Communicating and Learning

Table of Contents

  1. Communication and learning in early childhood
    1. Learning to communicate
    2. Early learning
  2. Research related to communicating and learning
    1. The nature of early language development
    2. Supporting language and literacy development
      1. Talking with children
      2. Family early literacy programs
    3. Infant memory
    4. Early mathematical understanding
  3. Practices that support children's communicating and learning
    1. Young children learn best through play
    2. Literacy experiences are important
    3. Physical environments matter
    4. Curriculum can be based on children's interests
  4. References

2.2.B. Family early literacy programs

Janette Pelletier has been researching programs that support early literacy. In the following clip she explains a program that brought parents into Kindergarten with their children.

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In the next clip, Pelletier describes the short and longer term effects of the Parents in Kindergarten program on the children.

View >> (4:56) not available in this preview


Reflect

  • Why do you think this program was effective?
  • Pelletier mentions several factors that influenced results including parent income and the timing of program entry. Why were these important?
  • Can you see any connections between this study and the Hart and Risley study?


Pelletier goes on to describe another study called the Family Literacy Project – a larger study that also involves many families from diverse language backgrounds.

View >> (1:34)

In the next two clips she discusses some early findings from the Family Literacy Project.

View >> (1:45) not available in this preview

View >> (3:55) not available in this preview

Reflect

  • How does the finding about the effectiveness of the personalized alphabet books fit with what you know about how young children learn?
  • Why is a program such as this an effective investment in early child development?