EDUC 171 — Language and Literacy in ECSE
This course will cover language and literacy development in children age birth to eight years old who are at risk for or have special needs with a specific focus on early childhood special education settings. The course will include an overview of typical language development birth to age eight. Students will be introduced to atypical language development and specific disabilities that affect language and literacy. The course will outline the relationship between communication and language differences and learning and development across domains and contexts. Students will explore methods for supporting development, learning, and literacy for children at risk for or with special needs including assistive technologies and alternative and augmentative communication methods. The course emphasizes a strengths-based approach that includes building partnerships with families and professional colleagues and cultural responsiveness. Self-reflection is a major component of the course as well as the examination of bias in the observation and assessment of young children from diverse backgrounds. Five observation hours are required as part of the course. This course is part of an approved set of courses that fulfill the requirements leading to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Approval for Early Childhood Special Education. Writing assignments, as appropriate to the discipline, are required.