Project RISE - Let’s Talk Part 2! Nurturing Early Language

Lisa Hiley, PhD., CCC-SLP

This is a fully online, self-paced, asynchronous course.

Continuing Education hours: 1.5 hours
Featured Expert: Lisa Hiley, PhD., CCC-SLP

Learning Objectives: At the completion of this module, Learners will be able to:

• 2.1 Identify nurturing practices within home, community, and early learning environments that support children’s early language and communication. 
• 2.2 Build my understanding of how to nurture communication for children with diverse linguistic, cultural, or developmental backgrounds. 
• 2.3 Explore strategies to collaborate with families so that communication-rich interactions continue across home, community, and care settings.

The first module, Let’s Talk! The Developmental Path to Early Language, focused on a strong understanding of the developmental foundations of early speech, language, and communication. 

This module, called Let’s Talk Part 2! Nurturing Early Language, expands on the developmental foundations and explores practical, culturally responsive strategies that nurture children’s language through everyday interactions, play, and storytelling.

This module is grounded in the belief that children’s development - including speech, language and communication - is grounded in caregiving relationships and environments. It is the people, places, experiences, and relationships that foster children’s development. When relationships and environments are nurtured children are supported to reach their fullest potential. 

“Let’s Talk” is rooted in the Early Relational Health (ERH) literature and guidance which centers the nurturing practices within different home, community, and learning environments that can foster children’s language, speech, and communication development in the early years. 

Enter this module with the reflective mindset as well as the recognition that you are already using a range of practices, strategies, and/or materials that are nurturing children’s early language and communication development. As you navigate you will review content and materials that address specific learning objectives:

• Identify nurturing practices within home, community, and early learning environments that support children’s early language and communication. 
• Build my understanding of how to nurture communication for children with diverse linguistic, cultural, or developmental backgrounds. 
• Explore strategies to collaborate with families so that communication-rich interactions continue across home, community, and care settings.

Beyond the pre-determined learning objectives, as someone who already engages and supports young children you are in a great place to write another learning objective that is relevant for you. Consider the following as possible:

• Reflect on their current strategies, routines, and materials, recognizing how these already foster children’s language and communication growth. 
• Apply at least one new or enhanced nurturing practice in their daily work to support children’s speech and language development. 
• Etc . . .

This professional development is available at no charge for child-serving professionals in the Finger Lakes/Western New York regions. Learn more: Continuing Education for Child-Serving Professionals.