Discussion 1 : Language and Cognitive Processes Questions

Review the Language Acquisition in Early Childhood Education interactive game, which focuses on language developmental stages and cognitive processes.

Write three questions you can ask your classmates that would help to evaluate their knowledge of the developmental milestones and brain development stages, and how they influence on language development and acquisition.

These questions should be focused on the main concepts in Chapters 5 and 6. You can see several examples of types of questions in the interactive Jeopardy game. The solutions to your questions should be able to be located within Chapters 5 or 6 in the course textbook. Post your three questions, but do not include the solutions to these in your original post.

Discussion 2 : Video Observation Discussion

We have learned in Chapters 5 and 6 that we are able to understand children's language development stages by observing their processes and interactions. Preview the three videos listed below from Chapter 6 of your text, which are focused on children's language interactions.

The children shown are in various stages of language development. Choose one of the three videos to conduct an observation and identify the child's language development stage.

Precursors to Language, retrieved from Section 6.1 of your text.

Babbling, retrieved from Section 6.2 of your text.

Assessing Cognitive and Language Development, retrieved from the Conclusion section in Chapter 6 of your text.

Write your observations of the child, which should support your conclusion of developmental stage. Support your responses with the evidence from the textbook.

The subject line of your discussion should be the title of the video that you watched. Be sure to include a minimum of a 250-word response using your observations and a minimum of one source to support your claims. Your reference(s) should appear at the end of your discussion and be formatted according to APA.

Guided Response: Review several of your classmates' posts. Provide a response to at least two of their posts suggesting one activity or strategy that could be used to support the current stage of development they discussed.

Journal : Current Issue Critical Thinking

Read the following excerpt from "Understanding digital kids (DKs): Technology & learning in the new digital landscape," an article regarding learning today:

Recently, there were two recent cover stories in Time Magazine: Their conclusion was that children today are different.

In fact, based on what we now know from the neurosciences and psychological sciences, what we're now beginning to understand is that children today are FUNDAMENTALLY different than we are in the way they think, in the way they access, absorb, interpret, process and use information, and in the way they view, interact, and communicate in the modern world because of their experiences with digital technologies.

If this is the case, it holds profound implications for all of us personally and professionally (Jukes, 2008, p. 14).

Reflect on this selection and respond to the following questions:

What are your thoughts on this statement?

Do you feel today's learner has a different way of learning than in the past? Defend your position.

In your future role, how will you use this information?

What implications does this have for your future role?

Assignment : Language Development Interview

Much of the knowledge we gain comes from our learning and personal experiences. For this assignment, you will spend time talking with an experienced preschool teacher or, if you are currently a preschool teacher, you can answer the questions yourself.

Your assignment is to select five questions regarding the support of language acquisition and language developmental stages in the classroom. Please review these possible questionsPreview the document that could guide your interview or you can create your own questions.

For this project, choose one of the following methods of completion:

Option 1

Identify five questions that you could ask someone with preschool experience about how they support language acquisition for the stages of development in the classroom. Document the interview. You can record the interview (with permission) or you can write your questions and answers.

Analyze the provided answers using your knowledge gained, the textbook, and at least one other resource to substantiate or refute their answers. You can provide elaboration for or against their responses further strengthening your own understanding.

Summarize and explain three ways you will meet the needs of children in this stage to support their language development using the provided answers and your knowledge.

Option 2

Identify five questions that you may be asked in a future interview regarding how you will support language acquisition for the stages of development in your future professional role. Document the interview. You can record a mock interview or you can write your questions/answers.

Analyze your own answers using your knowledge gained and information from the textbook and at least one other resource to substantiate your writing.

Summarize and explain three ways you will meet the needs of children in a developmental stage of your choice to support their language development using your knowledge of language acquisition.

The interview can be submitted as a video, an audio recording, or a Microsoft Word document (which would be two to three pages in length).

You will also submit a one- to two-page Microsoft Word document (in addition to the title page and reference page) with your developmental level selected and elaboration of three ways you can meet the needs of the children in this developmental stage.

Please support your ideas with information from the textbook and at least one other outside resource. Your paper must be written in APA format as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center, and include at least one scholarly resources in addition to the course text.

When you submit your assignments each week, they will be returned to you with specific feedback. This feedback should be used to revise the assignment for the Final Project. Please make the necessary corrections and save for Week Five use in the Final Project.