Workshop 1
(Language Development and Reading Aloud)

Set-up: Set up the room for group discussion initially, and for participants to gather in small groups for reading aloud later. Gather a selection of storybooks for participants to use when they practice reading aloud. Gather a second selection of books for parents to check out and read with their children at home. If possible, obtain some of the books listed at the back of the guide. Of course this is an ideal workshop to hold in a school or public library, where families can readily check out books. Print enough copies of the guide "Growing Into Books" for each participant/family to have one. If you are unable to print copies of the entire guide, print the content related to this workshop (Language Development and How to Read to Your Preschooler).

Terms & Concepts to Emphasize: These terms are explained and expanded upon in the glossary of the booklet and by links in the on-line versions. Taking time to help participants understand and use these important ideas will help them become more effective as they interact with children:

• Pretend Reading
  
  
• Scribble Writing
  
  
• Accepting vs. Correcting Speech
  
  
• Public Print
  
  
• Helping Children Learn to Print
  
  
• Kinds of Questions Teachers Ask in School
  
  
• Book Talk

Program Outline

1. Introduction—15 min. Introduce topic through brief lecture on Language Development, using content from the beginning of the booklet. Give participants time to browse the lists of "How Your Child's Language is Growing". Discuss some of these with the participants. If you are working with a small number of families or staff members, you may want to identify ahead of time where particular children are developmentally. Invite the participants' input regarding what they have noticed about particular children's abilities and about strategies they have tried and that have been successful.

2. Present Reading Aloud Content—15 minutes. Instruct trainees in the content, "How to Read to Your Preschooler," by pointing out the guidelines, and demonstrating them yourself as you read a book aloud. Try to demonstrate two or three of the suggestions from before, during and after reading.

3. Group Read-Alouds—25 min. Invite participants to choose a book from your pre-selected display, and to practice reading aloud in small groups with persons with whom they feel comfortable. When their read-alouds are finished, ask participants to share techniques that were particularly successful and easy to implement.

4. Summary/Wrap-Up—5-10 min. Invite participants to browse and select the books they would like to check out. Remind them to use the read aloud strategies, and that you will discuss their successes at the next meeting.