Development of Children's Oral Language Skills

Importance of Oral Language

• Foundation for learning to read and write
• Critical for early literacy skills development

Vocabulary Development

• Children ages three and older: build vocabulary of at least 2,500 new words/year
• Learning three rule systems of language: semantics, syntax, phonology

Semantics

• Relates to word meanings
• Words need to be relevant to the child's experiences
• Good vocabulary helps with reading ease

Syntax

• Refers to grammar and order of words in sentences
• Children make syntactical approximations (e.g., "builded" vs. "built")
• Proper syntax helps with self-correction in reading
• Teachers model proper syntax without direct correction

Phonology

• Relates to the sound system (phonemes) of a language
• Children learn to articulate sounds through listening and practice
• Easier to pronounce vowel sounds, harder for consonant sounds
• Good phonology aids in reading and writing

Key Areas Predictive of Later Written Language Success

• Expressive Language: How well children express their wants/needs
• Receptive Language: How well children understand conversations
• Listening Comprehension: Ability to understand stories and songs
• Unusual Vocabulary/Rare Words: Words not typically used in daily conversations
  • High level vocabulary comes from hearing and understanding rare words

Strategies for Language-Rich Environments

• Engage children in language use and play
• Teachers facilitate and scaffold language development
• Encourage social interaction among children

Child-Directed Speech

• Listen to child and respond with slightly advanced language
• Models advanced vocabulary and appropriate syntax

Self-Talk

• Describe your own actions as you do them

Parallel Talk

• Narrate the child's actions
• Connect actions to words children may not yet know

Conclusion

• Utilize spontaneous opportunities for language development
• Engage children in meaningful conversations throughout the day