Language+Experience+Approach

Language Experience Approach by: Jennifer Molina

What is Language Experience Approach (LEA)? The LEA is a whole language approach that promotes reading and writing through the use of personal experiences and oral language. Beginning literacy learners relate their experiences to a teacher or aide, who transcribes them. These transcriptions are then used as the basis for other reading and writing activities.

Purpose of Language Experience Approach To impart the understanding that anything that can be said can be written, and anything that can be written can be read.

Advantages of Language Experience Approach -Awareness that print conveys meaning -Development of shared experiences that extend the children’s knowledge of the world around them -All communication skills are being used: reading, writing, listening, and speaking -This approach can be used with other subject matters as well (not just language arts)

How to/ Procedure The general procedure for the language experience approach involves the whole class or a small group. -choose a focus; an experience with snow, summer, skating etc. Stories can also be made up, however still focusing on a specific topic. -as children begin to share, the teacher or other adult is recording on large paper or projector for all to see. -record children’s own language (an important aspect of recording is to use children’s own words, keeping the match between what they say and what you write) -the written product may be made into a big book, a bulletin board, or an illustrated chart

*with these transcribed stories children can work in pairs to draw a picture of their favorite part of the experience, talk about the order of events, about their favorite part etc…

[]

Resources: [] []