Language Learning and Culture in Early Childhood

<p>Complex factors affect young children and their families in today’s increasingly diverse world characterized by globalization the transnational movement of people and neo-liberal government policies in western and industrialized countries. This book focuses on three of these factors—culture language and learning—and how they affect children’s development and learning in the context of their communities families and schools. Taking an ecological perspective it challenges normative and hegemonic views of young children’s language literacy and numeracy development and offers examples of demonstrated educational practices that acknowledge and build on the knowledge that children develop and learn in culturally specific ways in their homes and communities. </p><p>The authors highlight issues and perspectives that are particular to Indigenous people who have been subjected to centuries of assimilationist and colonialist policies and practices and the importance of first or home language maintenance and its cognitive cultural economic psychological and social benefits. Links are provided to a package of audio-video resources (http://blogs.ubc.ca/intersectionworkshop/) including key note speeches and interviews with leading international scholars and a collection of vignettes from the workshop from which this volume was produced .</p>