Oral language and vocabulary

Oral language and vocabulary includes knowledge of words and ability to use them and other features of oral language to communicate effectively in different situations.

Learning objectives for children and corresponding strategies for library staff

Birth to 12 months

Literacy learning objectives for children	Educator strategies to support children's learning
For children to: Engage in one-to-one interactions with caregivers. Participate in turn-taking games with caregiver.	Explain to caregivers the importance of talking to babies. Model ways of talking to babies.

Literacy learning objectives for children

Educator strategies to support children's learning

For children to:

Engage in one-to-one interactions with caregivers.

Participate in turn-taking games with caregiver.

Explain to caregivers the importance of talking to babies.

Model ways of talking to babies.

12 to 24 months

Literacy learning objectives for children	Educator strategies to support children's learning
For children to: Recognise that pictures in books relate to real world objects and events. Enact actions depicted in books (e.g. touch your toes; turn around).	Read simple books which represent familiar objects and events. Allow plenty of time for children to make connections between the pictures and words.

Literacy learning objectives for children

Educator strategies to support children's learning

For children to:

Recognise that pictures in books relate to real world objects and events.

Enact actions depicted in books (e.g. touch your toes; turn around).

Read simple books which represent familiar objects and events.

Allow plenty of time for children to make connections between the pictures and words.

2 -3 years

Literacy learning objectives for children	Educator strategies to support children's learning
For children to: Enjoy simple narratives about familiar experiences e.g. meals, playing, losing a favourite toy. Hear new words used in context.	Read both narrative and concept books, with different artistic styles and content areas. Explain new concepts necessary to comprehend meaning in book.

Literacy learning objectives for children

Educator strategies to support children's learning

For children to:

Enjoy simple narratives about familiar experiences e.g. meals, playing, losing a favourite toy.

Hear new words used in context.

Read both narrative and concept books, with different artistic styles and content areas.

Explain new concepts necessary to comprehend meaning in book.

3 -5 years

Literacy learning objectives for children	Educator strategies to support children's learning
For children to: Encounter unusual words in books. Gain experience with the language features of different genres.	Read both narrative and information books. Explain unusual words before reading to enhance comprehension. Talk about words and concepts after reading and re-read book at least once.

Literacy learning objectives for children

Educator strategies to support children's learning

For children to:

Encounter unusual words in books.

Gain experience with the language features of different genres.

Read both narrative and information books.

Explain unusual words before reading to enhance comprehension.

Talk about words and concepts after reading and re-read book at least once.

Ideas for storytime

Introduce words that will appear in the story
- e.g. in Where the wild things are by Maurice Sendak the wild things “gnash their terrible teeth”
Use junior non-fiction to introduce some information about topics in the story (e.g. pirates, bears, penguins)