Our lives rely on communication to interact and co-exist within a community. Communication encompasses a variety of skills used to convey and receive information. Before advances in technology, communication was primarily relayed through word of mouth and written documents. As our world has evolved, communication has expanded to include emails, texts, social media, adaptive technology, videos, podcasts, and more. These advances have provided many individuals with opportunities to communicate that may not have otherwise been possible. While these developments offer numerous benefits, there is an increasing need for young learners to develop strong language skills to communicate effectively as members of their communities.
What is Language?
Language is a structured system of communication composed of receptive and expressive skills across four key areas: reading, listening, speaking, and writing/grammar. Receptive communication includes listening and reading, while expressive communication involves producing language through writing/grammar and speaking.
Many schools monitor language development using the English Language Arts Standards (ELAS). The ELAS are often misrepresented as “Reading Standards”; however, they are designed to evaluate both receptive and expressive language skills. Therefore, it is important to understand the key components of language.
Reading – Combines foundational skills with reading comprehension. A variety of informational and fictional texts may be used to assess these skills in school. Students should practice these skills while reading independently or listening to a read-aloud.
Listening – Practiced through discussions, read-alouds, audio activities, oral and multi-step directions, and social interactions. Children should focus on listening to both understand and respond.
Writing/Grammar – Assessed through foundational writing skills, the process of writing specific texts, and grammar application. Grammar is often categorized as a language skill but can also be considered an extension of writing standards.
Speaking – Like listening, speaking skills are developed through discussions, social conversations, and various speaking activities. Speaking practice should emphasize using complete sentences and academic language.
Language Challenges
As you can see, language development relies on receiving, processing, formulating, and communicating information. These skills can be challenging for many students, especially those with processing delays, poor executive functioning, language disorders, or neurodivergence. Common challenges and solutions include:
Struggling to produce complete sentences – Try using sentence stems, sentence frames, or sentence formulas.
Limited vocabulary – Keep a vocabulary journal, discuss unknown words, or use vocabulary four squares.
Reading and/or writing difficulties – Discuss concerns with your child’s teacher, increase phonological working memory, practice reading for 15–20 minutes per day, journal for 10–15 minutes per day, revise existing writing, and use complete sentences.
Difficulty following multi-step directions – Have students repeat directions back to you, tell them how many steps are involved, give them time to process/think, and provide a written list if needed.
Comprehension struggles – Ask questions before, during, and after reading/listening. Use a variety of comprehension activities (e.g., read-alouds, TV, YouTube, music). Encourage your child to summarize what they read/heard and create a work sample. For example, after reading a book, they could write a short story predicting what will happen next, or after watching a YouTube video, they could give a brief presentation.
Difficulty applying grammar rules – Use sentence formulas, grammar workbooks, or play grammar games.
Ineffective communication strategies – Practice social-emotional learning, model effective discussion techniques, and work on conflict resolution skills.
Conclusion
Communication is an essential skill for both academic and social success. Throughout their education and daily lives, children are exposed to various language structures, norms, and expectations. Developing strong receptive and expressive skills empowers children to embrace the full potential of communication.
Written by Ami Z.