Building a Knowledge Base-Chapter 1

Chapter One

• "children are sponges and how those around the child talk and engage holds critical importance."
• "written langauge is not merely oral language...it is used for quite different purposes"
• "literacy is embedded in the social processes of family life"
• "influence of early environment on brain development is long lasting"
• "language has a purpose...wants, feelings..take on language form because of its function"

Chapter One Responses

• I think that it is very true that kids are sponges, they absorb anything that they hear and love to mimick what they hear. If they see you reading, they may think they want to read to because you are doing it. If a child hears you say a phrase and get a good response, he or she may decide to start saying that phrase so that they too can recieve high praise. It is important to set a good example around children.
• there is talk about written language just being verbal language but on paper. However, I think this is a time for children to use their imagination and write out their thoughts however they want to. Some people will put in writing what they will never be able to say out loud making it quite the opposite of oral language.
• I remember when I was little how I thought that it was so cool when my brothers were reading books before bed to my parents and I didnt know how to read. I would go get one of my disney books, pick it up and start reading regardless and make up the story as I went(but pretended I was reading). Most children do not have a huge library of books at home so it is important that families encourage reading at home for school or at a public library and are good role models for children in this aspect.
• The influence of early environments on brain development in my opinoion is really crucial. If a child is not supported by enirched learning at a young age, and introduced to concept books the brain does not acquire this knowledge and the development might not be as good as if the child were exposed to these things as a child. A simple ABC book is even engaging to the development of the brain.
• LANGUAGE HAS A FUNCTION! I see parents all the time who have toddlers reaching and grabbing and crying. Every behavior in my opinion has a function. For instance, if a baby grabs at you that may mean that internally they might be hungry or maybe they just want affection from you! Either way language has a definite function whether it is written or oral it is a means of communicating something and it should never be ignored.