Toddler Lesson Plan for Language Development

Talk

• Talk to your students throughout the day to help them develop language skills. Give them plenty of opportunities to hear your voice and how you use language. Talk to your students about what you are doing as you go about your day. Ask questions that require a full sentence response to help students build communication skills, recommends the website Baby Zone. For example, as students play with blocks, ask questions about what they are building. During art centers, ask students questions about what they are creating and the colors or supplies they are using. Encourage communication as often as possible.

Reading and Storytelling

• Read to your students every day, and encourage their parents to do the same. Read short books during circle time. Take time to show illustrations, pointing out different aspects of the pictures, asking students to find characters from the story and asking questions about shapes and colors. When reading with students one on one, point to each word as you read it, so that your students will begin to make the connection between spoken and printed words. Make up stories together as a class by asking students to dictate to you as you write on a large sheet of paper or on the board. Make up stories of your own to share with your class, and ask the students to create illustrations.

Language-Rich Learning Environment

• Make your classroom a language-rich learning environment for your toddler students. Post the letters of the alphabet in the classroom, and point to each letter as you say it or sing the Alphabet Song. Provide an assortment of reading materials for your toddlers, including board books, picture books, comic books and magazines. Decorate your classroom with pictures and words. Create a writing center with paper, pencils and crayons for students to practice writing skills.

Songs, Rhymes and Games

• Use songs and rhymes to enhance your students' language skills. Songs like the Alphabet Song, the cleanup song and songs with hand and body movements are a fun way to encourage your students to use language. Teach your students fun nursery rhymes, and use these rhymes and songs as part of your daily schedule. For example, use a specific song each day before circle time so that students memorize the song. Games that include words or song will also help build language skills.