Language Delay Hampers Classroom Success
A language delay can seriously impact success in the classroom. This negatively affects the student’s self-esteem and desire to participate. The causes of language delay vary; dyslexia/dyspraxia, autism, second language, premature birth, language deficient home environment, speech problem, hearing problem, and others. Whatever the cause, teachers and parents hold the keys to improving the learning environment for the student.
Keys to Better Communication
When working with a student who has a language delay, be aware of mispronounced words and garbled sentences. Simply repeat the sentence correctly, with a positive addition such as “yes” or “that’s right.” This provides correct feedback without humiliation. For example, if the student says, “My foots are cold,” you might reply, “Yes, I can see that your feet might be cold. Thank you for telling me. Let’s get you some warm socks for those cold feet.” Speak slowly and distinctly, but not so slowly that it sounds weird. Also, face the student and make eye contact as much as possible.
Use Sound and Rhythm to Help with Language Delay
A language delay may require the teacher to exaggerate the sound and rhythm of the language so the child can hear it. Clapping the rhythm of words and sentences is fun. Adding tunes makes it even more memorable.
Following Directions
A student benefits from practicing following directions. The student first listens to the directions you give, then you guide them through the process of forming a mental picture of what they are going to do before bolting off. Work up from one task to three or four linked tasks. It’s best if the tasks require moving about because the child needs to move. Additionally, the child needs to be able to remember while moving. This allows the teacher to incorporate plenty of doing and building activities along with the language instruction. Importantly, deliver the directions in the order in which they should be followed. Mixing them up at this stage causes confusion, and confusion is the enemy of successful learning!
How to Encourage Language Practice
One way to motivate a student to practice language involves having the student pretend to be the teacher. The student gets to stand at the board and teach you about a word they’ve just learned or a story they heard. If more prompts are needed, an art print is often a doorway into speech, as the student can point out things they notice in the painting.
Model Positive Social Language
Finally, it’s important to model for the student positive social language such as “Please, thank you, excuse me, may I.” If you use this language with the student, they will tend to pick it up themselves. Gently model and guide the student into using appropriate body language for learning, as well. Show the student how to look interested in class by leaning forward and looking at the teacher. Explain how to ask for help in various settings. For some students, this direct instruction in things that appear “obvious” to the teacher or parent results in dramatic gains in student confidence.
Never Require Oral Reading
While many children love to read aloud, those with a language delay may find it painful or even traumatic. Never force a child to read aloud. There are other ways to achieve fluency. Assessment does not require oral reading unless you are specifically testing for ORAL decoding rather than reading comprehension. Remember that the final goal is a student who can read silently with speed and comprehension. Below is a link to a book that’s helpful for parents who want a simple guide to helping a child with a language delay.
By Yvonna Graham, M.Ed.
www.dyslexiakit.net
@GrahamYvonna
Audiobooks are another way to help with language delay. Listening to stories increases vocabulary faster than anything else I know. YouTube is a great source of free read-alouds for kids. Some children’s classics are downloadable at Librivox. Audible has newer titles for $15/mo. And your public library is the best resource of all!
