You've probably seen the youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JmA2ClUvUY
of the twin boys and their babbling conversation. I've also read various comments about the oral language development of these twins. Some people are lauding the video as a great example or "twin speak." Others are concerned about the lack of oral language development of these 18 month old babies. I personally think that we can't tell about their oral language development through a very short video clip. We don't know how they communicate with their parents or with other children. What we do know is that children are born to speak and to interact with others. We also know that they learn to talk by talking and that oral language development becomes the basis for developing essential literacy skills. Jerome Brunner (1983) says that "proficiency in oral language provides children with a vital tool for thought. Without fluent and structured oral language, children will find it difficult to think."
A class of kindergarten students can enter with huge discrepancies in oral language development and it is important for teachers to help students develop their language skills and to close the gap between the language advanced and the language delayed students. Research shows that children with oral language problems are at higher risk of reading and writing difficulties (Scarborough, 2001). The most important thing an early childhood educator can do is to make sure children have an opportunity to talk and interact with mixed-age groups. Pretty basic really. Quiet classrooms do not encourage language development! (Students need opportunities to talk before school, at recess, and at lunch too!) Activities such as dramatic play, block building, partner work, research groups, older class buddies, and reading and telling stories are all ways that encourage collaboration and discussion. It is also important to establish an environment where children feel comfortable enough to ask questions and respond to prompts. Through class discussions students learn that communication is both verbal and nonverbal. They learn to wait for their turn to talk. They learn to provide feedback to others and to accept feedback from others.
How do they learn those skills? It is important that oral language play a key role in the classroom, a place where "talk is valued as a learning tool" (Peregoy &Boyle, 1997).
Teachers have to model good listening skills by genuinely listening to their students and engaging them in conversations. Teachers have to model conversation skills and how to give and receive feedback. Teachers also have to provide guided practice by conducting interactive read alouds and by using role-playing.
As I've said before, if you want to know what children think, just ask them! And you'll be helping them with their oral language development too!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
How Well Do You Know Your Students?
You MUST read Josh Stumpenhorst's blogpost at http://stumpteacher.blogspot.com/2011/03/are-you-listening.html Josh is right on the money. We have to know our students in order to be their best teacher. What is their home life like? What are they interested in learning more about? What after school activities are they involved in? What are their cultural mores? It is so important to have conversations with our students. I am currently reading Conferring:The Keystone of Reader's Workshop by Patrick A. Allen. Although this book is about reader's workshop, it is also about knowing your students in order to be their best teacher. Patrick Allen says, "I want the children in my classroom and the children in your classrooms to leave our auspices with some of our words in their heads and a whole lot of our caring in their hearts." When you listen to students, they know you care about them. When they know you care about them, they will be more motivated to learn. If you want to know what children think, just ask them!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
My Word Cloud - What Does Teaching Mean to Me?
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Happy St. Patrick's Day
An Irish Blessing  May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of his hand. May God be with you and bless you: May you see your children's children. May you be poor in misfortune, Rich in blessings. May you know nothing but happiness From this day forward. May the road rise up to meet you May the wind be always at your back May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home And may the hand of a friend always be near. May green be the grass you walk on, May blue be the skies above you, May pure be the joys that surround you, May true be the hearts that love you. |
Sunday, March 13, 2011
What Kids Want Teachers to Know
Someone posted this video on Facebook and I loved it. Watch the video before reading the rest of the blog.
Top Ten Things You Don't Learn in College about Teaching…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lulUvYfRl_c
When I shared the video with my principal, she challenged me to do a top ten list with my K/1 class about what kids want teachers to know. Below is the list with an explanation about some of the items following.
Top Ten Things Students Want Teachers to Know
10. We want treat day everyday!
9. Kindergartners say, “No rest time needed!”
8. There should be Mo Willems books in every classroom.
7. We need longer recess.
6. Every class should have a Speed Challenge.
5. We need to do more plays in school.
4. Let us read at any level.
3. Teachers should not talk in the hallway or when on red in the lunchroom. We don't get to so teachers shouldn't either.
2. Red/Green cups are a bad idea. Have you ever seen a red/green cup in a restaurant??
1. NEVER HAVE SUBSTITUTES!
Some explanation is needed for a couple of the items on the list.
#10-The students get a treat day one day a week where they can get ice cream or a slushie with their lunch.
#6-Speed is a fast paced card game they gives the students practice with one more and one less. Another class challenged us to a competition.
#3 and #2-A committee at our school decided that we needed to do something about the noise level in the lunchroom. They came up with a red/green cup combination and when the red cup is on top, the students are to remain silent. When the green cup is on top, the students may talk quietly.
If you really want to know what kids think, just ask them!
Top Ten Things You Don't Learn in College about Teaching…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lulUvYfRl_c
When I shared the video with my principal, she challenged me to do a top ten list with my K/1 class about what kids want teachers to know. Below is the list with an explanation about some of the items following.
Top Ten Things Students Want Teachers to Know
10. We want treat day everyday!
9. Kindergartners say, “No rest time needed!”
8. There should be Mo Willems books in every classroom.
7. We need longer recess.
6. Every class should have a Speed Challenge.
5. We need to do more plays in school.
4. Let us read at any level.
3. Teachers should not talk in the hallway or when on red in the lunchroom. We don't get to so teachers shouldn't either.
2. Red/Green cups are a bad idea. Have you ever seen a red/green cup in a restaurant??
1. NEVER HAVE SUBSTITUTES!
Some explanation is needed for a couple of the items on the list.
#10-The students get a treat day one day a week where they can get ice cream or a slushie with their lunch.
#6-Speed is a fast paced card game they gives the students practice with one more and one less. Another class challenged us to a competition.
#3 and #2-A committee at our school decided that we needed to do something about the noise level in the lunchroom. They came up with a red/green cup combination and when the red cup is on top, the students are to remain silent. When the green cup is on top, the students may talk quietly.
If you really want to know what kids think, just ask them!
Monday, March 7, 2011
Room by Emma Donoghue
Ever wonder why we don't hear much about Jaycee Dugard and her children? I've often wondered how they are integrating into the real world after the kidnapping and abuse. After reading Room, I have a better understanding of the hardships of acclimating to the real world after such an experience.
The book Room is about a 5 year old boy and his mother who are living in a "room" and have no contact with the outside world except through their captor. The room is an eleven by eleven foot space and the mother has created a life for her child out of these unusual circumstances. Jack and his mother look forward to Sunday "treat" which is nothing more than necessities. Although the captor is aware that he has a son with the mother, he has little interaction with the little boy. The mother hides him in the closet each night in case they get a visit from their captor. Often the little boy is awake when the captor "visits" his mother. They have a TV but the mom explains to Jack that everything on TV is make believe. The world is simply their "room" which is actually a storage shed in the captor's backyard. When the room can no longer contain Jack's curiosity, the mother plans a daring escape and Jack becomes a hero.
What struck me the most was how hard it was for both Jack and his mom to adjust to life outside the room. That's when I thought of Jaycee and how hard it must be for her. This is a great book and I highly recommend reading this book. It will certainly stick with you for a while.
The book Room is about a 5 year old boy and his mother who are living in a "room" and have no contact with the outside world except through their captor. The room is an eleven by eleven foot space and the mother has created a life for her child out of these unusual circumstances. Jack and his mother look forward to Sunday "treat" which is nothing more than necessities. Although the captor is aware that he has a son with the mother, he has little interaction with the little boy. The mother hides him in the closet each night in case they get a visit from their captor. Often the little boy is awake when the captor "visits" his mother. They have a TV but the mom explains to Jack that everything on TV is make believe. The world is simply their "room" which is actually a storage shed in the captor's backyard. When the room can no longer contain Jack's curiosity, the mother plans a daring escape and Jack becomes a hero.
What struck me the most was how hard it was for both Jack and his mom to adjust to life outside the room. That's when I thought of Jaycee and how hard it must be for her. This is a great book and I highly recommend reading this book. It will certainly stick with you for a while.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Leaving Gee's Bend
Have you read Irene Latham's first book Leaving Gee's Bend? This book is for adolescents but our book club enjoyed reading and discussing it. It's about a little girl and her family who live in Gee's Bend and have many hardships. The little girl has to leave Gee's Bend for the first time to get help for her mother who is ill. She encounters an evil woman who is determined to destroy the residents of Gee's Bend. Although the book is fiction, it has some elements of real events. It's a great book to read aloud to your 3rd graders and up.
Irene Latham is busy writing her next book about a son whose parents work at the zoo. The Birmingham Zoo was her model and inspiration.
The author does school visits if you are interested. You can contact her at:
www.irenelatham.com
Irene Latham is busy writing her next book about a son whose parents work at the zoo. The Birmingham Zoo was her model and inspiration.
The author does school visits if you are interested. You can contact her at:
www.irenelatham.com
Happenings
I can hardly believe it is almost Spring Break! Where has this year gone??? My Kindergartners have grown so much and have learned so much from their peers. When I looked at their writing today, I noticed that some of them were writing better than my first graders. I wonder if the first graders have noticed that.
One of the first grade teachers has challenged us to a Speed Challenge. Speed is a card game that is played rapidly placing cards that are 1 more or 1 less than the previously played cards. We've been working hard to get ready for the challenge. My first graders are working with the K students to help them get faster when playing the game. We have done this in previous years but my kids don't seem to enjoy competition as much as kids I've had before. Maybe because we have worked so hard to have a peaceful classroom community while blending two grade levels.
One of the first grade teachers has challenged us to a Speed Challenge. Speed is a card game that is played rapidly placing cards that are 1 more or 1 less than the previously played cards. We've been working hard to get ready for the challenge. My first graders are working with the K students to help them get faster when playing the game. We have done this in previous years but my kids don't seem to enjoy competition as much as kids I've had before. Maybe because we have worked so hard to have a peaceful classroom community while blending two grade levels.
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