Language Development
Overall language development includes receptive, expressive, and pragmatic language. Expressive language (speaking/writing) is a student’s ability to express their wants, needs, and ideas clearly. This includes their ability to formulate sentences and ask questions. Receptive language (listening/reading) is a student’s ability to understand what others say. This includes their ability to follow directions and comprehend questions or paragraphs. Pragmatic language is also known as social language; this includes a student’s ability to use and understand non-verbal cues (gestures, facial cues), maintain a topic, and provide appropriate responses for a specific situation.
The following suggestions were taken from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Website:
http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/suggestions/
http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/Sugerencias-a-los-Padres/
In early elementary grades (K-2)
In later elementary grades (3-5)
Below are milestones for each grade from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association:
Kindergarten:
http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/kindergarten/
First Grade:
http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/firstgrade/
Second Grade:
http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/secondgrade/
Third Grade:
http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/thirdgrade/
Fourth Grade:
http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/fourthgrade/
Fifth Grade:
http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/fifthgrade/
Fun Language Activities to Try at Home:
- Activities for the car: http://nspt4kids.com/parenting/5-speech-language-activities-in-the-car/
This website details 5 activities/games to play in the car including: 20 questions, categories, and the alphabet game
-Heads Up App or Headbanz Game: Have your child use complete descriptive sentences to describe the item listed, make sure they use all of their senses and describing words including color, size, smell, texture, function.
-Apples to Apples: This game can be used to build vocabulary skills and to help students think outside the box to identify how words can be related
-Logic Puzzles: Simple logic puzzles help students with their critical thinking, they will need to manipulate the information provided in order to find the answers
Example problems can be found at : http://www.thelogiczone.plus.com/kids_index.htm
-Mad Libs App on iPhone and iPad: This is a free app that allows students to work on parts of speech, students have to think of their own nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs to create a silly story
-21 questions or "I Spy" this game can be used to increase a student's ability to describe an item using a variety of specific characteristics. Make sure to use descriptive words that are specific and can include taste, smell, size, color, texture, function etc.
The following suggestions were taken from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Website:
http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/suggestions/
http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/Sugerencias-a-los-Padres/
In early elementary grades (K-2)
- Talk with your child frequently
- Read a variety of books; read often and talk with your child about the story
- Help your child focus on sound patterns of words such as those found in rhyming games
- Have your child retell stories and talk about events of the day
- Talk with your child during daily activities; give directions for your child to follow (e.g., making cookies)
- Talk about how things are alike and different
- Give your child reasons and opportunities to write
In later elementary grades (3-5)
- Continue to encourage reading; find reading material that is of interest to your child
- Encourage your child to form opinions about what he or she hears or reads and relate what is read to experiences
- Help your child make connections between what is read and heard at school, at home, and in other daily activities
- Talk aloud as you help your child understand and solve problems encountered in reading material
- Help your child recognize spelling patterns, such as beginnings and endings of words (e.g., pre- or -ment)
- Encourage your child to write letters, keep a diary, or write stories
Below are milestones for each grade from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association:
Kindergarten:
http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/kindergarten/
First Grade:
http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/firstgrade/
Second Grade:
http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/secondgrade/
Third Grade:
http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/thirdgrade/
Fourth Grade:
http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/fourthgrade/
Fifth Grade:
http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/fifthgrade/
Fun Language Activities to Try at Home:
- Activities for the car: http://nspt4kids.com/parenting/5-speech-language-activities-in-the-car/
This website details 5 activities/games to play in the car including: 20 questions, categories, and the alphabet game
-Heads Up App or Headbanz Game: Have your child use complete descriptive sentences to describe the item listed, make sure they use all of their senses and describing words including color, size, smell, texture, function.
-Apples to Apples: This game can be used to build vocabulary skills and to help students think outside the box to identify how words can be related
-Logic Puzzles: Simple logic puzzles help students with their critical thinking, they will need to manipulate the information provided in order to find the answers
Example problems can be found at : http://www.thelogiczone.plus.com/kids_index.htm
-Mad Libs App on iPhone and iPad: This is a free app that allows students to work on parts of speech, students have to think of their own nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs to create a silly story
-21 questions or "I Spy" this game can be used to increase a student's ability to describe an item using a variety of specific characteristics. Make sure to use descriptive words that are specific and can include taste, smell, size, color, texture, function etc.