Essential Linguistics: What You Need to Know to Teach Reading, ESL, Spelling, Phonics, and Grammar [Paperback]

David E. Freeman (Author), Yvonne S. Freeman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 14, 2004 | ISBN-10: 0325002746 | ISBN-13: 978-0325002743

The resource guide provides the instructor with suggested answers and responses to the Application Activities at the end of each chapter.

Linguistics is much more than a study reserved for academicians. Linguistics has real-life applications to effective teaching-now more than ever. With the increased emphasis on phonemic awareness and phonics in the teaching of reading, teachers need to understand how language works. When teachers are familiar with basic linguistic concepts, they are better prepared to make decisions about how to teach reading, spelling, phonics, and grammar to all students, including English language learners.

In this unique linguistics course-in-a-book, David and Yvonne Freeman explain essential linguistic concepts in a thorough, but manageable manner and show the connections between linguistic theory and classroom practice. They demonstrate that the greater a teacher's understanding of basic language structures and processes, the easier it is to make good decisions on tough topics like phonics, spelling, and grammar. They present:

• the basic concepts of linguistics in everyday language
• examples and activities that apply linguistics concepts to teaching reading, spelling, phonics, and grammar to all students, including English language learners
• end-of-chapter applications that link linguistic theory and classroom practice.

Understand more about how language works, then use that knowledge to help your students learn. Turn prescriptive approaches into linguistic investigations. Get yourself and your students hooked on linguistics.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David E. Freeman is the coauthor or coeditor (with Yvonne S. Freeman) of ten Heinemann books, including: - La ensenanza de la lectura y la escritura en espanol y ingles en salones de clases bilingues y de doble inmersion, segunda edicion revisada (2009) - Academic Language for English Language Learners and Struggling Readers (2008) - Diverse Learners in the Maintstream Classroom (2008) - Teaching Reading and Writing in Spanish and English in Bilingual and Dual Language Classrooms, Second Edition (2006) - Dual Language Essentials for Teachers and Administrators (2004) - Essential Linguistics (2004) - Closing the Achievement Gap (2002) - Between Worlds, Third Edition (2011) - Teaching Reading in Multilingual Classrooms (2000) - ESL/EFL Teaching (1998). David Freeman is a professor of Reading and ESL in the Department of Language, Literacy, and Intercultural Studies of the College of Education at the University of Texas - Brownsville. David and Yvonne Freeman are Heinemann Professional Development Providers.

Yvonne S. Freeman is the coauthor or coeditor (with David E. Freeman) of ten Heinemann books, including: - La ensenanza de la lectura y la escritura en espanol y ingles en salones de clases bilingues y de doble inmersion, segunda edicion revisada (2009) - Academic Language for English Language Learners and Struggling Readers (2008) - Diverse Learners in the Maintstream Classroom (2008) - Teaching Reading and Writing in Spanish and English in Bilingual and Dual Language Classrooms, Second Edition (2006) - Dual Language Essentials for Teachers and Administrators (2004) - Essential Linguistics (2004) - Closing the Achievement Gap (2002) - Between Worlds, Third Edition (2011) - Teaching Reading in Multilingual Classrooms (2000) - ESL/EFL Teaching (1998). Yvonne is a professor of bilingual education in the Department of Language, Literacy, and Intercultural Studies of the College of Education at the University of Texas - Brownsville. Yvonne and David Freeman are Heinemann Professional Development Providers.

Product Details

• Paperback: 263 pages
• Publisher: Heinemann (January 14, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0325002746
• ISBN-13: 978-0325002743
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #43,870 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great linguistic book for teachers, March 29, 2006

By 

Wolf Finkbeiner "wolffink" (Fayetteville, Arkansas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Essential Linguistics: What You Need to Know to Teach Reading, ESL, Spelling, Phonics, and Grammar (Paperback)

Freeman & Freeman have hit a great niche with their book. I don't want or need, a complex linguistics book in the style of Chomsky. Freeman & Freeman take language research and package the relevant "real-world" findings so they will be of use for teachers. Although my interest is for English as a Second (ESL) teachers, I believe every teacher is concerned with literacy, and Freeman & Freeman's book covers what teachers need to know concerning phonics v. whole word instruction, spelling, and grammar. Freeman & Freeman seem to belong to the Stephen Krashen school of language and reading. This is a plus for me, but for Krashen-haters, it probably wouldn't be, and they should look elsewhere. This is "baby" linguistics book--you won't get a section on Chomsky's generative grammar here. I think it would be a good companion volume along with VanPatten's "From Input to Output"--which is a slim volume solely concerned with second language acquisition and has the same conversational tone--and--this is important--their teaching advice and philosophy meshes.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good if you are a staunch whole language believer, May 11, 2009

By 

Reading Teacher (Fountain, CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Essential Linguistics: What You Need to Know to Teach Reading, ESL, Spelling, Phonics, and Grammar (Paperback)

I picked up this book from a university bookstore because I was interested in background knowledge in linguistics to help guide reading instruction. This book is a typical "we are right (whole language) and you are wrong (phonics)" debate. The authors refer to themselves as "sociopsycholinguists" which I took to be the new term for whole language teachers. I don't want to waste my time reading about the whole language vs. phonics debate anymore, I just wanted the research and background provided by linguistic study. This book just seemed to be a rehashing of whole language theories; and why they are correct and the phonics approach is wrong with little classroom strategies (which is what I wanted from the book). I wanted different ways I could use to help struggling readers no matter what the theory, I don't feel this was a good book for that.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars This is a textbook?, November 26, 2010

By 

D. Martin "dm" (kansas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Essential Linguistics: What You Need to Know to Teach Reading, ESL, Spelling, Phonics, and Grammar (Paperback)

Not really impressed with this book. It was a required text and I've been disappointed in it's content. When discussing the why we use sound to communicate, the best the authors could come up with is "..to talk in the dark and to talk around corners." The authors present stronger material in working with ELL students but weak on linguistics. As a textbook, this a bad choice as a teaching source. The up & coming ELL teachers should look for other material.