Children develop their language abilities through meaningful interactions with people at storytime, at meal times, during chores, while searching for information, while playing, and while at school. In the classroom, teachers serve a crucial role in maximizing learners’ language and literacy acquisition. They serve as strong models, providing a stimulus for thinking and exploring ideas. They put multiliteracies in action. Constructing Meaning: Teaching the Language Arts K-8, Sixth Edition is founded on a commitment to helping educators expand learners’ communication and identify options through multiliteracies, curriculum and pedagogies. The text discusses and illustrates the various ways in which rapidly evolving communication technologies and learner demographics have radically changed literacy from even a generation ago. These are exciting times for language and literacy educators and learners, and this text offers many ways for pre- and in-service educators to capitalize on this excitement by helping to support learners’ literacy learning in all their teaching. Tailored for Canadian contexts and capitalizing on a strong Canadian research base complemented by international scholars, Constructing Meaning offers detailed understandings and illustrations of learners’ reading, writing, speaking, listening, viewing, and representing practices, grade-appropriate book lists, illustrations of teaching/learning in action, and wisdom from practicing educators.

Chapter 1: Introduction to Language and Literacy Teaching and Learning Chapter 2: Planning for Language and Literacy Teaching Chapter 3: Language Development and Oracy Chapter 4: Early Literacy Chapter 5: The Nature and Assessment of Reading Chapter 6: Reading Instruction: Major Components Chapter 7: Pedagogies to Foster Strategic Reading Chapter 8: Literacy Across the Curriculum Chapter 9: The Process of Writing Chapter 10: Assessment and Conventions of Writing Chapter 11: The Pleasures of Literacy Chapter 12: Responding to Literature Chapter 13: New Media