Communication and Language Development

Communication and language development for 4-5 years children has many elements. The  4 main elements are the following:

1. Listening and Understanding
2. Speaking
3. Reading
4. Writing

When children come into preschool it is important for teachers to focus on the first 2 elements before moving on to reading and writing. Focusing on developing readiness will ensure successful reading and writing development later.

Listening, Understanding and Speaking

• Can concentrate for long periods when involved in an activity.
• Sits quietly listening intently when required
• Has a 2-channelled attention- can listen and do accordingly step after step.
• Responds to 3 step instructions e.g. First collect the marbles from the table, next count the number of marbles then record it on paper
• Understands humour and nonsense rhymes
• Follows a story without pictures or props
• Listens and responds when others are saying something
• Uses extended vocabulary in everyday speaking
• Adds new words to his/her vocabulary
• Uses language to create and act out roles during roleplay
• Uses language to clarify thoughts, ideas, sequencing of events etc.
• Understands that stories have a beginning, middle and an end

Reading and Writing

• Completes or continues rhyming words
• Hears and says the initial sounds of words
• Links sounds to letters and knows all the sounds of the letters
• Is able to phonetically sound 3 sounds and blend to make a 3-letter word
• Can read words and simple sentences
• Uses vocabulary which has been gained by the influence of books
• Enjoys reading and being read to from books
• Knows that information can be retrieved from books and computers

Writing

• Gives meaning to marks they make as they draw, write and paint.
• Writes some clearly identifiable letters
• Writes own name
• Attempts to write short sentences in meaningful contexts
• Is able to form some letters correctly

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