Multimodal texts are those that combine two or more of these modes to create meaning, for example picture books, films, posters, web pages and oral storytelling.Īs small children, we lived in a multimodal world. Meaning can be conveyed in multiple modes (written language, spoken language, visual, audio, gestural, and tactile and spatial systems of meaning) (Kalantzis, Cope, Chan, and Dalley-Trim, 2016). Educators can achieve this during reading and writing experiences, by scaffolding children’s emergent reading comprehension (making meaning from texts) and emergent written expression (expressing ideas through texts). Making meaning and expressing ideas through texts is an important learning focus because of the crucial role that educators play to bring the texts to life. In contrast, emergent literacy development requires a combination of child-led, guided, and adult-led learning to build these important capacities (VEYLDF Practice Principle: Integrated Teaching and Learning Approaches). By using the symbol systems of art, music, dance, and play/drama, children manipulate images and concepts, thus joining with others who share a culture…Wright (2012, p. The human child is endowed with ingenuity and symbol-making propensities to go beyond reality as immediate experience. The first and second of the above capacities are considered to be more innate to children (Piaget, 1923, 2009): emergent literacy skills (scaffolded by adults) like concepts of print, early phonological awareness, early letter-sound awareness (phonics), and knowledge of text types (genres).various oral language skills including concept development and vocabulary, grammar, and narrative comprehension.first and foremost, children’s meaning making of images and other symbol systems (art, music, dance, and play/drama) (Wright, 2012).The importance of making meaning and expressing ideas in textsĮmergent reading comprehension and written expression are dependent on children’s developing capacities (Fellowes and Oakley, 2014): This learning focus differs from exploring and creating texts, which is concerned with the functions and purposes of texts that is how they are used (as per the four resources model: Freebody and Luke, 1990).

This learning focus concerns the process of meaning making within the four resources model (Freebody and Luke, 1990), where children engage in making meaning from texts, and create meaning within their own texts. Image: University of Melbourne Early Learning Centre Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (2016) Outcome 5 When we read and write with children, we work to co-construct understandings of texts and how they relate to our world.

They become aware of the relationships between oral and visual representations, and recognise patterns and relationships… Young children begin to explore written communication by scribbling, drawing and producing approximations of writing. emergent written expression and how these can be developed and supported by educators.children’s emergent reading comprehension.for example visual, musical, kinaesthetic, digital, as well as emergent reading and writing:.allowing children to use multiple literacies to make meaning.

Facilitating drawing and incorporating elements of print.Emergent reading comprehension - key developmental milestones.Meaning making and reading comprehension.The importance of making meaning and expressing ideas in texts.Making meaning is central to children’s emergent literacy development.Ĭomprehending texts and expressing ideas using various media are capacities that children develop gradually throughout early childhood and formal schooling.

To scaffold meaning in education