How to Use Books with Emerging Language Learners

How to Use Books with Emerging Language Learners

Follow the child's lead in choosing the book or even choosing the pages to land on. If they prefer to leaf through quickly, let them. Be animated in your response to what they show you. For example "Oh, I love seeing the yellow duck!," with big facial expression and a sing song tone. (Always keeping your rate of speech slow!) Narrate the story using your own words. Use language just above your child's level. For example, if your child is using single words, then narrate the story using two word phrases/sentences. The story doesn't have to include all of the detail in the original book, just enough to keep your little one engaged. If you child uses words to comment as you read, expand these. You can do this as follows: child: bear (It may sound like "beh" or other approximation, this is ok!) parent: Yes, bear! Brown Bear! See Brown Bear!