Eisenhauer, EDCI 310

Language Experience Approach

Talking, Reading, & Writing about a Shared Experience

· Based children' s languages and experiences.

· The language comes from the children; content based on personal experience, children able to read the text.

· Children see that oral language can be written down and given a permanent form.

· Fosters active participation in reading and writing.

· Reading and writing are connected.

1. Provide the experience.

Meaningful and interesting.

2. Discuss the experience.

Because the experience is real, there is a context for the language.

Children understand oral language at a higher level than written language, so the talk is a bridge to understanding concepts of written language.

3. Record the dictation.

Model conventions of handwriting, spelling.

Preserve the children' s language as much as possible. Short and memorable (6- 7 sentences).

As children gain experience with the process, they will pace their dictation to the teacher's writing, providing text word by word.

4. Read the text.

This reading reminds the children of the content of the text and demonstrates appropriate intonation.

Children join in the reading.

5. Extend the text.

Use only those LEA charts that are of high interest.