This is the first course in a two-part series designed to inform and support early learning providers and educators in understanding language development in 0-5-year-olds. The goal is to facilitate high-quality education and academic success. Participants will learn the link between early oral language skills and later literacy performance, and identify potential red flags to refer children who may be at risk of language or learning disorders for screening and assessment. This course is a prerequisite for the remaining courses in this series.
At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the importance of content, form, and use
- Understand language milestones for monolingual learners aged 0-3 and 3-5
- Identify red flags for monolingual learners aged 0-3 and 3-5
- Facilitate oral language and emergent literacy skills in young children through activities and play
- Understand the process of referring a child for a developmental evaluation, including when, who to refer to, and how to refer
Intended Audiences
- Early Learning Providers and Educators (daycare teachers, classroom aides, paraprofessionals, preschool teachers, early intervention providers, etc.)
Course Type
- Self-paced
Recommended # of PLUs
- 1.5 PLUs
*Please note: You must have completed Course 1: Early Language and Literacy Development in Monolinguals to access this course. Once you complete Course 1, you will be automatically enrolled in this course.
This is the second course in the series intended to support early learning providers and educators in understanding language development and literacy readiness in 0–5-year-olds. This course focuses on multilingual learners. Participants will learn about the link between early oral language skills and later literacy performance, discuss caregiver approaches to language in multilingual households, and hear from a local Rhode Island family raising bilingual children. Potential red flags will also be highlighted so that multilingual children at risk for language and learning disorders can be referred for screening and assessment.
At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:
- List language milestones and red flags in 0–5-year-old multilingual children
- Characterize multilingual caregiver language approaches
- Summarize the referral process for multilingual children
- Describe evidence-based assessment practices for multilingual learners
Intended Audiences
- Early Learning Providers and Educators (daycare teachers, classroom aides, paraprofessionals, preschool teachers, early intervention providers, etc.)
Course Type
- Self-Paced
Recommended # of PLUs
- 2 PLUs
This course is intended to support early learning providers and educators in understanding language development and literacy readiness in preschool-aged children. Participants will learn to facilitate high-quality learning experiences that promote future academic success. Highlights include the connection between oral language and pre-literacy, along with video demonstrations illustrating practical applications of research-based strategies for creating a language-rich environment for monolingual and multilingual learners.
At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Define and describe form, content, and use as it pertains to Bloom and Lahey’s model of language
- Learn about key legislation related to literacy development in early childhood education
- Describe how oral language can be stimulated and supported during shared book reading lessons in the classroom
- Identify the key components of phonological awareness and ways to implement them in early childhood settings
- Identify key components of print concepts and discuss ways they can be included in shared book reading experiences and the classroom setting
Intended Audiences
- Early Learning Providers and Educators (daycare teachers, classroom aides, paraprofessionals, preschool teachers, early intervention providers, etc.)
Course Type
- Self-Paced
Recommended # of PLUs
- 2 PLUs
This is the fourth course in the series designed to support early childhood educators in understanding assessment and screening practices for preschool-aged children. Participants will gain knowledge to effectively identify, administer, and interpret several high-quality screening tools used to measure language and literacy performance in young children.
At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Define and describe key components of assessment, their purposes, and considerations for use
- Identify key components of the Preschool Early Literacy Indicators Screener (PELI) and describe how it can be used in the preschool classroom
- Identify key components of the EarlyBird Screener and describe how it can be used in the preschool classroom
- Identify key components of Authentic Assessment and describe ways to incorporate it into the classroom to monitor progress throughout the school year
- Explain special considerations in assessment practices for multilingual learners
Intended Audiences
- Early Learning Providers and Educators
- Paraprofessionals
- Early Childhood Special Education Teachers
Course Type
- Self-Paced
Recommended # of PLUs
- 2.5 PLUs
Please note: Course 4: Screening and Assessment Practices is a prerequisite for this course. This is the final course in our Early Language and Literacy Development series for early childhood educators passionate about supporting language and literacy development in preschoolers. Participants will learn evidence-based strategies to support language development, build phonological awareness, and engage in written language tasks in the classroom. The course also includes tips for strengthening the home-school connection and equipping families with tools to support their child’s growth.
At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Define and describe key components of assessment, their purposes, and considerations for use
- Identify key components of the Preschool Early Literacy Indicators (PELI) Screener and describe how it can be used in the preschool classroom
- Identify key components of the EarlyBird Screener and describe how it can be used in the preschool classroom
- Identify key components of authentic assessment and describe ways it can be incorporated into the classroom to monitor progress throughout the school year
- Explain special considerations in assessment practices for multilingual learners
Intended Audiences
- Early Learning Providers and Paraprofessionals
- Early Childhood Special Education Teachers
Course Type
- Self-Paced
Recommended # of PLUs
- 2 PLUs