Just as no two snowflakes are identical, neither are any two young children’s language development journeys. The rate at which their vocabulary and comprehension grows is a culmination of both biological and environmental factors that is unique to each child. As an early childhood professional, you will need to develop the art of differentiation to design effective language experiences. You will also need to practice and hone your skills in successfully guiding and supporting a group of children. Becoming familiar with strategies and approaches that will assist you in working with children—one-on-one, in small groups, and as a large group—will be imperative to your success in fostering language acquisition, development, and literacy.
In this Discussion, you examine the concepts of direct instruction, implicit instruction, explicit instruction, and developmentally appropriate practice. You also create a scenario that incorporates at least three of these approaches and strategies.