Supporting Multilingual Learners in the Early Years: Many languages - many children (The Nursery World Routledge Essential Guides for Early Years Practitioners)

Shortlisted for the Nasen Book that supports SEN and Disability Issues Award 2008Are children who are exposed to more than one language from birth at an advantage or a disadvantage when starting school?Supporting Multilingual Learners in the Early Years examines the theoretical, ideological and practical issues involved in the education of children speaking two or more languages coming to settings which are predominantly monolingual. The book examines current research and thinking about the advantages and disadvantages of being multilingual and tackles complex topics such as: what being multilingual implies in terms of prior learning and why this matters in education the importance of respect for diversity and encouraging children to be proud of their language and culture practical ways to help young children acquire English ways of working with parents who themselves have little or no English the differences and difficulties involved in a child learning an additional language so early on in their lives strategies for exploring the learning of multilingual learners and a review of the resources and activities that could help. Sandra Smidt views multilingualism as a cognitive advantage and shows how Early Years practitioners can use interactive styles of learning to focus on the benefit that the many cultures and languages in the classroom can bring to children's learning and development.Written in a highly accessible tone, this book offers practitioners a mix of practical case studies and examples in which theory is embedded and its importance explained. Students of early childhood education will also appreciate the author's carefully structured approach to the topic, as she includes summary boxes, glossaries and points for reflection in each chapter.

Are children who are exposed to more than one language from birth at an advantage or a disadvantage when starting school?

Supporting Multilingual Learners in the Early Years examines the theoretical, ideological and practical issues involved in the education of children speaking two or more languages coming to settings which are predominantly monolingual. The book examines current research and thinking about the advantages and disadvantages of being multilingual and tackles complex topics such as

• what being multilingual implies in terms of prior learning and why this matters in education
• the importance of respect for diversity and encouraging children to be proud of their language and culture
• practical ways to help young children acquire English
• ways of working with parents who themselves have little or no English
• the differences and difficulties involved in a child learning an additional language so early on in their lives
• strategies for exploring the learning of multilingual learners and a review of the resources and activities that could help

Sandra Smidt views multilingualism as a cognitive advantage and shows how early years practitioners can use interactive styles of learning to focus on the benefit that the many cultures and languages in the classroom can bring to children's learning and development.

Written in a highly accessible tone, this book offers practitioners a mix of practical case studies and examples in which theory are embedded and its importance explained. Students of early childhood education will also appreciatethe author's carefully structured approach to the topic, as she includes summary boxes, glossaries and points for reflection in each chapter.

"Supporting Multilingual Learners in the Early Years examines the theoretical, ideological and practical issues involved in the education of children speaking two or more languages coming to settings which are predominantly monolingual. The book examines current research and thinking about the advantages and disadvantages of being multilingual and tackles complex topics." "This book offers practitioners a mix of practical case studies and examples in which theory is embedded and its importance explained. Students of early childhood education will also appreciate the author's carefully structured approach to the topic, as she includes summary boxes, glossaries and points for reflection in each chapter."--Jacket Understanding Multilingualism -- Language At Home And Beyond -- Language And Identity -- Learning A Language : Learning Another -- Issues In Effective Teaching 1: Mother-tongue Support In Learning -- Issues In Effective Teaching 2: Learning A Second Language -- Assessing Bilingual Learners -- Working With The Parents Of Bilingual Children: The Importance Of Partnerships -- Language And Thought -- Bilingual Education : Why Should We Bother? Sandra Smidt. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 137-141) And Index. Understanding multilingualism Language at home and beyond Language and identity Learning a language : learning another Effective classrooms or settings for bilingual children : the survival of first language Effective classrooms for bilingual learners : teaching english as an additional language Assessing bilingual learners Working with the parents of bilingual children Language and thought Bilingual education : why should we bother? Are children who are exposed to more than one language from birth at an advantage or a disadvantage when starting school? This book examines the practical issues invlolved in the education of multilingual children