LAN 4015 | Language Education Assignment | Java

Assignment 1: Essay

Task Description
Write an essay that consists of the following three parts:

• Definitions and explanations of a “Balanced” approach and the “Big 6”
• Explanation of how you will teach the Big 6 to a Year 1 class
• Explanation of how you will help children work towards some descriptors from the WA Curriculum that are related to the Big 6

Please see below for details of each part.

General instructions

In your essay you should draw on current theory and examples of best practice, making reference to at least six references from scholarly sources, including at least four current journal articles. You should explain a balanced approach both in terms of the skills and content to be taught and the pedagogical approaches used. You may illustrate your description with examples of classroom practice that may be drawn from your reading. This is an academic essay, so formal, academic language should be used, maintaining clarity of expression and considering the needs of your reader. Ensure that you revise and edit your work so that meaning is clear, using appropriate grammar, punctuation and spelling. Use the ECU style (referencing) guide for presentation and referencing (APA 6th).

Assignment: detailed description
Part 1

• What is a”Balanced” approach to reading instruction?
• What is the “Big 6” (Konza, 2015)? Define each of the Big 6 and, for each of them, explain why it is important for teachers to understand its contribution to beginning reading.

Part 2
Imagine that next year when you are a teacher you are allocated a Year 1 class. For this class, how will you teach each of the Big 6 as part of a balanced literacy program?

Part 3
The following seven (7) descriptors are taken from the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (WA) Curriculum, version 8.1. For your Year 1 class, explain what you will do in your Literacy Block to meet the Requirements of the WA Curriculum so that the children are working towards these descriptors. You will need to provide an explanation for each of the descriptors.

                                                                         

                                                                                                   

Example of how you could address a descriptor for Part 3

Interpreting, analyzing, evaluating
Describe some differences between imaginative, informative and persuasive texts.

Shared/Modeled Reading: At different times during the year, work with each of these three types of text and draw children’s attention to the purpose, structure and some of the features of the text that help it communicate effectively. For example, the texts deal with different topics, construct a different relationship with the reader and move through different stages to achieve their purpose.

Guided Reading: For your focus text type, choose one of the features that help it achieve its purpose (for example, imaginative texts contain many descriptive noun groups). Specifically teach this feature with a small group of students, concentrating on how the feature supports the meaning of the text.

Literacy stations: For example, for informational texts, construct and label diagrams to which the children have already been introduced. Use the Contents page to find particular parts of the text. Vocabulary work using the glossary. Find related words. Make a semantic grid or web with the words.