Workshops

The Nuts and Bolts of Language Development for Dual Language Learners and Others

Presented by Sally Grimes, M.Ed.
October 22, 2009
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To download a registration form click here

Pre-K to Grade 2

This workshop will provide a brief overview about “the nuts and bolts” of oral language development as it relates to vocabulary development, listening comprehension, phonemic awareness and other foundational skills for reading instruction. The presenter will provide examples of helpful activities that embellishes lecture, discussion and films that address many of the following topics:

• Why and how spoken language is foundational to written language.

• Why language foundations develop in the very early years and how do we assess it?

• How is this different for Dual Language Learners, for improverished children, for those with pre-cursors of language disabilities.

• How to build vocabulary (eg. choosing the right words) - how to teach it both implicity and explicity.

• Determining which children benefi t from which kind of instruction (explicit and direct or implicit and incidental?) Why?

• How to choose books for oral reading and why are those choices critical.

• How to help children elaborate on ideas in stories using hands-on materials.

• How to form flexible groups for the “pre-teach, teach, re-teach” activities.

• How to stimulate a child’s oral language. (templates & examples provided)

• How to create and maintain a shared conversation.

• How to build a child’s verbal confi dence.

• How to provide language modeling and a “rich language” classroom.

• How to provide “scaffolding” when a child is attempting a new challenge with language.

• How to help parents help children’s language development.

• What does “code switching” mean for children when learning a new language?

• How do children with expressive or receptive language problems become identifies.

• Which sounds that are difficult for English Language Learners?

Who Should Attend?
Classroom teachers of pre-schools and k-2, special educators, paraprofessionals, parents, teacher assistants, day care workers, administrators, Title 1 educators, librarians and policy makers.

The Presenter: Sally Grimes, M.Ed.
Sally Grimes, founding director of the Grimes Reading Institute, has provided consulting services and professional development to schools nationwide, as well as to federal, state, and private educational agencies in the area of reading instruction. Sally served as one of the three Lead Trainers in Massachusetts for the Reading First Grant under No Child Left Behind. The Grimes Reading Institute was one of the three entities that contracted with the Massachusetts Department of Education to design and develop the professional development component of the Reading First Grant. In addition, Sally’s experience includes teaching (pre-K through graduate school), diagnostic work, policy development, public service, and administration. Sally received her Master’s Degree in Reading and Human Development from the Harvard Gradutae School of Education, and her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Illinois.