SPEAKING AND LISTENING

RESEARCH FINDING:

A good foundation in speaking and listening helps children become 
better readers.

COMMENT:

When  children learn to read,  they are making a transition  from 
spoken to written language.   Reading instruction builds on  con-
versational  skills:   the  better children are at  using  spoken 
language,  the  more successfully they will learn to read written 
language.  To succeed at reading, children need a basic vocabula-
ry,  some knowledge of the world around them,  and the ability to 
talk  about  what they know.   These skills  enable  children  to 
understand written material more readily.
Research shows a strong connection between reading and listening.  
A  child  who is listening well shows it by being able to  retell 
stories and repeat instructions.  Children who are good listeners 
in  kindergarten and first grade are likely to become  successful 
readers  by  the third grade.   Good  fifth-grade  listeners  are 
likely  to  do  well on aptitude and achievement  tests  in  high 
school.

Parents  and teachers need to engage children in thoughtful  dis-
cussions on all subjects:   current events,  nature, sports, hob-
bies,  machines, family life, and emotions--in short, on anything 
that interests children.   Such discussions should not be limited 
to reading selections that are part of classwork.  

Conversing  with  children about the world around them will  help 
them reflect on past experiences and on what they will  see,  do, 
and read about in the future.

Speaking  English at school is especially important for  children 
who have not grown up speaking English. 


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