Enhancing Language Development in Childhood Online Bundle, 5 Certificate Courses

Introduction

How do children learn language? Play! And not with flash cards, or anything else that you can buy. Children are born with a complete package of language-learning tools. The only accessory they need is you, helping them unlock their natural instincts for language. After reading this first section, you'll be using play and instinct to communicate soundlessly with a newborn, to help him fill his language-building toolbox, and to create a stimulating environment for language development. 

First Play: Sounds & Signs

Imagine a database of sounds in your child’s brain. Where do these sounds come from? How does she file, sort, and choose to use these sounds to communicate? In today's lesson, we'll look at why her mind is made for these remarkable tasks, and you'll learn straightforward ways you can lend a hand (even in the form of sign language!). This lesson also includes a fascinating overview of brain and mouth anatomy.

Mama and Other First Real Words

You say, “Shelly just said, ‘ball’!” But your friend says, “Nah, that was just babbling.” Who's right? Does something count as a real word if it isn’t pronounced perfectly? In this lesson, we'll explore what makes a word real and how to interpret your child’s patterns of simplifying early language. You'll also start using a journal to uncover the rich potential in your child’s one- and two-word phrases.

Understanding Before Speaking

Once you understand the mechanics of hearing and understanding, your role in encouraging language can be powerful, simple, and fun! Many caregivers ask at this stage when they should start to worry about language delays. In today's lesson, we'll soothe your concerns by discussing what to watch for, when to seek assistance (and from which type of specialist), and when to stop worrying and keep playing! We'll look through a list of typical first words that you can use to trace your child’s communication explosion.

Watching & Playing

Can you guess when a baby’s brain grows the most? How do you facilitate this growth? Again, the answer is play! In this lesson, we'll match favorite infant-caregiver games to the neurological functions they stimulate. You'll also learn how language affects the development of thinking skills, just as the function of thinking affects language development. Today we'll explore how to keep this circle of growth cycling.

Adding Pieces to Phrases

Your kiddo is talking, but you’re not done yet! Although two-word phrases, such as “get ball” certainly communicate an idea, your child will keep refining his sentences as he grows. Today you'll find out how to help him progress to past tense, contractions, pronouns, and conjunctions. You'll also learn about the fascinating thought processes behind questions. Don’t forget your journal! 

Be A Natural Model

Wow–now we have listening, speaking, sounds, words, and sentences. What more is there? Lots! Is it still fun? Does she still need you? Of course! In today's lesson, we'll continue with a few more do's and don'ts for caregivers, emphasizing our favorite learning tool: games!

Making the Tongue Take Off

Expanding on our earlier anatomy lesson, today you'll learn how sounds depend on strong, agile mouth muscles. Before you start thinking about tongue push-ups, remember we always focus on maximizing the opportunities within natural interactions. A discussion of feeding—including your choices of bottles, cups, and straws—is key. We'll answer complex and controversial questions about pacifiers, sippy cups, and thumb sucking, and I'll provide some great tips for easing necessary transitions.

Playing With Sounds

Some sounds sound fun (like boing!), and some sounds feel fun (like zzzzzz). What does this kind of fun teach if it doesn't use precise words? In today's lesson, you'll find out what you're teaching when you encourage your little one to play with sounds. You'll also learn which speech games will help you make the connection from speech to reading.

Talking More

Now you know that speech, language, and communication are different, but related, topics. Using your knowledge of how sounds make language, in this lesson, you'll learn how language is used to communicate and connect with others. We call this social use of language. Today you'll learn how to help your talker become a conversationalist!

Appreciating Differences

Although children follow similar development processes, no two walk the same path. As more is discovered about learning, the lines between different, delayed, and disability grow foggier. Demystifying these terms is easier when you learn about different learning styles, and when you understand the styles used by you and your child. While you can’t eavesdrop on your child’s thoughts, what you learn in today's lesson will help you help her connect her learning style and her use of language.

A Word About Literature

Teaching a child the alphabet tends to be our first step toward reading, but is it where literacy begins? While this skill can be gratifying for adults to see, literacy begins in the brain and is nurtured with fun and games. As you've learned about language skills, literacy doesn’t come in a box from the store. When you understand instincts and use them in fun and play, they come from you.

Understanding Learning Disabilities

One in seven Americans has a learning disability. That means that in your class of 28 students, four could have significant trouble keeping up with the basics. In our first lesson, we'll investigate what learning disabilities (LDs) are and define some common types of LDs that you'll see again and again in the classroom. After that, we'll take a few minutes to switch roles with our learners and see what it's like to try to work past an LD.

Identifying Students with LDs

Is Tamara having trouble with reading because it's not her favorite subject, or is something else going on? The process of identifying students with LDs is a long and sometimes tedious one. But with the proper expectations and the right dose of compassion, teachers can have success in the investigatory prereferral process. We'll discuss it in today's lesson.

Making Sense of the IEP

In this lesson, we'll discuss IEPs, which are road maps that guide the learning curve of every child with LDs. Written specifically to address individual needs, these legal documents are both confusing and complicated. But once you know how to decode the language and the sections, it's easy to start using IEPs as the helpful tools they're meant to be.

Understanding Service Locations

Students with LDs  receive IEP-mandated services in a number of ways. Whether they mostly stay in their classroom or spend some time in the special education room, they're going to learn a bit differently than other students. Today, we'll take a look at the common service locations that help students with LDs meet educational goals.

Learning the Right Teaching Strategies

We all remember that one teacher who really made a difference in our lives. The right teaching strategies spell out the difference between a creative, engaging classroom and one that stagnates without reaching most of its students. In this lesson, we'll talk about the teaching strategies that make learning memorable for students with LDs.

Helping Students With Word Identification Problems

Word identification problems can make "cat" look like "can" or "pan." Imagine how hard it would be to read all the wrong words in all the right places. In this lesson, you'll discover smart strategies to help student find their words.

Helping Students With Reading Comprehension Problems

For students who have trouble reading, it's hard enough to just get the words right. But to pair those words with their meaning is a seemingly insurmountable task. In today's lesson, we'll go over how to chunk information so students can understand what they're reading and fall in love with texts.

Helping Students With Written Expression Problems

Writing poses quite a few challenges for students with LDs. Some of them have trouble holding their pencils, and others find it difficult to communicate what it is they're trying to say. Today, we'll take a tour of strategies that bring writing to life for students who often don't even realize all the neat things they have to say.

Helping Students With Math Reasoning and Calculation Problems

A lot of students with LDs dread math because it requires a lot of skills to come together seamlessly and at the same time: Reasoning, logic, number sense, writing, and computation are all key. But math doesn't have to be so scary. In this lesson, we'll discuss how to make all those numbers a little easier for students with LDs to manipulate.

Modifying Your Classroom

Even though the IEP gives you a general idea of how to help your students with LDs , you'll still need to explore new, innovative ideas to modify your classroom, assignments, and tests, and that's what we'll discuss in today's lesson. These modifications often spell success for students with LDs who need just a little push in the right direction.

Managing Student Behavior

We've all had days when going to school was a drag. Students with LDs are no different. Because school forces them to tackle big challenges head on, it's often their least favorite thing to do. This can lead to big behavior problems that you'll have to defuse creatively. We'll take a look at some great strategies in this lesson.

Linking Home and School

The connection between home and school is a powerful predictor of classroom success for students with LDs. So in our final lesson, we'll discuss the best ways to conduct meaningful parent-teacher conferences that help everyone unite behind a child with LDs in need.

Meet Your Students With Austism
You may have already taught students with high-functioning autism or Asperger's Syndrome, but have you taken the time to get to know them? Today we'll discover how their brains are wired differently, the ways they behave, and smart strategies to make the most of the opportunity to teach these kids.

Understand the Common Characteristics of HFA/AS
Now that we've met our students, in this lesson we'll develop an understanding of the characteristics they often display in our classrooms. From trouble handling change to difficulty with social interaction, language processing, and distractions, we'll discover how these characteristics shape students' worldview and ability to perform in academic settings. 

Discover How Your Students Think
Did you know that most students with high-functioning autism and Asperger's Syndrome are visual thinkers? Today we'll spend some time determining how these students process information so we can tailor our lesson plans to their preferred learning and thinking styles. 

Nurture Students' Social Skills
In this lesson, you'll discover how students with high-functioning autism and Asperger's Syndrome struggle socially. We'll talk about the extent of the problem, some of the causes, and its very real impact. Then we'll discuss some nonverbal and verbal exercises we can do in class to lessen these students' social anxiety. 

Encourage Language Reciprocity
Today we'll explore how students with high-functioning autism and Asperger's Syndrome converse and why it's so incredibly hard for them to keep conversations going. Then we'll talk about a graphic organizer that is very helpful when students need to translate between their thoughts and ours. Finally, we'll cover how to write social stories that help kids understand what's expected of them.

Work With Sensory Sensitivities
In this lesson, we're going to examine why students with high-functioning autism and Asperger's Syndrome have such delicate sensory sensitivities. Then we'll discuss two strategies for helping them reclaim control over daily experiences that once seemed quite intimidating. Both the strategies we'll discuss are visual ones, and they're wonderfully easy and effective. 

Nurture Special Interests
Students with high-functioning autism or Asperger's Syndrome are often "little professors" who have highly specialized interests and fixations. How do we direct these gifts for math or language or science into appropriate academic channels? With visual strategies that help students link their interests to the broader world. You'll learn the strategies today!

Encourage Homework Completion
This may just be your favorite lesson in the course! Every teacher I know is looking for new and exciting strategies to get students to do their homework. Today you'll learn how to engage students with high-functioning autism or Asperger's Syndrome in their studies and link their interests with meaningful learning. 

Counter Runaway Emotions and Meltdowns
What if you had an emotional meltdown every single day? Would you be excited to get out of bed and do it all over again? Probably not. Many students with high-functioning autism or Asperger's Syndrome are prone to meltdowns and tantrums that derail their focus and take up precious classroom time. In this lesson, you'll learn how to turn these charged encounters into more positive learning experiences. 

Redirect Violent Fixations
No one likes to be teased! Sadly, many students with high-functioning autism or Asperger's Syndrome are bullied or made fun of on a daily basis. Because this makes them so fearful and frustrated, they often fixate on objects of power or violence—fixations that can have very serious consequences in today's world. Today we'll delve into how to channel these frustrations into more appropriate feelings. 

Foster Attentiveness
Imagine what it would be like if your mind raced all the time, darting from thought to thought at warp speed. It would be pretty hard to pay attention to anything, wouldn't it? In this lesson, we'll look at ways to help students focus on our lessons and learn a little something in the process. Here's a hint: Visuals help! 

Plan for the Future
In our final lesson, we'll talk about smart ways to prepare students for life beyond our four walls. It's never too early to start thinking about ways to encourage students to reach their highest potential in future classes, jobs, and social roles. After all, isn't that why we chose to be teachers in the first place?

Keys to Success in Your Teaching Career

A great classroom starts with a great teacher—and that’s you! In this lesson, we’ll look at how you can grow in your job as an adult educator by enhancing your professionalism and managing your time effectively. In addition, we’ll look at ways to boost your confidence and establish your authority in the classroom.

Creating a Positive Learning Environment

Adult students are different than kids, and understanding those differences can help you reach and teach them. Today we’ll look at what makes adult learners tick and how you can best meet their needs. In addition, we’ll talk about preparing for that big first day by getting your paperwork in order. Finally, we’ll look at seven different seating arrangements and the pros and cons of each.

Understanding Learning Styles

Jill is a risk-taker who loves testing the rules. Germaine is a shy bookworm. Claire is an artist, while Dave’s your most popular student. All of these adults have different learning styles and intelligences—and to win them over, you’ll need to teach to their strengths. In this lesson, we’ll explore two different models of learning styles, and take a look at the eight intelligences you’ll want to factor into your lesson plans.

Managing, Supervising, and Counseling Your Students

Zzzzzzz. That’s the sound of Darren snoozing in the corner as you’re trying to lecture. Meanwhile, Emily and Sherelle are too busy gossiping about their weekend dates to pay any attention to you. Does this sound like your classroom? If so, you’ll enjoy today’s lesson, where you’ll learn loads of tricks to get misbehaving students back on track. We’ll also talk about ways to get shy violets to participate, and look at an effective conflict management technique.

Basic Teaching Methods

Remember the old days, when teachers lectured for hours while students took notes or dozed? Those days are gone—and good riddance! Today, we’ll talk about a host of innovative techniques, from window paning and role-playing to mnemonics and visualization, that work like magic in a student-centered classroom. But we’ll also take a peek at lectures and other classic teaching techniques, and see what part they can play in a modern-day learning environment.

Planning Your Course

"Proper prior planning" may be a cliché, but it’s also an excellent idea. In this lesson, we’ll look at the up-front work that can set you up for success in the classroom. First, you’ll discover the 12 steps for creating a dynamite course outline. After that, we’ll delve into lesson planning—and finally, we’ll talk about laying the groundwork for a welcoming orientation.

Educational Aids and Classroom Technology

Just as an interior decorator accents a room with bright colors and great fabrics, you can accent your classroom presentations with the right audiovisual aids. Today, we’ll look at high-tech, low-tech, and no-tech educational aids and technology you can use to capture and keep your students’ attention. In addition, we’ll talk about setting up your classroom so that everyone can benefit from videos and other on-screen material.

Creating Effective Presentations

What motivates your students to learn? Today, we’ll look at the 10 needs and desires that bring learners to your classroom—and you’ll discover how to tap into those motivators during your presentations. We’ll also look at how to create powerful presentation openings, content, and closings. Then we’ll explore the art of questioning and talk about the best way to ask and answer questions in your classroom.

Grading and Advising Your Students

In this lesson, we’ll discuss the A-B-C’s of grading and talk about ways to write top-notch test questions. In addition, you’ll discover great tools for assessing any type of skill, from cake-baking to hairdressing. You’ll also find out how to avoid the most common mistakes teachers make when they assess students, so you can achieve the Goldilocks standard of grading: not too harsh, not too easy, but just right.

Teaching Students Who Have Special Needs

You want every student to feel welcome in your classroom—so today we’ll look at making your class accessible and enjoyable for students with disabilities. First, we’ll look at the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and you’ll learn how to comply with this law. Next, we’ll talk about learning disabilities—in particular, dyslexia and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). And finally, we’ll explore ways to show courtesy and respect to students with any type of disability.

Teaching Study Skills and Test-Taking Techniques

Even if you create great lessons, your students will succeed only if they’re good studiers and efficient test-takers. In this lesson, we’ll explore ways to beef up your students’ study skills and look at strategies for test-taking. In addition, we’ll discuss test anxiety and talk about tailoring your tips on studying to each learner’s strengths.

Starting a Career as an Adult Educator

Enough about your students—today's lesson is all about you! Whether you're a brand-new teacher or an experienced educator looking for new classroom opportunities, you'll find tips here on how to power up your job search. We'll start by talking about two keys to a successful job hunt: a great résumé and a winning portfolio. After that, we'll discuss how you can target the right schools and wow them with your letter-writing and interview skills

Understanding Students With ADHD

Teaching students with ADHD presents challenges and opportunities. In this lesson, you'll develop an understanding of ADHD and how it impacts children and their ability to learn in a classroom environment. We'll discuss the reasons for many behaviors associated with ADHD, some myths about ADHD, and how ADHD impacts the skills most of us take for granted, such as estimating time, monitoring effort, organizing and planning, and controlling impulses and attention. By the end of this first lesson, you'll have a new appreciation for students who struggle with ADHD.

The Diagnostic Process

In this lesson, we're going to take a close look at the diagnostic process. There are lots of steps a teacher takes in documenting a student's behavior, consulting with school personnel, and effectively communicating with a student's parents. We'll cover all of these steps, as well as the steps a pediatrician and a clinical psychologist take in evaluating a student. We'll also discuss the specific symptoms you can look for in a student and how to determine whether the student might be a candidate for evaluation. And we'll look at the differences between girls and boys with ADHD.

Are They Putting in the Effort?

Students with ADHD are often accused of being lazy, or simply not trying. In this lesson, we'll explore the issue of effort, and how students' perception of effort may be different from what others observe. We'll see how problems with effort impact school performance, and how brain chemistry relates to effort. We'll also discuss how a student's self-knowledge impacts positive behavior.

ADHD and Brain Activation

Students with ADHD often have trouble with activating their brain. Sometimes, it takes a great deal of effort to activate it at all. Some students have brains that are overactive, and others have trouble keeping their overactive brain private. In this lesson, we'll look at three types of activation problems: overarousal, underarousal, and impulsivity. We'll explore the relationships between activation and motivation, and activation and brain chemistry. We'll discuss the activation process, as well as strategies we can use to help students with these problems.

ADHD and Activity Level

Students with a high activity level can't seem to keep from wiggling, bouncing, tapping, and talking in the classroom. And this can be extremely taxing on a teacher. Chances are, you've encountered children with a high activity level before, and you've probably struggled to find ways to get these children to settle down long enough to complete an assignment. Today, we'll discuss why some students have a need to move and why movement is helpful to them, and we'll look at some of the most common movements and ways to help these students take care of their need to move without bothering you or anyone else! You'll also learn ways to incorporate movement into your curriculum that will help many of your students be more successful in school.

Attention and ADHD

We've finally gotten to the A in ADHD—attention! We all attend to both internal thoughts and external stimulation. Students with ADHD struggle with attention, because their mind wanders and they don't have control over this in the same way that the average student does. Today, we'll take a close look at what attention is, how it works, how it needs to be regulated, and strategies that can help our students control both internal and external attention more successfully. So pay attention as we venture into the world of attention regulation!

The Emotional Impact of ADHD

Today, we'll look at ADHD's impact on emotions. We'll explore why this occurs neurologically and three of the most common emotional patterns we see in students with ADHD, as well as specific interventions we can use to decrease long-term negative effects. The effects of ADHD on a student's emotions can be significant. In this lesson, you'll meet three students who are dealing with some significant emotional challenges as a result of their ADHD: Ed, who copes by shutting down; Kathleen, who has developed severe anxiety; and AJ, whose frustration manifests in angry outbursts. 

Memory

Want to better understand the memory process? In this lesson, you'll learn why memory is so important, how memory works, and what happens when memory breaks down. We'll discuss working memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory. And, as always, we'll identify a wide variety of strategies that will improve memory functioning. Even though our focus is on students with ADHD, we can all benefit from improving our memory skills. Are you ready to store this information in your memory bank?

Problem-Solving for Academic Performance

Now that we understand how ADHD affects activation, attention, impulsivity, and memory, we can focus in on how ADHD impacts school performance. If so many of these students are smart, why do they fail? If we test their reading skills, they may do fine, but why do they make so many mistakes on reading comprehension tests? They have great ideas and answer questions in class, but their writing is often unorganized and maybe even unreadable. They seem to know the math you're teaching, but they do poorly on the tests. In this lesson, we'll look at these important issues, and explore a strength-based problem-solving model that you can use across the curriculum!

Classroom Beliefs and Rules

How do you incorporate learning strategies for students with ADHD while still addressing the other students' needs in the classroom? This is what we're going to discuss in today's lesson. We'll talk about how to create an inclusive classroom that accommodates the needs of all students, and how to treat all students fairly and give them the respect they need and deserve. And we'll discuss classroom rules that are effective for all students. We'll also talk about the underlying beliefs that support these rules and how to apply these beliefs in your classroom.

Preplanning and Facilitating an ADHD-Friendly Classroom

This lesson focuses on specific materials teachers can develop prior to the opening of school, to prepare for the effective inclusion of students with ADHD.  Then there are the teaching tools to use during lessons, to help students with ADHD stay engaged and on task.  Parents: there is a chapter specifically for you, which focuses on ways to adapt many of these same strategies when you are helping your children be successful with homework.

Student Self-Reliance

In our final lesson, we'll discuss how students