HomeContactSearchMap of NWP Sites
National Writing Project
AboutCalendarProgramsPublicationsResources
The VoiceThe QuarterlyBooksOther Publications

NWP Home

*

NWP Publications

National Center for the Study of Writing and Literacy Occasional Paper    

OP 32. From Prop to Mediator: The Changing Role of Written Language in Children's Symbolic Repertoir

By Anne Haas Dyson

Summary: Using illustrations from an ongoing study of literacy development among African-American children in an urban school, Dyson examines how children's use of written language changes during the early childhood years. She argues that there is no linear progression in written language development; rather, written language emerges most strongly when it is embedded within a child's total symbolic repertoires, including drawing, playing, singing, dancing, and storytelling. Further, she cautions against the uncritical use of writing process pedagogy with young children. September, 1992; 22 pages.

OP 32. From Prop to Mediator: The Changing Role of Written Language in Children's Symbolic Repertoires
PDF Download PDF



HOME | CONTACT | JOBS | SEARCH | MAP OF NWP SITES
ABOUT | CALENDAR | PROGRAMS | PUBLICATIONS | RESOURCES
NWP INTERACTIVE | E-VOICE SIGN-UP | INFORMATION FOR SITE LEADERS

© 1995-2023 NWP | Supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education
Additional acknowledgements