Communicative Belonging: Birth-Age 8

Catalog description

This course provides students with a basic knowledge of cognitive development and language development in children from birth through age eight and fosters awareness of the application of this knowledge to children with diverse abilities and varying cultural and linguistic backgrounds. The primary foci of the course are understanding (1) different theoretical frameworks for examining and analyzing how language is pathologized, supported, and/or integrated into schooling experiences; (2) the interactive relationship between the child and the social context in the course of development; (3) the interrelationship of cognitive development and language development and the reciprocity between language and cognition; and (4) language learning processes, typical and atypical language development. Students learn how factors such as age, culture, and community context impact how educators assess and define language competence and performance. Alternative communication systems and the use of technology for young children are also explored.