Linking Language

This book provides practical, everyday activities to weave language development and early literacy activities into the daily schedule in an early childhood education program. The chapters are organized by areas common in most early childhood environments: (1) circle time; (2) snack time; (3) dramatic play; (4) outdoor play; (5) art; (6) sand and water; (7) music and movement; (8) mathematics; and (9) science. Each activity contains the following: (1) introduction describing the activity and suggesting a learning objective; (2) directions for the activity; (3) suggestions for building on the initial activity; (4) list of needed materials; (5) word list for the activity; (6) questions to assess children's language and literacy skill; (7) annotated list of books related to the activity; and (8) suggested writing activities to encourage self-expression. The book concludes with a list of suggested children's books for each area. (KB)