphabet - Starfall [Online Game] (Starfall, n.d.)
- Watch Teaching with Informational Texts in Early Childhood [YouTube video] (Rand, 2022)
| - Read the assigned materials
- Watch the assigned videos
- View the assigned online game
- Review the Lecture material
- Participate in the discussions
- Participate in the Blog/Vlog
- Submit Key Assessment - Learning Experience Plan
|
8 | 1,4,5 | Topics: Putting It All Together Read and Review: - Read So Much More Chapter 8
- Read Fluency: In Depth | Reading Rockets (n.d.)
- Read Reading Comprehension Strategies for Preschool Students (Play to Learn Preschool, n.d.)
| - Read the assigned chapter and materials
- Review the Lecture material
- Participate in the discussions
- Participate in the Blog/Vlog
- Complete Quiz
- Submit Field Experience Hours Survey
- Complete Course Evaluation
|
COSC Accessibility Statement
Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.
COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources
Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.
