Language Arts LGA 3103

Exploring Language through Stories Developing fluency and cohesion Reading aloud and understanding

Fluency

Fluency refers to the ability to produce rapid, flowing, natural speech, but not necessarily grammatically correct speech. This is often contrasted with accuracy.

(Bogglesworld ESL, 2013)

Cohesion

Cohesion is the term for the quality of a text such that it appears as a single unit, not as a random sequence of thoughts or sentences. Cohesion is achieved by a number of devices or ties.

Why Stories?
Offer a major and constant source of language experience for children. Stories are motivating, rich in language experience, and inexpensive! A central part of the work of all primary teachers whether they are teaching the mother tongue or a foreign language.

Reading aloud

Reading aloud and sharing stories with your child is a great way to spend time together. Even better, reading and storytelling helps promote language, literacy and brain development.

Why reading is important for babies and young children

Sharing stories, talking and singing every day helps your childs development. Youre helping your child become familiar with sounds, words, language and the value of books. This all builds your childs early literacy skills, helping him to go on to read successfully later in life.

Reading stories sparks your childs imagination, stimulates curiosity and helps with brain development. Interesting illustrations and word patterns such as rhymes can get your child talking about what shes seeing and thinking, and help her understand the patterns of language. Exploring stories also helps her learn the difference between real and make-believe.

Sharing stories with your child doesnt mean you have to read. Just by looking at books with your child, you can be a great storyteller and a good model for using language and books. Your child will learn by watching you hold a book the right way and seeing how you move through the book by gently turning the pages.

Reading or telling stories can also be safe ways to explore strong emotions, which can help your child understand new or frightening events. Books about going to the dentist or hospital, starting at child care or making new friends will help your child learn about the world around him.

Understanding

The quality or condition of one who understands; comprehension.