Developing Oral Language

Program details

Program description

Developing Oral Language is an online 2–2.5 hour professional learning workshop that aims to upskill early childhood educators and staff in theory and practical strategies for increasing literacy-rich daily practices to impact the oral language and literacy skills of children.

Content covered includes:

• oral language development in the early years including developmental milestones
• developing phonological awareness
• building vocabulary, and
• expressing ideas and feelings.

The workshop includes discussions and ideas that support and extend children’s learning experiences and engages with families to embed daily literacy practices at home (reading, talking, singing and playing).

The workshop is supported by an educator’s toolkit which contains physical resources such as picture books, activity templates and literacy documents. These resources provide educators with assets and ideas to incorporate into their programming and share with families after the workshop.

Detailed cost

• Workshop: $400 per participant (including GST and freight and handling for resource kit) for 2-2.5 hours online interactive workshop.
• An Educators Resource Kit and certificate of attendance will be provided.
• Each participant will also receive follow-up documentation such as a copy of PowerPoint slides and lists of resources at no additional cost.
• A flat fee for services may be available upon request for over 20 participants.
• Payment is required before attending.

Implementation considerations

• Target population: early childhood educators and staff.  
• Program/practice descriptions and details: the workshop builds on existing knowledge and understanding of early brain development and oral language development. The workshop uses everyday play-based activities and experiences to highlight how oral language develops in the early years. 
• Staffing: services should consider the cost of backfill when determining the cost of accessing this resource. 
• Factors to consider: the workshop is run when a minimum of 10 participants have booked in (from the same early childhood service or a range of services). Services with 20 or more staff can negotiate a mutually convenient time for a dedicated session. 
• Tools and systems: participants require access to a computer or device that can support an online meeting using Microsoft Teams or Zoom.

VEYLDF alignment

Item uses these practice principles

• Reflective practice
• Partnerships with families
• High expectations for every child 
• Equity and diversity
• Assessment for learning and development

Item uses these sub-outcomes

• Children interact verbally and non-verbally with others for a range of purposes
• Children engage with a range of texts and get meaning from these texts 
• Children begin to understand how symbols and pattern systems work