Languag"a'is essential to society. It forms the foundation of our perceptions, com-municntion!f and daily interactions.

This text differs from other language development texts in ils attention to lan8!!Q.@_ a~municg_li9Il..!J!!.J1er than a fo_cus on spi3_e.ch_pro_ctu<1tion ~nd..th~_.de.v.elopment of articulation. This approach recognizes that language is a medium of communi-cation with others and within us.

You will be talking with children as they interact in your classroom, engaging in the learning activilies you provide. As you read books to and with children, you will introduce the children to written lan-guage. ·when you create classroom posters and other displays involving print, you are showing children how written language can be used to communicate.