Date
19 November 2024

Build language-rich environments

Create an environment that extends and supports language growth.

Develop language-rich displays

Develop language-rich displays

Create displays that extend children’s language growth. Regularly refresh the displays in collaboration with ākonga and whānau.

 

Ideas for creating rich language environments include:

  • Display big ideas with visuals.
  • Use zones, for example, for inquiry, English and maths, to make it easy to find key supports.
  • Use images, photos and displays to prompt language-rich conversations.
  • Include photos of shared activities such as field trips to prompt ongoing discussions.
  • Create vocabulary and word walls. Keep them uncluttered. Refresh them to reflect current topics.
  • Use pouches, resource boxes, photos or QR codes so students can take resources to their desks or personal devices.
  • Make spaces that are unique to Aotearoa, for example, spaces for te ao Māori and te reo Māori that are prominent and integrated across all areas.
  • Create displays that give ākonga access to key vocabulary, task steps, success criteria, thinking tools and models.

Respond to language needs and interests

Respond to language needs and interests

Komal Singh, a new entrant teacher at Wiri Central School, talks about how she has responded to ākonga language needs and interests using visuals, wall displays, class-made books and commenting.

Download video transcript.

Video hosted on Vimeo http://vimeo.com/945992154

Source: Ministry of Education Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga

Closed Captions

Use comments to build language

Use comments to build language

The one-hand rule suggests four comments to each question.

Use narrative approaches

Use narrative approaches

Telling and listening to stories are key components of language learning. Invite ākonga to tell their own stories, use prompts and read back stories. Collating student work into a book, means students can revisit language and narratives.

Use narrative approaches v2

Source: Ministry of Education | Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga

Extend language through play

Extend language through play

Use play, role play and games to provide authentic opportunities for ākonga to interact with others and practise being a good communication partner.

Children playing hoop

Source: Ministry of Education Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga

Build topic-specific vocabulary

Build topic-specific vocabulary

Use techniques that help students learn, understand and use key vocabulary related to a topic.

Download the video transcript as a PDF:

Build topic-specific vocabulary - transcript

Video hosted on Vimeo http://vimeo.com/945992019

Source: Ministry of Education Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga

Closed Captions

Next steps

More suggestions for implementing the strategy “Helpful classroom strategies years 1-8”:

Return to the guide “Speech, Language and Communication”

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