Language Experience Approach
A Teaching Strategy to Increase Decoding and Reading Comprehension
Apr 22, 2008
Beginning readers need instruction and practice in all areas of reading. The Language Experience Approach allows students to interact with text on multiple levels simultaneously. This strategy also allows teachers to teach a variety of language arts lessons using the students’ own words and language. The LEA can be used in kindergarten, first or second grade for whole class reading instruction, in third or fourth grade to work on grammar, punctuation, or language concepts, and for remediation in any grade.
The Language Experience Approach begins with a shared class experience; a novel, exciting experience works well when first using the LEA strategy. After the class activity is completed, the teacher asks the students to dictate the story of the experience to her and writes what they say word for word on large chart paper. She reads the sentences back to the class so that the story is written exactly how they have composed it. The teacher reads the final story to the class and then has the class read it with her. As the students read their words about their experience aloud they are building their reading vocabularies. From here the teacher can personalize the lesson to focus on language arts concepts in which the class needs instruction or practice.
Sample First Grade Lesson Using the LEA Strategy
Use this overview of the Language Arts Experience strategy as a guide to plan language arts lessons.
Materials
- Marker
- Large chart paper
- Large pumpkin
- Carving knife
- Bowl
- Large spoon
- Paper towels
- Table salt
- Cookie Sheet
Introduction
The Language Experience Approach begins with the shared experience. Open the reading lesson by carving a pumpkin with the class. Get every student involved by soliciting ideas for the face and allowing everyone a chance to scoop out the middle. Enlist members of the class to separate the seeds from the goop and rinse them off.
Have other students place the seeds on a cookie sheet and shake salt onto them. Assign a student to be in charge of the timer and bake the seeds in the oven. After the pumpkin seeds have cooled pass the seeds out for the students to taste and place a small light in the pumpkin so the whole class can see the face.
Lesson Body
Have the students take turns telling you sentences to write on the chart paper about carving and eating the pumpkins. If a student gives you only a few words or phrases prompt them to tell it to you in a sentence, otherwise write each student’s exact words on the chart. After you have written the sentence, read it back to the student to make sure that is how he wants it written and make any changes the student requests.
Model proper spelling, capitalization and punctuation, but leave word choice and grammar up to the students. This can be the basis of a future lesson if appropriate. After the story is complete read it aloud to the students. Read it aloud again and invite them to read it with you. Continue reading together or have just the class read or even have volunteers take turns reading the story.
Conclusion
Use the dictation to provide the basis for your lesson. You may choose to work on topics such as word families, punctuation, or vocabulary depending on the instructional needs of your class. The language arts topic you choose will now be easier for the students to learn because it is more meaningful to them; using their words and their experience facilitates a greater understanding of any lesson.
The Language Experience Approach strengthens all areas of reading. Novice readers may be able to read whole sentences for the first time. Students with decoding deficits will benefit from the repeated readings and gain help from the context of the words. Comprehension of the shared experience topic will be increased while increasing the students’ ability to work with text. The sky really is the limit with an LEA- try this strategy with your students today!
