Early Language Development and Primary

LanguagesWhat are the links?

How can we use them to support children?

MFL, a mirror of first language acquisition

The National Literacy Trust

The seven foundations of literacy, vital to a child’s linguistic development

Many MFL activities address one or more of these seven elements and will develop a child’s Language Learning Skills

Aims: to identify ways in which MFL will support literacy development

1. Learning to listen2. Time to talk3. Music, movement and memory4. Story time5. Learning about print6. Tuning into sound7. Moving into writing

The Seven Foundations for Literacy

Discrimination of foreground sounds against background noise

Discrimination of a widening range of sounds

Developing aural attention span Social listening skills, including making eye

contact and attending to the speaker Mental imaging Development of auditory memory

Learning to listen

Compensation for language delay, including expansion and ‘pole-bridging’ talk

Social speech skills, including awareness of audience and turn-taking

Vocabulary development Imitation of an innovation upon sentence

structures Development of language to explain,

explore, plan, predict, recall, report and analyse

Time to talk

Development of rhythm, beginning with the ability to hold a steady beat

Speech and listening skills as above, especially articulation and voice control, turn taking, singing in time with others and development of auditory memory

Physical coordination and motor control Left-right brain interaction

Music, movement and memory

Speech and listening skills as above, especially social skills and development of auditory memory

Familiarity with written language patterns, story grammar and prediction skills

Story time

Awareness of the nature and functions of print

Knowledge of the alphabet letters Concepts about reading and writing Emergent reading and writing Knowledge of essential sight words

Learning about print

Listening skills and general language awareness

Awareness of rhyme, rhythm and alliteration (phonological awareness)

Phonemic awareness, including blending and segmenting

Phonic knowledge, including the alphabet code

Tuning into sound

All the above skills and knowledge Refinement of motor control from large

scale to fine control and hand-eye coordination

Basic letter shape formation Development of the finger muscles Pencil grip and control

Moving into writing

Look at the 7 foundations. In your group: what strategies do young children and parents employ in story telling sessions in the firts language?

Video: Joining in Storyhttp://www.primarylanguages.org.uk/training_zone/teachers/active_learning/story_telling/joining_in_story.aspx

Strategies used by the teacher to engage

the children. All strategies mentioned are part of a

primary teacher’s repertoire.

Activity – story telling

Some websites for story telling