Domain: NC Foundations for Early Learning: Language Development and Communication (LDC)

Subdomain: Learning to Communicate

Goal: Children respond to and use a growing vocabulary.

Skill Progression: Respond to and use a growing vocabulary

Age: 48-54 Months

Click here to go to all skills for ages 48-54 Months.

Create ads for a grocery store in the literacy center or as a small group activity. Take dictation as the children determine: What time the ad is developed for: a holiday, week, time of day, etc. What foods are on special for each day of the week? (Use foods starting with different letters for each day.) Why the foods are the best to buy. How much the foods cost. Include new vocabulary into the ads for children to learn (e.g., crisp, no preservatives, healthy, nutritious, etc.)

The adult leads the activity with children determining the time target, foods (and initial letters and sounds of the foods), costs, and benefits of the foods in the ads. As the adult includes higher-level vocabulary, she asks the children to think about what the words might mean.

The child relates initial sounds in words to the letters in the alphabet.

Children are beginning to break down concepts into smaller components. They understand that time, money, amounts, the calendar, and the alphabet can be talked about in big units or small units. Give children opportunities to have discussions that involve: present, past, future, or events in sequence; the value of different denominations of money; what comprises different amounts; different ways to talk about a year; individual letters, syllables, and simple word units. Encourage children to try to determine what a word means and make a guess. The adult can use the words in several sentences to give context. Reinforce the children’s thinking about words and clarify meaning when needed.