Upon successful completion of the learning experience, students will be able to: identify the components of an effective classroom for literacy development in early childhood;  describe  theories of child development and how they relate to literacy; identify the approaches to literacy instruction; explain the role  of literacy assessment in the early childhood classroom;  define literacy standards and discuss the tools used to measure them; describe ways of teaching children with diverse needs; demonstrate an understanding of how language develops; identify and apply appropriate strategies for enhancing language development in infants and toddlers; describe strategies that promote conversational growth; explain the importance of learning the alphabet and describe methods and strategies for teaching it and for deciphering new words; define phonological awareness and develop activities that promote and assess it;  differentiate between types of texts and describe strategies for developing comprehension in each; describe strategies for developing, improving and assessing fluency and comprehension; explain the importance of using different types of literature and develop activities that enhance literature appreciation among young learners;  describe strategies for increasing motivation; describe how technology can be integrated into the literacy curriculum; and explain how dramatic play enhances literacy development in young children.