Years of study and experience in teaching and parenting, have led the author to examine and evaluate linguistic theory, and the role of language in learning. Using an in depth, six year study of one child, together with years of classroom experience with older children, she explains her conclusion:
'Language is of vital importance to intelligence, its used and development, because most thinking is carried out in verbal form. That is why one of the greatest gifts a parent or teacher can give a child is the help he needs to acquire full fluency.'
From the speechless infant to the student who finally achieves what the linguists call CALP - 'cognitive academic language proficiency' she describes and examples the processes involved.
Practical techniques to develop speech, reading and writing skills are explained in such a straightforward manner that readers are forced to agree with her own statement, that 'there is no rocket science involved here ' (Page 46) This book is one of those deceptively simple texts which hide the wealth and depth of learning and research behind them. It is though provoking reading for all trainee teachers, new parents or child minders.