Balance between use and awareness of language

The development of reading and writing skills through meaningful literacy activities is of great importance, and has rightly been emphasised in recent years.

However, research suggests that children also need to become aware of the language they use and how it works. Besides helping to develop higher literacy skills, such awareness may be fundamental to the development of systematic thought.

The growth of children’s language awareness depends upon their learning to “disembed” language from its context. From the earliest stages of their education they must learn to talk and think about language as well as use it.

Alongside the use of language, therefore, classroom time must be available for the development of knowledge about language and about suitable terms in which to discuss it.

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