Small Talk: Activities for Language Development in Preschool Learners was written to fill a void for teachers who have little-to-no background in childhood language development, but wish to play an important role in language growth among preschool children.Small Talk: Activities for Language Development in Preschool Learners pushes aside drill exercises and provides caring teachers with language development activities that require easy to acquire materials/ingredients for food preparation, art and crafts, and game experiences that are designed to stimulate receptive and expressive language building experiences. Additionally, after the easy to follow activity steps, there is a listing of Small Talk Suggestions that is comprised of ideas that teachers can use to encourage conversations between themselves and their preschoolers. In this way, before, during, and after the language activity, the adult is able to provide a rich language model for the young language learner within a natural, meaningful social context. In essence,Small Talk: Activities for Language Development in Preschool Learners is intended to engage adults and preschoolers in the process of developing age-appropriate receptive and expressive language skills while having fun.

Charles Reid Taylor is currently an Associate Professor in the Special Education Department of New Jersey City University (NJCU). In addition to teaching graduate and undergraduate courses at NJCU, he provides diagnostic and therapeutic services as a speech-language pathologist in private practice, using the Small Talk activities.

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter 1: Suggested Application

Planning and Presenting the Activities

The Importance of Early Childhood Language Learning

Symptoms of Language Impairment

A Receptive Language Problem

An Expressive Language Problem

Chapter 2: Developmental Milestones for Speech and Language

0 6 Months

7 -12 Months

13 18 Months

19 24 Months

2 3 Years

3 4 Years

4 - 5 Years

5 6 Years

6 - 7 Years

Notes

Chapter 3: Easy Activities

A TASTY GUESSING GAME

ICE CREAM SUNDAE ANY DAY!

YUMMY BANANA SPLIT

MAKING AN ICE CREAM FLOAT

MAKING A SALAD

ICE CREAM WAFFLES

MAKING TRAIL MIX

FRUITY YOGURT PARFAIT

MAKING JELL-O

SOUP TIME!

MAKING A SANDWICH

MAKING A SHIRLEY TEMPLE

BOWLING

RECORDING SESSION

WHICH ONE IS MISSING?

SOUNDS GUESSING GAME

1-2-3 RED LIGHT

CLAY TIME!

KNICK-KNACK BOX

TRAFFIC LIGHT

PAPER PLATE PIZZA

PERSONAL PHOTO ALBUM

FEEL IT

HAPPY or SAD?

MY OUCH STORY

I AM SO THANKFUL

FAMILY MATTERS

FIND A HOUSE

HUCKLE BUCKLE BEANSTALK

IS THAT A CIRCLE?

PASS THE PARCEL

SKIPPYROO KANGAROO

NATURE WALK

Chapter 4: Intermediate Activities

I CANT BELIEVE ITS BUTTER!

HEY THERE, CUPCAKE!

LETS MAKE PEANUT BUTTER

COLORED SALT

MAKE A TAMBOURINE

CONCENTRATION

PENCIL HOLDER

MAKE A CATERPILLAR

POP ART

Chapter 5: Challenging Activities

AN INDOOR PLANTER

GO FISH

SPONGE PAINTINGS

CORN COB PAINTINGS

STRING PICTURE

VASE

HOP SCOTCH

Bibliography

Letter to Teachers

About the Author