Module: Language, Literacy & Culture

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Language, Literacy & Culture
Module Code	ECE1039 (ITS: EC303)
Faculty	Language, Literacy & ECE	School	DCU Institute of Education
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

This module is focused on the development of language, literacy and culture in early years’ settings with a particular focus on the uniqueness, creativity and agency of the individual child. Students will explore contemporary conceptualisations of literacy and what it means to be literate in an information age. Students will develop a critical awareness of a range of national and international perspectives underpinning early literacy development. There is a strong focus throughout the course on the development of enabling environments to facilitate children’s development and progression in oral language, reading and writing in authentic contexts/ways. Students will explore a variety of practical strategies and methodologies to foster the holistic development of early literacy skills and dispositions for learning.

Learning Outcomes

1. Explore contemporary conceptualisations of literacy in early childhood settings
2. Develop a critical awareness of a range of national and international perspectives underpinning early literacy development
3. Develop knowledge of a range of pedagogies and methodologies to foster and facilitate the development of oral language, reading and writing
4. Demonstrate a secure knowledge of a range of appropriate assessment practices and tools to monitor and support literacy development in the across the continuum of early childhood
5. Create learning environments to promote the uniqueness and creativity of the individual child

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	12	No Description
Workshop	12	No Description
Assessment Feedback	40	No Description
Independent Study	61	No Description
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	10354	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Grainne McKenna	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Essay	Create a portfolio of work to demonstrate knowledge, understanding and skills in relation to the development of a stimulating learning environment to foster children’s early literacy development	60%	Every Week
Formal Examination	Do 2 of 3 questions	40%	End-of-Semester

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

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Indicative Reading List

Books:

Brock A. & Ranklin C.: 2008, Communication, language and literacy from birth to five, 1st, 7, Sage, London, 144, 1412945909
Developing language and literacy: 2001, Developing language and literacy, 2nd, Paul Chapman, London,
Tina Bruce, Jenny Spratt: 2008, Essentials of Literacy from 0-7, 1st, 9, Sage Publications Ltd, London, 152, 1847872425
edited by David K. Dickinson and Patton O. Tabors; [forward by Sue Bredekamp]: 2001, Beginning literacy with language, 1st, 13, P.H. Brookes Pub. Co., Baltimore, Md., 432, 155766479X
Gouuch, K.: 2010, Towards excellence in Early Years education: Exploring narratives of experience, 1st, 8, Routledge, New York, 192, 1107689538
Kress, G.: 1997, Before writing: Rethinking the road to literacy, 1st, Routledge, New York, 0415138055

Articles:

Gillen, J. and Hall, N.: 2013, The emergence of Early Childhood literacy, In J. Larson and J. Marsh (Eds.): The Sage Handbook of Early Childhood Literacy, (2nd Ed.). London: Sage., 33720
2013: The baby room: Principles, policy and practice, Open University Press, https://www.academia.edu/1930133/The_Baby_Room_principles_policies_and_practice, 33721, 1
Lessons from the crib: How children really learn vocabulary: In Neumann, S. & Dickinson, D. (2011). Handbook of early literacy research: Volume 3 (pp. 49-65). New York: Guilford Press., 33722, 1, Kennedy, E., Dunphy, E., Dwyer, B., Hayes, G., McPhillips, T., Marsh, J., O’Connor, M., Shiel, G.
NCCA: 33723, 1, Neuman, S.B. & Dwyer, J., 2009
33724: 1, Paciga, K. A., Garrette Lisy, J., & Teale, W. H., 2009, Examining student engagement in preschool read-alouds, Yearbook of the National Reading Conference, 58, 330-347,
1: Rowe, D. W., 2013, Recent trends in research on young children's authoring, In J. Larson & J. Marsh (Eds.), The Sage Handbook of Early Childhood Literacy (2nd ed., pp. 423-447). London: Sage,
Rowe, D. W.: 2009, Early written communication, In R. Beard, D. Myhill, J. Riley, M. Nystrand (Eds.), SAGE Handbook of Writing Development (pp. 213-231). London: Sage, 33727
2007: Bringing book to life: The role of book-related dramatic play in young children’s literacy learning, In K. A. Roskos & J.F.Christie. (Eds.). Play and literacy in early childhood: Research from multiple perspectives. (2nd ed.), (pp. 37-63)., 33728, 1
Picture books and the digital world: Making informed choices: The Reading Teacher, 34 (6) 577-585., 33729, 1, Whitehurst, G., & Lonigan, C.
Child Development, 69, 848-872: 33730, 2, Makin, L., 2003

Other Resources

Paper: Flewitt, R.S., 2013, Literacy: A broader vision: TACTYC Occasional Paper, http://www.tactyc.org.uk/occasional-papers.asp
Video Talk: “The Linguistic Genius of Babies,”, video talk on TED.com, a TEDxRainier event, www.ted.com/talks/patricia_kuhl_the_linguistic_genius_of_babies.html