1. Ensuring Consistency: Collaborative Verbal Communication Instruction for Young Children
Heather Coleman
M.Ed. Early Childhood Special Education, Ph.D. Candidate

2. Who Am I??? Heather Coleman Pretty Cool Mom and Wife 🙃
Former Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
Ph.D. Candidate with VCU Department of Counseling and Special Education
Research Interests: Early Childhood, Professional Development, Autism, Family Empowerment, and Language
Personal Interests: Family, Water Activities, Podcasts, and Binge Watching T.V.
The presenter will share practical suggestions on how to encourage verbal communication for young children. The audience will practice how to implement a verbal communication intervention and discuss how to use this intervention in everyday activities, in the school, and at home. Further, the presenter will share suggestions on how to ensure consistency and encourage all members of the children’s life (teachers, SLPs, and parents) to implement the same instruction.

3. Who are YOU????

4. Presentation Overview
Communication Development in Early Childhood
Developmental Milestones
Encouraging Verbal Communication
Specific Communication Interventions
Reaching out for help
Ensuring Consistency and Collaborating!
Family, Childcare providers, Infant/Preschool Special Education Educators, Speech Language Pathologists
The presenter will share practical suggestions on how to encourage verbal communication for young children. The audience will practice how to implement a verbal communication intervention and discuss how to use this intervention in everyday activities, in the school, and at home. Further, the presenter will share suggestions on how to ensure consistency and encourage all members of the children’s life (teachers, SLPs, and parents) to implement the same instruction.

5. Babies B to 6 months: 6 to 12: 18 months
Coos, sound and face recognition
Sounds start to make meaning: babbles, differing cries, and ‘happy sounds’
Responds to caregiver’s sounds and name
“Ah,” “Eh,” “Oh,” “M,” “B”
6 to 12:
“Understands” no 🤣 and responds to simple requests
Gestures (waving, shaking head for ‘no’), Pointing
Copying Sounds
“Mama…” “Baba..” “Dada” “Uh-oh!”
18 months
Meaningful pointing
Single Words
Says “no”
The presenter will share practical suggestions on how to encourage verbal communication for young children. The audience will practice how to implement a verbal communication intervention and discuss how to use this intervention in everyday activities, in the school, and at home. Further, the presenter will share suggestions on how to ensure consistency and encourage all members of the children’s life (teachers, SLPs, and parents) to implement the same instruction.

6. Toddlers 2 years 3 years Points to object when named
Begins to name familiar people, body parts
Repeats!!! (careful… 😜 )
2 to 4 word phrases
3 years
Follows 2-3 step directions
2 to 3 sentence speech
Knows first name, age, sex; and friend’s names
Says “I,” “Me,” “We,” and “You”
Add plurals on some words (cats)
Others can understand speech
The presenter will share practical suggestions on how to encourage verbal communication for young children. The audience will practice how to implement a verbal communication intervention and discuss how to use this intervention in everyday activities, in the school, and at home. Further, the presenter will share suggestions on how to ensure consistency and encourage all members of the children’s life (teachers, SLPs, and parents) to implement the same instruction.

7. Preschool 4 years 5 years Basic rules of grammar- “he” “she”
Sings songs and tells stories
Knows first/last name
Names some colors and numbers
Makes predictions (in a book)
5 years
Everyone understands speech
Future tenses, “I will eat mac and cheese for dinner.”
Knows name and address
The presenter will share practical suggestions on how to encourage verbal communication for young children. The audience will practice how to implement a verbal communication intervention and discuss how to use this intervention in everyday activities, in the school, and at home. Further, the presenter will share suggestions on how to ensure consistency and encourage all members of the children’s life (teachers, SLPs, and parents) to implement the same instruction.

8. HELP!! My little guy/lady is not meeting that milestone!
The presenter will share practical suggestions on how to encourage verbal communication for young children. The audience will practice how to implement a verbal communication intervention and discuss how to use this intervention in everyday activities, in the school, and at home. Further, the presenter will share suggestions on how to ensure consistency and encourage all members of the children’s life (teachers, SLPs, and parents) to implement the same instruction.

9. What can I do to help encourage verbal communication?
TALK TALK TALK TALK TALK
Allow ‘wait time’
Expand on child’s communication
Simple directions
READ!
Interactive reading
The presenter will share practical suggestions on how to encourage verbal communication for young children. The audience will practice how to implement a verbal communication intervention and discuss how to use this intervention in everyday activities, in the school, and at home. Further, the presenter will share suggestions on how to ensure consistency and encourage all members of the children’s life (teachers, SLPs, and parents) to implement the same instruction.

10. Requests Teaching the child how to ask for something that he/she wants
Immediate rewards
Prompting:
Verbal Language: “What do you want?” “/F/” “Fish” “Goldfish” “I want goldfish.”
Using sign language and verbal
Check out: Teaching Requesting:

11. Let’s Practice…

13. How can you use this in the natural environment?? Let’s Discuss…
Meal time at home
Play with brother on the playground
Circle time at school
Play in the housekeeping center

14. It’s NOT working….. Reach out for more help…
Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education
Infant and Toddler Connection of Virginia
Making a Referral
Early Childhood Special Education
Locate the family’s local elementary school
Ask for a child study meeting
The presenter will share practical suggestions on how to encourage verbal communication for young children. The audience will practice how to implement a verbal communication intervention and discuss how to use this intervention in everyday activities, in the school, and at home. Further, the presenter will share suggestions on how to ensure consistency and encourage all members of the children’s life (teachers, SLPs, and parents) to implement the same instruction.

15. Ensuring Consistency and Collaborating!
Frequent and open communication with all members
“Experts” and skills of all members
“Avoiding turfism”
Mutual Respect
Family Partnerships and equal decision making
Bridging “gaps”
Blue-Banning, Summer, Frankland, and Beegle (2004)
The presenter will share practical suggestions on how to encourage verbal communication for young children. The audience will practice how to implement a verbal communication intervention and discuss how to use this intervention in everyday activities, in the school, and at home. Further, the presenter will share suggestions on how to ensure consistency and encourage all members of the children’s life (teachers, SLPs, and parents) to implement the same instruction.

16. Commitment and Collaboration
Understanding and sharing a sense of commitment
Devotion to the child, family, and everyone’s needs
Developing and understanding the importance of common goals
Discussing expectations for the child’s progress
Flexibility
…….Leads to Consistency
Blue-Banning, Summer, Frankland, and Beegle (2004)

17. Resources
Learn the Signs, Act Early: Milestones Checklist and “What You Can do…”
Infant and Toddler Connection of VA
Child Indicators Booklet
Virginia’s Foundation Blocks for Early Learning
Comprehensive Standards for 4-Year Olds
Learn the Signs, Act Early:
Child Indicators:
Virginia’s Foundation Blocks for Early Learning

18. Thank You! Heather Coleman fleminghm@vcu.edu
Presentation located on Heather’ website: