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Language Experience Approach
Purpose:
Using language and stories that are familiar to the reader allows them to successfully read the text.
How:
- Have the reader tell you about a topic
- Write down the reader's exact words
- Share the text with the reader when finished
- Ask the reader if they would like to change anything
- Read it over with the reader several times, encouraging them to join in (or take over) at any point
Listen:
The Answers May Vary Resource Collection on the CALP Portal includes a short audio file dedicated to the Language Experience Approach from Chapter 2 of the AMV Guidebook ‘Strategies to Build Literacy and Essential Skills into Daily Life’.
Practice:
- Have the reader share a story with you. You may ask questions to draw out more information.
- Print the story on a sheet of paper exactly as the reader tells it to you whether or not it is standard grammar. Keep the story short.
- Read the story together. Read one word or sentence at a time if necessary. Reread the story as often as necessary for your learner to read it comfortably with you.
- Have the reader read the story alone once he is familiar enough with it. Help them if they get stuck on a word but allow time for them to remember and figure it out if he can.
- Ask questions about the story to see if there need to be any changes or additions made.
Excerpted from Creating Learning Partners Unit 7: Writing Handout 7.13
Read More:
Decoda Literacy Solutions Back to Basics: Language Experience Approach
https://decoda.ca/back-to-basics-lea/