This task requires you to implement an interest-based emergent literacy project with a small group of children (three-five children in total between the ages of three and five years). Ensure you obtain parental (and child) permission. The project should evolve over a period of time and you should allow three weeks to plan, implement and write-up your report.
To create an emergent literacy project, you will need to:
1. Document the children’s interests to determine an appropriate story/picture book to read to the group as the starting point for your project. Consider how you will present and read the story to draw the children’s attention to concepts of literacy.
2. Based on the themes introduced in the book, plan and implement three (3) play-based learning experiences that focus on developing the children’s language and literacy while allowing them to learn more about their topic of interest. These experiences should introduce opportunities for talk, new vocabulary and print materials to encourage emergent literacy (oral, visual and written) understandings in the children. Your experiences should consider early childhood pedagogical practices and be mindful of the role you will play in extending the children’s literacy during implementation of the experiences.
3. During the project, record/document your planning process and the children’s interactions (child:child and adult:child). You can document the children’s experiences and your own decision-making processes through the use of whatever recording method/s you prefer. Some possibilities include learning stories, a diary, photographs and examples of children’s drawing/writing or artefacts. You should note the children’s responses which indicate how the project might contribute to their emergent literacy. A selection of this material should be included as an appendix, and referred to throughout your discussion, as outlined below.
4. Prepare and submit a written report on your project, following these guidelines:
· Introduce your project – discuss your understanding of emergent literacy, how your project incorporated opportunities to enhance the children’s language and literacy and why the theme/topic of the project was appropriate for this particular group of children (approx. 300 words).
Describe and discuss each learning experience (including the initial activity of reading the story) and provide a rationale for their inclusion in your project. Also think about why you planned the particular learning experience – what literacy concepts and EYLF outcomes were you aiming to achieve? What emergent literacy skills did the children demonstrate? What was your role in extending the children’s emergent literacy during the learning experience? Your discussion should be thoughtfully substantiated by reference to a range of relevant (current) literature and linked to examples from the documentation included in your appendix. Do not include all paperwork collected throughout your project – just those examples you use to support your discussion (approx. 350 words for each experience – Appendix items do not count towards the word limit).
Conclude your report with an evaluation and reflection on your project. Consider what worked well and not so well, what you can conclude generally about developing children’s emergent literacy, what you can conclude specifically about your ability to extend children’s emergent literacy and what you might need to think about for future practice as an educator in enhancing children’s emergent literacy development (approx. 300 words).
Presentation – A template will be provided via the Interact2 subject site and should be used for each assessment task.
Length – The maximum length of this task is 2000 words (excluding the appendices). Work submitted beyond 10% of the required word limit will attract a 10% penalty.
Rationale
This assignment develops your understandings of the readings and set text by applying and adapting the ideas to your own work with children. In particular, the assignment requires you to demonstrate your understanding of programming provisions based on children’s interests and focused on the development of children’s language and literacy. In particular, this assessment will assist in meeting the following learning outcomes:
• demonstrate knowledge of and ability to plan for emergent literacy in children
• understand and explain teaching strategies which assist the development of children’s talk, thinking and emergent literacy
• demonstrate awareness of promoting children’s language and literacy through using a range of play-based learning experiences (e.g. dramatic play, music and movement).
Marking criteria
Criterion High Distinction Distinction Credit Pass Fail
Well structured and coherent report with a tertiary standard of writing and referencing
10 marks Report begins with an extremely well structured, engaging and succinct introduction. High level of accuracy and control in articulation of ideas. Logical and coherent text structure. Sustained evidence of correct citation and referencing. Report begins with a well structured and clear introduction. High level of accuracy and control in articulation of ideas. Logical and coherent text structure. Consistent approach to citation and referencing. Logical and consistent structure. Report begins with a coherent and sound introduction. Ideas are clearly articulated using accurate sentence structure. Text structure is clearly organised. Consistent approach to citation and referencing with few errors. The report begins with a generally clear introduction. Lack of clarity in places. Text structure may lack clear organisation. Minor spelling, punctuation or grammatical errors. Mostly consistent approach to citation and referencing with few errors. The report is not introduced adequately or introduction is not clear. Significant number of spelling, punctuation or grammatical errors per page. Text structure lacks appropriate organisation. Inadequate citation and referencing.
Discussion of learning experiences demonstrates:
knowledge and understanding of emergent literacy concepts,
ability to effectively plan for emergent literacy in children,
connections with subject content and evidence from documentation
30 marks A well synthesised and articulated discussion, demonstrating:
a deep understanding of all key emergent literacy concepts;
exceptional knowledge and understanding of supporting children’s emergent literacy through implementing a range of appropriate learning experiences;
explicit, insightful, well integrated, perceptive and well substantiated connections with relevant literature and supporting documentation. A thorough and generally well articulated discussion, demonstrating:
a thorough understanding of all key emergent literacy concepts;
comprehensive knowledge and understanding of supporting children’s emergent literacy through implementing a range of appropriate learning experiences;
explicit, perceptive, integrated and generally well substantiated connections with relevant literature and supporting documentation. A generally well articulated discussion, demonstrating:
a sound understanding of most key emergent literacy concepts;
sound knowledge and understanding of supporting children’s emergent literacy through implementing mostly appropriate learning experiences;
some explicit, perceptive and well substantiated connections with relevant literature and supporting documentation. A generally well articulated discussion, demonstrating:
a developing understanding of most key emergent literacy concepts;
basic knowledge and understanding of supporting children’s emergent literacy through implementing some appropriate learning experiences;
some well integrated and substantiated connections with relevant literature and supporting documentation. An unsatisfactory discussion showing:
no understanding of key emergent literacy concepts;
limited knowledge and understanding of supporting children’s emergent literacy through implementing some appropriate and/or inappropriate learning experiences;
tenuous connections with relevant literature and supporting documentation.
Effectively evaluates the project and articulates implications for future practice for enhancing children’s emergent literacy development
10 marks Demonstrates a well formulated evaluation with comprehensive thought given to implications for future practice. Demonstrates a well formulated evaluation with thorough thought given to implications for future practice. Demonstrates a generally well formulated evaluation with sound thought given to implications for future practice.
Demonstrates an adequately formulated evaluation with basic thought given to implications for future practice.
Does not demonstrate an adequately formulated evaluation and/or unsatisfactory thought given to implications for future practice.
Actual Word Count: Please document your word count.
Limit – 2000 words (excluding the Appendix, title page, headings and reference list).
Statement of Authenticity: I declare that the work within this assignment is my own, that it has not been submitted previously and that I acknowledge the ideas of other authors within the paper.
Emergent Literacy Project
Project Overview
Introduce your project – In approx 300 words discuss;
Emergent literacy – Your understanding of emergent literacy
Theme and its appropriateness for the group – Why the theme/topic of the project was appropriate for the identified group of children.
Opportunities to enhance children’s learning – How your project incorporated opportunities to enhance the children’s language and literacy
Learning Experience Analysis
Describe the four learning experiences (including the initial activity of reading the storybook) and provide a rationale for their inclusion in your project.
Also think about why you planned these particular learning experiences:
– What literacy concepts and EYLF outcomes were you aiming to achieve?
– What emergent literacy skills did the children demonstrate?
– What was your role in extending the children’s emergent literacy during the learning experience?
Your discussion should be thoughtfully substantiated by reference to a range of relevant and current literature and linked to examples from the documentation included in your Appendix (approx. 350 words for each experience).
Initial Storybook
Rationale
Literacy concepts and EYLF outcomes
Emergent literacy skills demonstrated by the children
Educator’s role in extending the children’s learning
Experience One
Rationale
Literacy concepts and EYLF outcomes
Emergent literacy skills demonstrated by the children
Educator’s role in extending the children’s learning
Experience Two
Rationale
Literacy concepts and EYLF outcomes
Emergent literacy skills demonstrated by the children
Educator’s role in extending the children’s learning
Experience Three
Rationale
Literacy concepts and EYLF outcomes
Emergent literacy skills demonstrated by the children
Educator’s role in extending the children’s learning
Conclusion
Project evaluation –
Conclude your paper with an evaluation of the project. In approx. 300 words consider;
– What went well and not so well?
Reading 1
.(Fellowes & Oakley, 2014, chp. 1). Located in the prescribed text.
.Reading 2 (Neaum, 2012, chp.13)
Reading 1
.(Fellowes & Oakley, 2014, chp. 9). Located in the prescribed text.
Reading 2
.Bruce & Spratt, 2011)
Reading 1
.(DEEWR, 2009)
Reading 2 (Neaum, 2012, chp. 9)
Reading 3
Elliott, 2010, chp. 4 was emailed to students in week one.
Reading 4 (DEEWR, 2010)
Readings
(Fellowes & Oakley, 2014, chp. 5 and 6). Located in the prescribed text
(Fellowes & Oakley, 2014, chp 22). Located in the prescribed text.(Fellowes & Oakley, 2014, chp 23 and 24). Located in the prescribed text.
– What can you conclude generally about developing children’s emergent literacy?
– What can you conclude specifically about your ability to extend children’s emergent literacy?
– What might you need to think about for your future practice as an educator in enhancing children’s emergent literacy development?
References
Add a reference list, following APA guidelines.
Appendix: Project Documentation
A selection of material that documents the children’s responses, indicating how the project might contribute to their emergent literacy
Do not include all documentation collected throughout the project – just those examples you refer to in the body of your paper to support your analysis.
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