Early Childhood - Connecticut State Department of Education

Language And Literacy Development Chapter 5
An environment where group and individual
interaction is encouraged requires teacher support,
including intentionally asking children to elaborate,
responding to conversations and looking for ways to
advance language development. In this environment,
Teacher Strategies
Assist and encourage children to retell stories and
describe events.
Assist those children who find it difficult to express
themselves verbally.
Use circle time as an opportunity for numerous
language experiences.
Promote higher-order thinking skills with activities
that involve predicting, hypothesizing and analyzing.
Provide opportunities for expanding vocabulary.
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children are motivated to share and clarify their thinking
with others. The skills of speaking, listening, reading
and writing become the tools for children to share and
represent what they are learning.
Suggested Experiences
Use questioning strategies to foster children’s thinking
about:
• detail – what, who, where;
• sequence – what, when;
• cause and effect – why, what would
happen; and
• character traits – who, why.
Let the children take the lead in describing games,
reviewing directions or rules.
Create a puppet corner with commercial and classmade
puppets. Encourage children to create their own
puppets and provide opportunities for shows.
Provide telephones and microphones in the drama
area.
Use songs, rhymes and stories frequently throughout
the day.
Listen when children are describing and telling, avoid
changing their language, or only asking questions that
require specific answers.
Write class news with the children. Encourage
children to extend and elaborate on events and projects
happening within the classroom.
Encourage children to observe, predict and analyze; to
find answers to questions and share their findings.
Take field trips, encourage families to come in and
share experiences and talents.
Introduce scientific and mathematical language at the
water table, during project work and in the block area.