4)Issues+surrounding+effective+teaching+of+literacy

=**ISSUES SURROUNDING EFFECTIVE TEACHING OF LITERACY **=
 * One of the main issues that surround the effective teaching of literacy is the fact that teachers are in fact teaching English to such a wide range of students with different backgrounds, nationalities and some with more than one language in their background. Children who have English as a first language are obviously more at an advantage, as they have been able to become an expert on only the one language. However, those who are bilingual engage in other languages. It is unfortunate to say that there are programs which will ask a child to leave a room while the other children brush up on their English skills, just because they are not up to a standard when compared to the other children, which is why it important for a teacher to be willing to accommodate for every child and every bilingual student if the teacher is in a position where they are required to teach students who know more than on language. To be bilingual is a gift, however not everybody accepts this. Conversational fluency is the ability to carry on a conversation in familiar face to face situations (Hill, 2006), and this is one of the dimensions of language proficiency that develops in schools which shows how gifted a bilingual child can be. The other dimensions include Discrete language and Academic language proficiency. Although these truly have merit for bilingual students, there are limitations and problems that need to be acknowledged by the teacher, one of which is the fact every child is different and may understand the English language at a higher or lower level than the other students.

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 * There are methods however, in which a teacher can teach English successfully and confidently to young children, and the basic key is to be creative and friendly to everybody. Welcome each child into your classroom making them feel wanted and as though they belong. Full English immersion, is one strategy that can be used. The children are placed in an environment that is solely English. The teacher teaches in English, and each child can even have a one on one mini lesson in which the teacher can improve the child’s individual skills and monitor how he/she is doing. There are also transitional and maintenance approaches to bilingual education in which the teacher helps, as well as a classroom involving parents so that there is an encouraging supportive atmosphere. Assigning buddies and talking to the children also helps with support.

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**It is vital that teachers who teach English as a second language empower children to feel proud of there bilingual skills and their efforts to learn English. Other students should also offer their help and support, as all children learn differently and in different conditions. It is important for a teacher to be creative, welcoming and nurturing, and use small groups, storytelling, sharing, reading aloud and other activities as a way of interacting as a classroom together.**