Shante Devonay Shanief Micheals

66119723
CHL2601

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Question 1

1.1. The study of people's feelings, emotions, desires, and relationship to society,
divisions within oneself and community, and responses to all aspects are all
areas of literature. As a result, literature serves the function of exploring all of
these aspects and full interactions between people. Additionally, literature
serves as a means of instruction, shock, amazement, and a clear means of
escape for readers from reality. Now, the difference between literature and
children's literature is that the latter is created by adults specifically for
children and serves the objective of increasing or enriching children's
vocabulary as well as their communication abilities. The similarity between
the two is that they both serve an entertainment function. For literature, there
are four main genres: fiction, non-fiction, drama, and poetry; for children's
literature, the most common forms are songs, toy books, picture books, and
finger rhymes. Each of these two genres has its own unique forms. The two
literary genres are not so distinct in terms of style; every work is either written
in paragraphs, sentences, stanzas, or simple ending lines. Children's literature
can only be told in the first person or the third person, whereas literature can
be told in the first person or from numerous points of view.

1.2. Emergent literacy has a clear characterising of behaviours shown by children

at a young age as they begin to be responsive to and approximate reading
and writing acts they observe from other people reading and writing, however
in the other hand it has extended beyond the limit of reading and writing it also
includes the interrelatedness language, speaking, listening, reading, writing
and viewing.

1.3. Fairy tales: fairy tales share many similarities with folktales, but they are
merely short tales that show events that would never be probable in real life,
and most of them begin with the most iconic and classical phrases once upon
a time and finish with live happily ever after. For example, in Cinderella, after
her father died, Cinderella's "fairy" godmother used her power to transform
her into a princess for the night, which a lovely prince fell in love with, and
they married and lived happily ever after.

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 Folktales are stories that are passed down from generation to generation and
are considered to be an important component of any culture. Folktales are
stories that may or may not have occurred, are set in a certain period or
place, and have a timeless and placeless character. They are also similar to
fairy tales in that they share narrative elements such as supernatural
antagonists, helpers, magic, and miracles. For example in the story of the
lightning and the thunder by Elphinstone Dayrell where the lightning and
thunder lived on earth amongst the people but got banished up into the sky
when the lightning kept on destroying the woods, farms and people whenever
he got angry.
Fantasy is characterized by fictional and unrealistic characteristics that would
be regarded impossible in our reality. Even if these imaginary worlds and
aspects do not exist in the actual world, they teach us real life lessons in
which stories reveal truths about society and the human condition and fantasy
stories contain elements designed to be understood on a symbolic level. In
The Lord of the Rings, for example, Sauron's ring signifies evil and greed, and
its destruction depicts the triumph of good over evil.

Question 2

2.
2.1. When choosing books and stories for young children, consider the context so
that children may relate to stories that are relevant, interesting and originate
from their social and cultural background. Young children find stories
intriguing when they feel they can relate to the story in some way. I feel that
the ideal approach for me to create the context is to hold an educational
lesson, ensuring that the context properly delivers the lesson in a way that a
child can relate to the characters in the story being told.
2.2. I may begin to improve accuracy by building a more cohesive reading
environment, as well as working on the learners' phonemic awareness,
because many learners struggle to comprehend how word pieces work
together to form new words. I may improve accuracy by letting learners to
identify or recognize sight words, which makes them more fluent and faster
readers. Sight words are also very common, and learners will be able to

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 identify them without sounding them out.
Four factors that also have an influence on comprehension
Background knowledge and context: Background knowledge is a reader's
comprehension of the specific concepts, events, and difficulties linked with the
text's words of what they already know. When reading a foreign language text,
for example, a reader would be able to decipher the text based on their
background knowledge of letter sounds correspondence, but since the reader
doesn’t know the language they won’t be able to understand the message.
Reading proficiency: Reading proficiency is mostly defined by two factors.
One is decoding abilities, which allow readers to read a text, and the other is
meaning-making or comprehension skills, which allow children to grasp,
interact, and participate in a piece of text.
Word recognition: Word recognition is the capacity to recognize whole
words instantaneously by sight (also known as sight words) or by sounding
them out (also known as decoding) and is the basis of a reader's reading
skills.
Fluency: Fluency is the ability to read fast and fluently while maintaining
accuracy and proper expression. It also enhances the rate at which one is
able to comprehend a text .Learners must be able to read fluently, whether
loudly or silently, in order to grasp what they read.
2.3. After reading activity I would use apart from asking questions is to retell
information, play a game or creating a quiz. For grade R retelling and then
outlining the story will be appropriate for an after reading activity but when I
need to progress the activities for grade 1, 2 and 3 I would amplify and
intensify the activities accordingly for each grade.

Question 3

3.
3.1. Children's literacy ought to grow and flourish since we now live in a diverse
and advancing technological age, which might either be an immense
advantage or disadvantage.
Advantages of new literacies in children literature
 Increased accessibility: Children's literature is becoming more and more
available in the form of e-books, audiobooks, and online libraries as a result of

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 the enormous growth of digital technology, making it easier for kids to access
books and other types of literature.
 Interactive features: Reading becomes much more fun, engaging, and
encourages children to engage when there are so many interactive features
included in children's literature, such as animations, sound effects, and
gamification.
 Diverse representation: Children have access to differed representation in
children's literature thanks to digital platforms, and they may also see
themselves and their experiences reflected in the books they read.
 Multimodal storytelling: The integration of multiple storytelling methods, such
as text, images, and videos, into new literacies might help make stories more
engaging and understandable for kids with different types of learning styles.

Disadvantages of new literacies in children’s literature

 Too much screen time: Children's health may also be negatively impacted by
the greater use of digital technology in children's literature, including obesity,
poor sleep, a decrease in physical activity, and a lack of exposure to the much
-needed oxygen and sunshine outside.
 Short attention span: Children may find it hard to concentrate on longer texts
as a result of the interaction features that digital technologies provide.
 Lack of social interaction: Reading on a digital device may be a solitary
activity because it is well known that digital technologies limit the possibility of
any social or human interaction.

In the South African context, certain families may have limited access to digital
technology, which might limit the potential advantages of new literacies. Concerns
regarding the absence of African languages and cultures within digital children's
reading may also exist. Digital storytelling, however, may also offer chances for the
preservation and promotion of African languages and cultures thanks to new
literacies.

3.2. When selecting books for my classroom, I'll take into account all relevant
variables, including age-appropriateness and relatedness. Will the books keep
my learners engaged and interested so that they don't lose interest or focus?
Not only will I make sure the books are engaging for the readers, but I'll also

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 make sure the language is rich and the reading level and vocabulary are
suitable for them. The ability for learners to relate to the events that fictional
characters go through in literature is another aspect I would take into account.
3.3. There will be several factors that can influence my choice when I’m going to
buy a book for an 18month old which include age appropriateness, durability,
interactivity and educational value to name a few. Since 18-month-old babies
are just beginning to develop their language and cognitive skills, I keep this in
mind when I am going to buy the book for an 18-month-old and make sure it is
suitable for the baby. I need to buy a book with simple words, bright colors,
and illustrations that are appealing and ideal.18 Month old babies won't know
how to handle books properly, so I'll select a book that can survive their
destructive hands and can withstand wear and tear, like board books since
they are sturdy and easy to clean. Babies at this age also enjoy touching and
exploring things, so I would go for picking books with interactive features like
flaps, buttons, or tactile features since they are engaging and a lot of fun.
Books have the potential to be educational, so I'll take advantage of the
opportunity to buy a book that introduces new words, colors, shapes, or
animals to stimulate the baby's curiosity and educate his or her developing
brain.

Question 4

4.
4.1. My shadow is purple: By Scott Stuart
Genre: Juvenile Fiction, LGBTQ
Why it belongs in this genre: Although the story is fictional, it is suitable for
any child who feels different since it uses age-appropriate language to convey
a strong message about gender identity, self-acceptance, equality, and
diversity. It also teaches about being true to oneself and move beyond gender
binary thinking. The story also belongs to this genre since it employs features
that are not feasible in real life, such as the use of colored shadows to
highlight the individuality and distinctions of the main character and the other
characters.
Questions
Literal comprehension

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  What color was the shadow of the boy?
 To where did the boy get an invite to?
Reorganization
 How are the boy different from his mom, dad and the other kids?
 List all the colors everyone became in the end
Inference
 If you were the boy with purple shadow what would you have done if
the teacher asked you to choose?
Prediction
 What do you think will happen at the end of the story?
 Do you think the boy will choose or will he stay true to himself and stay
with his purple colored shadow?
Evaluation
 Do you agree with the teacher that the boy should choose?
 Would you have
Personal response
 What did you like about the story?
 Were you ever worried about being yourself?
4.2. Cognitive development
 Reading to your kids is important as a parent since it develops
cognitive abilities like thinking, reasoning, and comprehension.
 Through reading children learn new vocabulary and concepts which
ultimately helps them understand the world around them.
 Reading is a fantastic way for children to expand their creativity and
imagination, which are essential skills for critical thinking and problem
solving.
Language development
 It is also very important to read to your kids when it helps their
development of their language skills, such as their ability to
communicate, listen and speak.
 Your children also learn new words and learn how to properly structure
sentences.

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  Phonological awareness is the ability to hear and distinguish different
sounding words. Reading to your children will help with this awareness.
Social development
 Allowing your children to read with others is great way to build new
relationships and reading with your child helps strengthen your
relationship with each other and is a great bonding experience.
 Children also learn about new cultures and social situations when they
read it helps them understand and empathize with others.
Emotional development
 When you as the parent read to your kids it helps with their emotional
development like their ability express their feelings and learn how to
regulate them as well.
 Reading is very therapeutic to a person so reading to your children will
allow them to feel calming and comforting, which helps the feel safe
and secure.
In conclusion when reading to your child at home it’s important for their
cognitive, language, social and emotional development. It is a simple yet
powerful way for parents to support their children’s growth and learning.

References

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www.ipl.org. (n.d.). Functions of Children’s Literature – 887 Words / Internet Public
Library. Online https://www.ipl.org/essay/Functions-Of-Childrens-Literature-
FKKWCS74SCPR (Accessed13 May 2023)

Kachele, E. (2019). Functions of Literature. Kachele Online.

https://www.kacheleonline.co.tz/2019/06/functions-of-literature.html (Accessed 13
May 2023)

Children’s literature - The development of children’s literature | Britannica. (2019).

In: Encyclopaedia Britannica. [Online]
https://www.britannica.com/art/childrens-literature/The-development-of-childrens-
literature (Accessed 13 May 2023)

eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov. (2019). Emergent Literacy | ECLKC. [Online]

https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/school-readiness/home-visitors-online-
handbook/emergentliteracy#:~:text=Emergent%20literacy%20has%20been%20defin
ed,%2C%20writing%2C%20and%20viewing.%22 (Accessed13 May 2023)

Rawe, J. (n.d.). What are sight words? Understood.

https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-are-sight-words (Accessed 20 May
2023)
My Website. (n.d.). Background Knowledge | Elementary Literacy | Surrey Schools
ONE. [Online]
https://surreyschoolsone.ca/teachers/literacy/elementary/reading-
essentials/background-
knowledge/#:~:text=Background%20knowledge%20is%20a%20reader's,onto%20wh
at%20they%20currently%20know. (Accessed 20 May 2023)

Bureau, FE. September 24 2018, the Financial Express. (2018). Here’s the
difference between proficiency in reading and literacy. [Online]
https://www.financialexpress.com/education-2/heres-the-difference-between-
proficiency-in-reading-and-literacy/1323818/ (Accessed 20 May 2023)
Unisa (University of South Africa).2021-2023. Children’s Literature: Study Guide for
CHL2601. Pretoria: University of South Africa

Declaration

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ADDENDUM A
This declaration must be attached to each written assessment.
HONESTY DECLARATION FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATION
Module Code: CHL2601 Assessment Date: 22 May 2023
1. I know that plagiarism means taking and using the ideas, writings, works or
inventions of another as if they were one’s own. I know that plagiarism not only
includes verbatim copying, but also the extensive use of another person’s ideas
without proper acknowledgement (which includes the proper use of quotation marks)
or any attempt to cheat the plagiarism-checking system (Turnitin). I know that
plagiarism covers the use of material found in textual sources and from the internet.
2. I acknowledge and understand that plagiarism is wrong.
3. I understand that my assignment answers must be referenced accurately.
4. This assignment is my own work. I acknowledge that copying someone else’s
work, or part of it, is wrong; and that submitting work identical to that of other
students constitutes a form of plagiarism. 5. I have not allowed anyone to copy my
work with the intention of passing it off as his or her own work and will not allow it in
future.
6. I understand that I can be awarded 0% if I have plagiarised.
7. I understand that my assignment may be submitted automatically to Turnitin.
8. I confirm that I have read and understood the following UNISA policies:
8.1 Policy for Copyright and Plagiarism
8.2 Policy on Academic Integrity
8.3 Student Disciplinary
Code Name: CHL2601 Student No: 66119723
Signed: ……………………………………………. Date: 22 May 2023

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