Category Archives: Child language

Year of the Fairy Tale

Posted on 12/09/2020 by

Winter will be here before we know it and is surely the season for fairy tales. Don’t forget the availability of these much loved stories which we worked hard to present at different levels of complexity for youngsters of different … Continue reading →

Posted in Child language, Competence level, ESL / EFL / EAL, Helping children understand, Promoting language development, Teaching, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , ,

Dr. Marion Blank’s Language Levels

Posted on 17/04/2020 by

I was bowled over the day I came upon this work and it underpinned my practice in speech and language therapy thereafter. I have written before about it and I think all the links still work. For background information and … Continue reading →

Posted in Child language, Competence level, ESL / EFL / EAL, Helping children understand, Inference, Speech & Language Pathology, Speech & Language Therapy, Teaching, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , ,

Any day now…

Posted on 16/04/2020 by

Here we are in April already and facing a whole new set of rules for life. I know there must be many people trying to provide input at home which is normally done elsewhere by someone else. So I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Child language, ESL / EFL / EAL, Promoting language development, Speech & Language Therapy, Teaching | Tagged , , ,

Up and running again

Posted on 25/07/2018 by

I have put in hours of work to correct the out of date links on my blog and I hope now they are working properly! Sorry I hadn’t noticed there were heaps of errors. Trust the majority have got sorted … Continue reading →

Posted in Child language, Education at home, ESL / EFL / EAL, Grammar, Helping language skills at home, Home schooling, Language Levels, Promoting language development, Teaching | Tagged , , , , ,

Black Sheep Press

Posted on 09/08/2017 by

Black Sheep Press has a new website with lots of exciting changes and improved features. You can visit it here. I used many of the resources from Black Sheep Press while I was working with young children. The company publishes … Continue reading →

Posted in Association, Child language, Competence level, Education at home, ESL / EFL / EAL, Grammar, Helping children understand, Inference, Promoting language development, Speech & Language Pathology, Speech & Language Therapy, Teaching | Tagged , , , ,

Well done!

Posted on 28/10/2015 by

Congratulations to Pip Harrison (New Zealand writer and teacher) for coming first in this year’s Ronald Hugh Morrieson Literary Awards 2015 (Open Short Story). Pip contributed the stories for older children to the 8 Traditional Tales posted in TES last … Continue reading →

Posted in Child language, Competence level, Education at home, ESL / EFL / EAL, Home schooling, Share stories, Teaching | Tagged ,

Pronouns

Posted on 08/10/2015 by

Further to a query on a forum on TES, I have picked out some of my resources which are particularly aimed at working on pronouns. Hope you find this helpful. See the Pronouns listing in the sidebar. Have also made … Continue reading →

Posted in Child language, Competence level, Education at home, ESL / EFL / EAL, Grammar, Helping children understand, Helping language skills at home, Home schooling, Inference, Promoting language development, Speech and Language Pathology, Speech and Language Therapy, Teaching | Tagged , , ,

How did you get on?

Posted on 15/08/2015 by

I hope you were able to join in the Kids’ Art Week fun. My posts (see links below) include my own efforts at each activity plus a mini language lesson based on the videos etc.   The art sessions are still … Continue reading →

Posted in Child language, Competence level, Education at home, ESL / EFL / EAL, Helping children understand, Helping language skills at home, Home schooling, Language Levels, Marion Blank, Promoting language development, Speech and Language Pathology, Speech and Language Therapy, Teaching | Tagged , , , ,

Modigliani portraits

Posted on 01/08/2015 by

Here are my examples from lesson 6. Good vocabulary possibilities: Yesterday the page was divided down the middle. Today the background space is divided by lines drawn down and then across. The rectangles are fairly random. A coloured line is … Continue reading →

Posted in Child language, Competence level, ESL / EFL / EAL, Helping children understand, Helping language skills at home, Promoting language development, Speech & Language Pathology, Speech & Language Therapy, Teaching | Tagged , , , ,

Oil pastel and paint people

Posted on 31/07/2015 by

Here are my examples from lesson 5. I didn’t have enough black paper to make the expected size and I made them much too small so could not add the suggested extra decorations. I also had to use Cray-Pas as … Continue reading →

Posted in Child language, Competence level, ESL / EFL / EAL, Helping children understand, Helping language skills at home, Promoting language development, Speech & Language Pathology, Speech & Language Therapy, Teaching | Tagged , , , , , ,

Nature faces

Posted on 31/07/2015 by

Here are my faces made from a few things I picked up in the garden or saw on my table. It was fun to see how spacing the eyes differently changed the face a lot. Vocabulary about the faces: naming … Continue reading →

Posted in Child language, Competence level, ESL / EFL / EAL, Helping children understand, Helping language skills at home, Promoting language development, Speech & Language Pathology, Speech & Language Therapy, Teaching | Tagged , , , , , , ,

Leaf printing

Posted on 29/07/2015 by

  Here are my tags decorated with leaf prints in lesson 3. I made some prints into birds and others into bugs as suggested. Good vocabulary possibilities: Birds: talk again about how we know they are birds – refer back … Continue reading →

Posted in Child language, Competence level, ESL / EFL / EAL, Helping children understand, Helping language skills at home, Promoting language development, Speech & Language Pathology, Speech & Language Therapy, Teaching | Tagged , , , ,

Night sky

Posted on 29/07/2015 by

Here are my night sky pictures from lesson 2. Good vocabulary possibilities: Adjectives: you may have a copy of The Owl who was Afraid of the Dark which is often read in school. It contains many ‘wow words’ which are … Continue reading →

Posted in Child language, Competence level, ESL / EFL / EAL, Helping children understand, Helping language skills at home, Promoting language development, Speech & Language Pathology, Speech & Language Therapy, Teaching | Tagged , , , , , ,

Picasso dog

Posted on 28/07/2015 by

Here is my Picasso dog. Did you make some? Good vocabulary possibilities: Eye, nose, ear, tongue, paw, tail, (learning to name the parts of things is really important for clarity – see http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Naming-of-parts-6224211/ ) Talk about what’s missing from this … Continue reading →

Posted in Child language, Competence level, ESL / EFL / EAL, Helping children understand, Helping language skills at home, Promoting language development, Speech & Language Pathology, Speech & Language Therapy, Teaching | Tagged , ,

Crazy birds

Posted on 28/07/2015 by

Here are my crazy birds. Did you make some? Good vocabulary possibilities: bird   beak   tail   claws   wings   feathers   two legs (learning to name the parts of things is really important for clarity – see http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Naming-of-parts-6224211/ ) colour names and … Continue reading →

Posted in Child language, Competence level, ESL / EFL / EAL, Helping children understand, Helping language skills at home, Promoting language development, Speech & Language Pathology, Speech & Language Therapy, Teaching | Tagged , ,

It’s dinner time!

Posted on 01/03/2015 by

A 5-year-old lad had a nasty fall off his bike, ripped a fingernail and went to A&E to be patched up. In spite of this traumatic series of events, he suggested to his mum that they ask the doctor home … Continue reading →

Posted in Child language, Competence level, Grammar, Speech & Language Pathology, Speech & Language Therapy | Tagged , ,

Dr. Marion Blank

Posted on 26/02/2015 by

The language style used by adults to children in the preschool and early school years is critical. (Post reissued)

Posted in Child language, Competence level, Grammar, Helping children understand, Marion Blank, Promoting language development, Speech & Language Pathology, Speech & Language Therapy, Teaching | Tagged , , ,

Time and Index Update

Posted on 10/01/2015 by

1. I’ve decided to make a new special section in the list of resources called Time. These time resources are not new but I haven’t collected them together before. Anyone working with children with delayed or impaired language development will … Continue reading →

Posted in Child language, Helping children understand, Index of Resources, Promoting language development, Speech & Language Pathology, Speech & Language Therapy, Teaching, Uncategorized

The Lady and the Lion

Posted on 25/11/2014 by

I am proud to announce (with sound of trumpets) that Pip Harrison and I have got to the end of The Year of the Fairy Tale. The last set of resources based on two similar stories by the Brothers Grimm … Continue reading →

Posted in Child language, Competence level, Grammar, Helping children understand, Inference, Promoting language development, Share stories, Speech & Language Pathology, Speech & Language Therapy | Tagged , , , , ,

The Magic Horse

Posted on 20/10/2014 by

Read Aloud version contributed by NZ writer/teacher ©Pip Harrison …“Guards! Seize this man!” ordered the King. “Take him to prison until my son comes safely home. Fancy bringing me such a dangerous thing!” … Early Reading version  …“Look at that!” … Continue reading →

Posted in Child language, Competence level, Helping children understand, Inference, Promoting language development, Share stories, Speech & Language Pathology, Speech & Language Therapy, Teaching

Cinderella

Posted on 07/09/2014 by

Pip Harrison, New Zealand writer, has rewritten the well-known tale from the Fairy Godmother’s point of view. The RA is approx. 11y for older children, or to be read aloud. ‘…Amidst it all, the prince and Cinderella gazed at each … Continue reading →

Posted in Child language, Competence level, Grammar, Helping children understand, Inference, Promoting language development, PSHE / Virtues Programme, Share stories, Speech & Language Pathology, Speech & Language Therapy | Tagged , , ,

If you’re a good girl…

Posted on 22/08/2014 by

Today I chuckled to hear a small child promise from her buggy, ‘If you’re a good girl, you can have an ice cream.’ It was a shame her mother didn’t clarify things even by the joke response, ‘I’m always a … Continue reading →

Posted in Child language, Competence level, Grammar, Helping children understand, Promoting language development, Speech & Language Pathology, Speech & Language Therapy

The real princess AKA The princess and the pea

Posted on 16/04/2014 by

“Pea of destiny, pea of delight, We need your help, we seek insight. Is this princess the real deal? Will she sleep or will she feel Your bumpy presence in her bed, Making her toss and turn instead?…” Find the … Continue reading →

Posted in Child language, Helping children understand, Inference, Promoting language development, Share stories, Speech & Language Pathology, Speech & Language Therapy | Tagged , , ,

Blondine, Bonne-Biche & Beau-Minon

Posted on 11/03/2014 by

Another Traditional Tale has been uploaded to TES. If you do not get your resources from TES, you can find the ‘long and short of it’ versions (as above) here. The original story – from a book of Old French … Continue reading →

Posted in Child language, Grammar, Helping children understand, Inference, Promoting language development, PSHE / Virtues Programme, Share stories, Speech & Language Pathology, Speech & Language Therapy, Teaching | Tagged , , ,

Music to my ears

Posted on 25/02/2014 by

BBC Radio 4’s news this morning included a mention of British Education Minister Elizabeth Truss visiting Shanghai to see their maths teaching in action. I’m sure I heard the mention of the importance of verbalising maths concepts. The English language … Continue reading →

Posted in Association, Child language, Competence level, Helping children understand, Promoting language development, Speech & Language Pathology, Speech & Language Therapy, Teaching

The Frog Princess

Posted on 20/02/2014 by

The first TRADITIONAL TALE is complete! See the link in the sidebar on the right. I hope people find it fun. If you do not get your resources from TES, you can find the ‘long and short of it’ versions … Continue reading →

Posted in Child language, Competence level, Helping children understand, Inference, Promoting language development, Share stories, Speech & Language Pathology, Speech & Language Therapy, Teaching

Go find (this wonderful book)

Posted on 21/01/2013 by

Just finished ‘Room’ by Emma Donoghue (Picador, 2011), a book I found hard to put down but did not wish to finish. Even read some bits twice. Don’t look at a description of it or you may suspect it will … Continue reading →

Posted in Association, Child language, Grammar, Helping children understand, Inference, Promoting language development, Speech & Language Pathology, Speech & Language Therapy

Woolgathering in the windmills of my mind

Posted on 18/11/2012 by

Today I looked out and it was a wonderful autumn day: blue cloudless sky, no wind and I went to Wisley. On my way there, I heard several updates about wars and rumours of wars on the car radio but … Continue reading →

Posted in Association, Child language, Speech & Language Pathology, Speech & Language Therapy | Tagged , , , , ,

Can you see what I mean?

Posted on 06/11/2012 by

This post is to highlight a published resource I designed but cannot put on TES (although I have a section of free resources there which you can find described on the page Read for Meaning/Inference in the list on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Child language, Competence level, Grammar, Helping children understand, Inference, Promoting language development, Teaching | Tagged , , , ,

Citroen alert!

Posted on 12/09/2012 by

‘Don’t like Citroen!’ ‘You don’t like Citroens? Why’s that?’ ‘Citroen run me down.’ The grandfather’s chuckle as he replied led me to believe that Citroens have not shown an evil disposition to attack his grandson. Indeed, it seemed unlikely from … Continue reading →

Posted in Child language, Helping children understand, Promoting language development, Speech & Language Pathology, Speech & Language Therapy, Teaching | Tagged , , , ,

Choose your martyrdom

Posted on 30/04/2012 by

Would you rather be pressed like St. Margaret Clitherow or hanged like St. Anne Line? How does your school inform small children of their fate? Will the Head tell a 6 year old he is going to be put in … Continue reading →

Posted in Child language, Competence level, Helping children understand, Inference | Tagged , , ,

Good listening?

Posted on 13/04/2012 by

Teachers constantly exhort children to do ‘good listening’. And of course it is an excellent idea. But those who work specifically with children who have problems with attention, language delay, learning difficulties or a combination of all of these also … Continue reading →

Posted in Association, Child language, Helping children understand, Inference, Promoting language development, Teaching

That’s very funny!

Posted on 22/12/2011 by

The child’s voice rang out, all consonants crystal clear.   Probably every adult in the surrounding pews had to resist the urge to turn round and engage with the little girl at the carol service. Communicating with attractive children who make … Continue reading →

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A Marmite relationship

Posted on 23/06/2011 by

Watch one of the men in charge of a display of birds of prey! He strides around the ring, talking non-stop in an informative but colloquial style about the birds, while his colleague gets the birds to fly. As the … Continue reading →

Posted in Association, Child language, Inference | Tagged ,

Look, mummy, look!

Posted on 02/05/2011 by

Many of the children who fall behind with language development have immense problems with drawing inferences: from events, from pictures, from conversation and especially from text when they get to that stage. It is delightful to observe children who do … Continue reading →

Posted in Child language, Inference | Tagged

Keep speech simple too

Posted on 20/02/2011 by

It’s not just print that needs adapting – even talk can be confusing! The words we use, the speed we go, the in-between time – all these will influence how much a child understands. Especially the child with delayed or … Continue reading →

Posted in Association, Child language, Competence level, Inference, Promoting language development, Speech & Language Pathology, Speech & Language Therapy, Teaching | Tagged , , ,

Keeping text simple

Posted on 02/01/2011 by

It can’t be hard to make things simpler… can it? Well, actually, it can be quite tricky. Creating or adapting resources for children with language impairment can take a long time. Not only that. After using the resources it may … Continue reading →

Posted in Child language, Competence level, Grammar, Helping children understand, Promoting language development, Speech & Language Pathology, Speech & Language Therapy, Teaching | Tagged , , ,

Are you listening to me?

Posted on 20/09/2010 by

This is normally said in exasperation when a child has not jumped into action at the first time of telling.  It is often swiftly followed by I won’t tell you again… which may mean either I will tell you again … Continue reading →

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2-word and 3-word levels

Posted on 28/08/2010 by

It may not sound much but…

Posted in Child language, Grammar | Tagged