EML1501
ASSIGNMENT 2
SEMESTER 1
2023
, 1.1
Language is central to literacy and should therefore be integral to emergent literacy. The
common thread among emergent literacy skills, namely emergent speaking, emergent
reading, and emergent writing, is the fundamental role that language plays in their
development.
a. Emergent speaking: Emergent speaking refers to the early stages of language development
where children begin acquiring and using language for communication. It involves developing
vocabulary, sentence structure, and expressive abilities. Language serves as the foundation
for emergent speaking as children learn language patterns, vocabulary, and sentence
structures through exposure to spoken language. This lays the groundwork for their future
reading and writing abilities, as speaking helps children become familiar with the sounds and
structures of their language.
b. Emergent reading: Emergent reading encompasses the early stages of learning to read. It
involves recognizing letters, understanding their sounds, and making connections between
written and spoken words. Language is integral to emergent reading as children rely on their
language skills to decode written text and comprehend its meaning. Their language
proficiency, including vocabulary knowledge and comprehension abilities, significantly
influences their ability to make sense of written words and develop reading fluency.
c. Emergent writing: Emergent writing refers to the initial attempts at writing, ranging from
scribbles to letter-like forms and eventually recognizable words and sentences. Language is
crucial to emergent writing as children use their understanding of language to communicate
their thoughts and ideas through writing. They apply their knowledge of phonics, spelling
patterns, and sentence structures, which are rooted in their language development, to
convey meaning effectively through written language.
Language serves as the common thread connecting emergent speaking, emergent reading,
and emergent writing. Proficiency in language supports the development and progression of
these skills, as language provides the necessary foundation for understanding and utilizing
spoken and written words.
1.2
Read aloud to their children: Reading aloud to children is an effective way to expose
them to print and develop print awareness (Justice & Ezell, 2002). When parents read
books, stories, or even labels and signs aloud, children observe the connection
between spoken and written words (Justice, Pullen, & Pence, 2008). This helps
children understand that print carries meaning and that reading involves decoding
written symbols.
Point out environmental print: Parents can draw attention to print in the
environment, such as road signs, store names, labels, and logos (Justice & Ezell,
