Oral Language

What is this and why is it important?

Oral language, sometimes called spoken language, is a very important part of learning to read and write for all students, including both students who speak English only and multilingual learners. Oral language supports all parts of literacy: from foundational skills, to engaging with complex text, to writing. Oral language development includes:

knowledge of words and word meanings,
understanding how words are put together when we speak or write to make ideas and sentences, and
understanding stories, events, or directions and being able to talk about them in clear steps (such as beginning, middle, and end; or first, next).

Oral language develops through rich classroom discussion between students and teachers in response to text and through clear and direct teaching. Oral language development can happen in a student's native language and in English.

What can I do to learn more and support oral language development at home? Check out some of these resources as a starting point.

How to help your child read and understand
Read Aloud Routine from the Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk. Available in Spanish. A video for this is also available.

How to help your child grow their vocabulary
Oral Language: Expanding Your Child's Vocabulary from Reading Rockets.**

How to strengthen reading in your home language
Why Reading to Your Kids in Your Home Language Will Help Them Become Better Readers from Colorin Colorado. The Questions About Language & Reading section answers parent questions about reading in their child's native language as a way to support reading. Both resources are available in Spanish.

An overview of the strengths of being bilingual
Being Bilingual Is a Superpower: Multilingual Tips to Support Language and Literacy at Home from Colorin Colorado. Available in multiple languages.

How to read aloud to your child
Reading Aloud from Start with a Book. Many of the resources are available in multiple languages.

What are some questions I can ask my child's school or teacher to learn more about oral language learning experiences at school?

What are some of the ways my child engages in discussion in class?
How can I support my child's language development at home?
How does my child practice using new vocabulary?

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Last Updated: September 25, 2024