EML1501 ASSIGNMENT 4 PORTFOLIO 2026
DUE OCTOBER 2026
QUESTION 1
1.1 In your own words, briefly describe the literacy state of Lesedi.
Lesedi is a 3-year-old boy who is in the emergent literacy stage. Emergent literacy is the
knowledge, skills, and attitudes that a child develops about reading and writing before
they can read and write in the normal, formal way (EML1501 2018:12). Lesedi shows
that he is in this stage because he can "read" pictures in a book and give answers that
make sense, like saying, "This is Mpho and me, we are on our way to school." He also
scribbles on the floor with a stick and gives his drawings names. He can tell a story
about his drawing. He does not yet read or write words in the conventional way, but he
understands that marks and pictures carry meaning. His mother asks him questions and
he answers correctly, which shows he is developing listening and speaking skills. So
Lesedi is a child who is aware of reading and writing and is on his way to becoming
literate, but he is not yet formally literate.
1.2 In your own view, in what way does Lesedi's home background influence his
literacy state?
The home environment plays a big role in a child's language and literacy development
(EML1501 2018:11). Lesedi lives in an informal settlement with his mother, his 5-year-
old sister Mpho, and his grandmother. His mother is unemployed and cannot afford
preschool fees. He does not have toys. This means he has fewer resources than
children from richer homes. However, his home still supports his literacy in important
ways:
,His mother interacts with him. She asks him questions about the book and he gives
relevant answers. This is positive reinforcement, which Skinner says helps language
learning (EML1501 2018:17).
His mother smiles at him and congratulates him. This encourages him to keep trying
and builds his confidence.
He plays imaginary school with his sister Mpho, who is 5 years old. This means he has
a role model who is also learning about reading and writing.
He uses what is available in his environment, like a stick and the floor, to write. This
shows that literacy can develop even without expensive materials.
So his home background limits his access to formal preschool and toys, but the warm
interactions with his mother and sister still support his emergent literacy. The
environment can either promote or hold back literacy development (EML1501 2018:19).
In Lesedi's case, the people in his home are helping him, even though they do not have
much money.
1.3 Describe the literacy state that Lesedi displayed when he scribbled on the
floor. (5)
When Lesedi scribbled on the floor with a stick, he showed emergent writing. Emergent
writing is a developmental writing process where children randomly scribble and draw
and then assign meaning to their scribbles and drawings. To them, there is no
difference between writing and drawing (EML1501 2018:15). Lesedi's scribbling is at the
early stage of writing. He made marks and then gave them names. He drew a car. This
is the stage where pictures of objects and people are mixed with writing marks
(EML1501 2018:15). He also told a story about his drawing, which shows he
understands that marks can carry meaning. This is the beginning of writing. The study
guide says that when children of preschool age imitate the processes of reading and
writing, it is a sign that they are in the emergent literacy phase (EML1501 2018:12).
Lesedi is doing exactly this.
, 1.4 Describe the skill that Lesedi displayed by answering the questions that his
mother asked him about his picture. Provide reasons for your answer. (5)
Lesedi displayed comprehension and narrative skills. Comprehension is the ability to
understand or make sense of what is seen or read (EML1501 2018:16). Narrative skills
are the ability to tell a story or describe a sequence of events (EML1501 2018:14).
When his mother asked him questions about the book, he gave relevant answers like,
"This is Mpho and me, we are on our way to school." This shows that:
He understands the picture and can explain it.
He can link the picture to real life (going to school).
He can use words to tell a story.
He listens to the question and responds correctly, which shows emergent speaking
and listening.
He shows print awareness because he knows that pictures carry meaning and that
the marks on the page tell a story (EML1501 2018:16).
the skill is emergent reading comprehension, supported by speaking and listening
skills. He is not reading words yet, but he is reading pictures and making meaning from
them.
1.5 Provide your justification for the importance of developmentally appropriate
material in a Grade R classroom. Provide suitable examples to support your
answer. (
Developmentally appropriate materials are materials that match the age and stage of
the children in the class. They are important because:
They attract children's attention and make learning fun (EML1501 2018:22).
They encourage active learning. Children learn by doing, not by just listening.
They help children develop fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination, which are
needed for writing (EML1501 2018:15).
DUE OCTOBER 2026
QUESTION 1
1.1 In your own words, briefly describe the literacy state of Lesedi.
Lesedi is a 3-year-old boy who is in the emergent literacy stage. Emergent literacy is the
knowledge, skills, and attitudes that a child develops about reading and writing before
they can read and write in the normal, formal way (EML1501 2018:12). Lesedi shows
that he is in this stage because he can "read" pictures in a book and give answers that
make sense, like saying, "This is Mpho and me, we are on our way to school." He also
scribbles on the floor with a stick and gives his drawings names. He can tell a story
about his drawing. He does not yet read or write words in the conventional way, but he
understands that marks and pictures carry meaning. His mother asks him questions and
he answers correctly, which shows he is developing listening and speaking skills. So
Lesedi is a child who is aware of reading and writing and is on his way to becoming
literate, but he is not yet formally literate.
1.2 In your own view, in what way does Lesedi's home background influence his
literacy state?
The home environment plays a big role in a child's language and literacy development
(EML1501 2018:11). Lesedi lives in an informal settlement with his mother, his 5-year-
old sister Mpho, and his grandmother. His mother is unemployed and cannot afford
preschool fees. He does not have toys. This means he has fewer resources than
children from richer homes. However, his home still supports his literacy in important
ways:
,His mother interacts with him. She asks him questions about the book and he gives
relevant answers. This is positive reinforcement, which Skinner says helps language
learning (EML1501 2018:17).
His mother smiles at him and congratulates him. This encourages him to keep trying
and builds his confidence.
He plays imaginary school with his sister Mpho, who is 5 years old. This means he has
a role model who is also learning about reading and writing.
He uses what is available in his environment, like a stick and the floor, to write. This
shows that literacy can develop even without expensive materials.
So his home background limits his access to formal preschool and toys, but the warm
interactions with his mother and sister still support his emergent literacy. The
environment can either promote or hold back literacy development (EML1501 2018:19).
In Lesedi's case, the people in his home are helping him, even though they do not have
much money.
1.3 Describe the literacy state that Lesedi displayed when he scribbled on the
floor. (5)
When Lesedi scribbled on the floor with a stick, he showed emergent writing. Emergent
writing is a developmental writing process where children randomly scribble and draw
and then assign meaning to their scribbles and drawings. To them, there is no
difference between writing and drawing (EML1501 2018:15). Lesedi's scribbling is at the
early stage of writing. He made marks and then gave them names. He drew a car. This
is the stage where pictures of objects and people are mixed with writing marks
(EML1501 2018:15). He also told a story about his drawing, which shows he
understands that marks can carry meaning. This is the beginning of writing. The study
guide says that when children of preschool age imitate the processes of reading and
writing, it is a sign that they are in the emergent literacy phase (EML1501 2018:12).
Lesedi is doing exactly this.
, 1.4 Describe the skill that Lesedi displayed by answering the questions that his
mother asked him about his picture. Provide reasons for your answer. (5)
Lesedi displayed comprehension and narrative skills. Comprehension is the ability to
understand or make sense of what is seen or read (EML1501 2018:16). Narrative skills
are the ability to tell a story or describe a sequence of events (EML1501 2018:14).
When his mother asked him questions about the book, he gave relevant answers like,
"This is Mpho and me, we are on our way to school." This shows that:
He understands the picture and can explain it.
He can link the picture to real life (going to school).
He can use words to tell a story.
He listens to the question and responds correctly, which shows emergent speaking
and listening.
He shows print awareness because he knows that pictures carry meaning and that
the marks on the page tell a story (EML1501 2018:16).
the skill is emergent reading comprehension, supported by speaking and listening
skills. He is not reading words yet, but he is reading pictures and making meaning from
them.
1.5 Provide your justification for the importance of developmentally appropriate
material in a Grade R classroom. Provide suitable examples to support your
answer. (
Developmentally appropriate materials are materials that match the age and stage of
the children in the class. They are important because:
They attract children's attention and make learning fun (EML1501 2018:22).
They encourage active learning. Children learn by doing, not by just listening.
They help children develop fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination, which are
needed for writing (EML1501 2018:15).
