Language and Communication Development

Agenda

Language Development Theory Language Mastery Stages of Language Acquisition Listening and Understanding Communication and Speaking Caregiver Responses Emergent Literacy Inclusion

Language Development Nativist Interactions Language Social Learning

Responsive Caregiving

Observe the child’s needs Respond appropriately Child receives the response and needs are met

Mastering Language

Phonology: basic units of sound (phonemes) Morphology: forming words from sounds Semantics: relationship between words and things Syntax: rules for forming sentences from words Pragmatics: rules of language in different social contexts

Stages of Language Overgeneralization Sentences Telegraphic Speech Two-word phrases Holophrases Babbling Sounds

Language Acquisition

4000 3000 2000 1000 0

5

12 - 15

1000 300 150 40

18 20 24

Age in Months

36

4000

48

Listening and Understanding

• Listens with interest to language of others • Responds to nonverbal and verbal communication of others • Begins to understand the rules of conversation

Communication and Speaking

• Uses consistent sounds, gestures, or words to communicate for a variety of purposes • Imitates sounds, gestures, signs, or words • Uses language to engage in simple conversations

Birth – 8 Months Listening and Understanding

: • Eye Contact • Social Smile • Joint Attention

Communication and Speaking:

• Sounds and Cooing • Crying • Babbling

Caregiver Responses

Build relationships Respond and take turns Respond to non-verbal communication Self-Talk and Parallel Talk Expand on vocabulary Read

8-18 Months Listening and Understanding:

• Understand simple instruction • Recognize object names

Communication and Speaking:

• 5-20 words, mostly nouns • Holophrases

Caregiver Responses

Listen and respond Model language Songs, word-games, rhymes Expand vocabulary Read

18-36 Months Listening and Understanding:

• Listens and responds • Follow two-step instructions • Engages in peer conversations

Communication and Speaking:

• Two-word phrases (20 months) • Telegraphic speech (24 months) • Sentences (36 months)

Caregiver Responses

Recasting Expansion Comfort with language Ask open-ended questions Provide novel subjects and experiences Read

Extending Language

36-48 Months Listening and Understanding:

• Follows three-step directions • Conversations with peers • Respond to questions

Communication and Speaking:

• 4000+ words • Describe and communicate feelings • Apply past tense and possessive rules

Caregiver Responses

Create opportunities for child-child conversations Word games Ask open-ended questions Provide novel subjects and experiences Listen Read

Open-Ended Questions

Have many possible answers Stimulate critical thinking and discussion Encourage sharing of personal views and feelings Lead to even more questions and discussion Encourage language development

Is the puppy sad?

How do you think the puppy is feeling?

Emergent Literacy

• Shows interest in songs, rhymes, and stories • Develops interest in and involvement with books and other print materials • Begins to recognize and understand symbols • Begins to develop interests and skills related to emergent writing

Literacy

Language Listening Writing Reading

Promoting Literacy TALK TALK

TALK

Read

Read

READ

Infants

• Have books available for exploration – Cloth books – Photo books • Songs, finger plays, puppets, and poems • Hold and cuddle while reading • Rhyme, Repetition, Rhythm • Involve the infant, stop when they lose interest

Toddlers

• Print rich environment – Labels – Art materials – Books • Read individually and in small groups everyday • Cozy places to read • Interactive • Use storytelling, music, and dramatic play

Three-Year-Olds

• Print rich environment – Labels – Writing center – Books in every center • Opportunities for reading individually and small groups • Interactive • Music, Dramatic Play, and Listening centers • Dictation • Expand with projects and activities

Inclusion Strategies

• Available materials • Visuals and Sign Language • Picture/word charts Snack Read Home

Conclusion

• Q&A