Learner Diversity

Children’s Chatter Matters

In order to prepare for the language & learning demands of the school environment, children need ample time and opportunity to engage in meaningful interactions with their families.

Research suggests that the types of questions we ask and the quality of discussions we have with our children, from a very young age, are linked to school success. As children progress through the grades they must learn to use extended discourse in telling stories, giving explanations, reporting, expressing an opinion, or writing an essay. Asking children “if, why, and how” type questions allows them to deepen their thinking and prepare longer and more complex responses. It makes sense to build their confidence with extended discourse gradually, beginning with simple oral tasks.

In each weekly newsletter this year, our school’s Speech Pathologist will provide some “family-friendly”, fun activities aimed to enhance all students' learning and literacy skills.

We encourage you to set some time aside each week so that you can get the most out of your interactions with your child. In a busy household, sometimes the car is the best place for these focused activities. The key ingredients for a creative interaction are a time, a place, a willing talking partner or audience, and an engaging topic or activity.

Positive communication experiences at home help children feel accepted and valued. Growth in spoken language skills will build children’s self-confidence and help them learn to negotiate social interactions at school. This often transfers to other aspects of their learning and life.

You will also note that there are many links to recommended websites, apps, and other technology resources. Whilst we suggest these technology-based activities, they are not essential to language and literacy learning. So much learning can come from the quality interactions you have with your child around a book, a movie, or a simple board game.

Ten activities will be provided each term focusing on key areas of oral language supporting literacy, learning, and socialising. Feel free to adjust these activities according to your child’s grade level.

The following link is to the most comprehensive website available that provides parents with activities that are free, easily accessible, and enjoyable. Each activity has been carefully selected to reflect the highest quality, up-to-date research evidence on early literacy development. There is also advice for parents who are concerned about their child’s reading and language development. http://www.fivefromfive.org.au/parent-resources/

If you have any questions you can contact our  School’s Learning Diversity Leader, Gabrielle Walsh.

Good luck and most importantly, enjoy this very special time with your child.