Nursery Clusters Every child talking Supporting speech, language and communication skills Nursery Clusters Cluster 2 Understanding Spoken Language Objectives •To share information on the development of : Understanding Spoken Language •To explore how we support development of these language skills in Nursery The Importance of Language The essential tool for: •Learning, thinking and problem solving •Developing and maintaining relationships Sounds Social Skills Expression Understanding Memory Attention and Listening Speech sounds Young children with speech and language impairments are at risk for continued communication problems, as well as for associated cognitive, academic, behavioural, social and psychiatric difficulties (Bashir & Scavuzzo, 1992). The initial pattern of speech and/or language deficits is related to overall prognosis. Children whose impairments involve only articulation/phonology generally fare better than those whose impairments involve language [processing] (Beitchman et al., 1994) Early language impairment (rather than speech impairment) is clearly associated with continued academic difficulties into adulthood. (Young et al, 2002) Understanding spoken language “Play that is well-planned and pleasurable helps children to think, to increase their understanding and to improve their language competence.” “Well-planned, regular and skilful observation of children’s play and language should ensure that, over time, an accurate picture emerges of the progress each child is making in each area of learning.” “It is important to identify early any difficulties a child is experiencing.” “…a rich variety of challenging play activities and other experiences in a stimulating environment. “The focus should be to allow children to learn at their own pace, gain a positive image of themselves as learners, be able to cope with uncertainty and to learn through trial and error.” A child who has poor understanding may: not do as told have poor attention skills rely on routines echo what has been said give inappropriate answers only follow last part of instruction lack awareness of what is going on around them be either very withdrawn/active Choose stimulus Look Listen Hear Focus Attention Remember Understand vocabulary Understand grammar and word order Understand Nonverbal Communication/Underlying meaning Processes Involved in Understanding Social Skills Sentences Vocabulary Auditory Memory Attention and Listening Strategies for improving comprehension • Give time • Simplify • Stress key words • Use visual support Information Carrying Words (ICWs) Children lets stop playing now, tidy up and go inside to the quiet room for a very special story” Information Carrying Words Age: ICW’s/Key Words: 2 2 3 3 4 4 Vocabulary • Object names (Nouns) • Action names (Verbs) • Adjectives (Adjectives) • Requires semantic (meanings) and phonological (sounds) knowledge • Vocabulary size at age 6 = 2 500 – 5 000 • Learn 8 new words/day from 18mths – 6 yrs • Storage – Word meanings – Sounds in words – Associated information • Vocabulary size has been directly linked to reading comprehension Concepts •Words that describe a characteristic (e.g. colour, size, shape) position (e.g. over, under) time (e.g. before, first, yesterday) Difficult as they’re abstract and meaning can change Lots of relevant, multi sensory experiences in lots of contexts with lots of repetition Told words as s/he experiences what they mean Use concept check list One at a time Need to use it Blank, Rose and Berlin 1978 Studied the language used by teachers and graded it in order of abstractness. Assess the level of abstract language a child can understand Use appropriate level of language Plan how to develop a child’s language and abstract reasoning BLANK LEVELS Level 1 Little language processing required/direct matching of language to perception/activity Level 2 Child begins to focus on parts of what is before them. (Language development – concepts, object function, organisation of vocabulary) Level 3 Child uses material to help organise language to provide an appropriate response. (Language development – narrative skills, understanding of emotions) Level 4 The materials provide the stimulus for the discussion. At this level they start to problem solve. Only 60% of 5 year olds can cope with level 4 questions Level I Concrete Language Label “What’s is this?” Locate “Where’s the mouse?” Level II Characteristics • Describe • Talk about: shape size colour “Where was the mouse going?” “What was the wood like?” • Finish the phrase Level III More Abstract • Information is based on materials but not explicit • Recall “Tell me about the story” • Make judgements “How does the owl feel now?” • Predict “What will happen next?” Level IV Most Abstract • Explaining/ Why “Why did the gruffalo run away?” • Reasoning/Inferencing “Why does the mouse want to scare the gruffalo” Age Level I Level II Level III Level IV 3 years 95% 35% 30% 30% 4 years 95% 60% 60% 50% 5 years 95% 75% 70% 60% Visual Support Gesture Makaton Pictures Language learning does not happen in isolation, it takes place within meaningful everyday interactions with adults and peers.