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In the blog on April 4th, we discussed the purpose and structure of a curriculum. Now it is time to take a look at all the learning areas one by one. The first one is Rich World of Languages! In this post, you will find out why this learning area is important for children's development and what learning objectives are included in this learning area.
As a surprise gift, you will get one free lesson plan that includes an activity based on experimental learning. The activity is planned by Kindiedays lesson plan expert Stella Giota to match this learning area's objectives.
Children learn more and more about language all the time, but at the same time, it is also a vital tool for interaction, self-expression, and participation. Even when the language is not yet fully developed, children can interact in many other ways! The most important skills for linguistic development are interaction, understanding, speaking, extending vocabulary, and using language.
The purpose of early childhood education is to strengthen children’s language skills by offering interesting activities related to the theme. Educators should give positive, encouraging feedback to children about their language skills (and for trying) regularly.
Children develop at their individual pace
All children are unique individuals. Children come from different backgrounds and families, therefore they have linguistically different growth environments. The way of using language and interacting differs between families.
It is also good to keep in mind, that some families might be bilingual or have even three or four languages in use. When providing support for children's linguistic development also this should be taken into account.
Sample Lesson plan for Rich World of Languages
How can educators support children's linguistic development?
To develop their interaction skills, it is important that children feel they are heard during interaction and that their verbal and nonverbal initiatives are responded to. Educators can verbalize activities, name things, use precise and descriptive language, and provide diverse linguistic models when explaining things.
Sometimes images and signs can be used to explain activities and improve language skills for some children. Having letters and words visible around the room can boost children's interest in letter recognition and reading later on.
Educators can support the development of language skills by practicing storytelling, reading different types of texts and books, giving explanations of phenomena, and taking turns during conversations. It is important that children have their turn and feel that the environment is calm for unrushed talking.
Language play, songs, rhymes, and singing games are fun ways how educators can raise children's interest in language. As well as children listening to stories, they can also make some on their own! Children’s stories, poems, and other funny or otherwise meaningful phrases should be documented in order to follow children's linguistic development systematically.
How to assess language delays?
Learning Objectives
Each Learning Area has its own objectives that work as a tool for educators' planning and assessment process. Below, you can find all the Learning Objectives (35) of the Rich World of Languages learning area:
Interactive skills
- I communicate and get experiences of being heard
- I give non-verbal messages and get responses to them
- I make initiatives and get responses to them
- I communicate with children
- I communicate with adults
Language use skills
- I use language in different situations
- I get familiar with different texts and versatile children's literature
- I explain and narrate
- I speak in turns
- I use language with situation awareness (eg. empathy, humor, good manners)
- I notice differences between spoken and written language
Language comprehension skills
- I understand images and objects
- I understand gestures
- I understand the verbalizing of activities
- I take part in the conversation
- I learn new vocabulary
- I understand accurate and descriptive language
Language awareness
- I observe different languages
- I have an interest in spoken language
- I have an interest in written language
- I understand the meanings of words
- I have an interest in writing
- I have an interest in reading
- I understand the shapes and structures of language, including words, syllables and phonemes
Speech production skills
- I develop speech production skills
- I understand spoken language
- I use spoken language
- I speak in different situations
- I understand different tones of voice and emphases
Linguistic memory and vocabulary
- I remember some nursery rhymes or songs
- I name things
- I use illustrative words
- I read and tell stories
- I practice considering the meanings of words and texts
- I learn new terms in their contexts
Learn more about Kindiedays Experimential Lesson Plans and order your own plans.
Watch our video How to use Kindiedays lesson plans.
Happy learning in the colorful world of language!
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References:
Helsinki's curriculum for early childhood education and care
