This study investigates early childhood educators' language training competence that is required to support children's linguistic development. Hundred and forty-four early-years-professionals in Germany completed a computer-based assessment. We first tested knowledge of linguistic topics (e.g. morpho-syntax, developmental stages). Second, we…

In her new book, nationally known professional development consultant and literacy expert Socorro Herrera is joined by two colleagues to provide a framework for academic vocabulary and language instruction in today's diverse classrooms. The authors present a set of strategies and tools that work effectively across all content to support enhanced…

Once speech educators turn their attention to the "ideational" function of oral language--that portion pertaining to thinking--rather than the relational function, they will see that speech can and should be incorporated into every discipline. The psychologist Lev S. Vygotsky envisions the ways in which humans use speech to reorder their…

A review of research demonstrates that both oral and written language continue to develop through adulthood. Studies show that such skills as the abilities to interpret metacognitive verbs, to make word associations, and to understand syntax improve with age. Adolescents and adults use language that solidifies them with their peer group.…

Written primarily for special needs students in the exploratory phase of a vocational program in food services, this activity book employs basic content material of the food service trade to serve as a vehicle for developing reading and language skills. Each lesson follows a similar format. The lesson is introduced by an illustration and a list of…

Concludes that both able and less able eighth grade readers who read text versions in which key concepts and the relations between them had been explained thoroughly learned significantly more word meanings than did students who read any of the other versions. (FL)

A course in child development offered at a British secondary school focused on language development. The primary objective was to sharpen college students' awareness of the language development of children they meet in their everyday lives and children they study during the course. The teacher's role is to extract linguistic theory from the…

Presented is a curriculum guide for elementary and secondary level trainable mentally retarded students. Objectives and illustrative behaviors are provided for the following aspects of personal development: self-awareness and self-concept, self-help independence, physical development (including body image and motor skills), music, and art. Among…

Reviews research on the relationship between creative dramatics and language development, cognitive development, and attitude change. (DD)

Cooperative learning is a valuable strategy for teaching secondary school students, especially useful with students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds who are learning English as a Second Language. It offers a method for managing diversity, channeling peer influence into a positive force for improving school performance, and…

Provides a list of 480 heteronyms, suggesting study in this area to stimulate students' interest in building vocabulary as well as in language study generally. (NH)

A social language program was designed for severely and multiply handicapped secondary students. Through role play, students are exposed to a range of functional activities: socially appropriate informal and formal greetings, socially appropriate language in different settings, language appropriate to group situations, and appropriate responses to…

Content-specific vocabulary instruction was used in four seventh and eighth grade social studies and science classes as a method for improving the English language ability of non-native English speakers. A total of 52 monolingual English-speaking non-Hispanic students, 7 monolingual English-speaking Hispanic students, 6 Spanish-listening Hispanic…

Describes an exercise to develop students' vocabulary using the more complex language on popular television programs. (HTH)

Suggests two ways to improve a student's level of language development at the secondary level: (1) daily exposure to good literature in the original by listening while reading, and (2) daily lessons in syntactical manipulation and sentence combining, including the use of language games. (Author/MKM)