Designed to help practitioners help children develop specific language skills in science, this book presents guidelines to help teachers set up, run and assess circle-time sessions and ideas for promoting thinking skills and emotional literacy. An accompanying video CD explains and demonstrates the program. This book is the first of its kind to help practitioners specifically develop children's language skills in Science. The book incudes: Guidelines to help teachers set up, run and assess circle-time sessions Ideas for promoting children's thinking skills and emotional literacy Video CD containing explanation and demonstration of the programme and its implementation, with comments from staff who have used it.

Poor language and communication skills have been shown to have profound effect on the life chances of children and young people. Research tells us this consistently over the years. Now in its third edition, Developing Language and Communication Skills through Small Group Work provides essential information for practitioners working with linguistically vulnerable children. It is underpinned by an approach based on developmental psychology and brain based research. The book provides clarity and repetition of key concepts at a level that this particular cohort of children require. The book now includes a section on using the power of puppets to support communication. Feedback from practitioners is that it is not only fun to run the SPIRALS groups but also highly effective in providing the support the children need.

The SPIRALS language book contains a wealth of effective ideas for activities to support good practice to develop children s speech, language and communication development. The most powerful way to use Spirals is as set out in the sessions as an ongoing programme. Although these activities can be used as stand alone ideas to target a particular area of concern. The sessions have been carefully designed to build upon children s existing skills base. Small spirals of learning are introduced at a pace the children can access and retain.

SPIRALS supports good practice in early years settings and schools up to KS2. The aim is to develop effective language and communication skills which will underpin a range of critical thinking, reasoning and social competency skills as well as increased ability to listen, maintain focus and learn effectively. Also it has been shown that improvements in levels of spoken language can have a positive impact on written literacy.

Included in this book are:

• concise explanations of the terms and concepts involved
• clear guidelines for setting up and running small group sessions
• structured lesson plans twelve for nursery and early primary years
• photocopiable resources
• lists of further reading and resources.

New to this third edition includes:

• revised Early Years and Reception Year material
• fully updated to reference the Bercow Report (2008)
• new section on using puppets effectively
• additional bubble commentaries offering useful tips and suggestions to teachers.

This fully updated edition will be particularly useful for teachers, teaching assistants in early years and in schools, speech and language therapistsand assistants interested in the Spirals language development technique.

Designed for teachers to copy, and give out to parents who want to know, how to help their child improve his or her language skills, and have fun at the same time. This book includes activities that link directly to the school-based Language Development Circle and Time sessions, but can also be used independently.

This book is the first of its kind to help practitioners specifically develop children's language skills in Science. The book incudes: guidelines to help teachers set up, run and assess circle-time sessions ideas for promoting children's thinking skills and emotional literacy downloadable resources containing explanation and demonstration of the programme and its implementation, with comments from staff who have used it.

First Published in 2005. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

These simple play-based activities are ideal for teachers to copy and give out to parents who want to know how to help their child improve his or her science language skills and have fun at the same time. Activities are linked directly to the school-based Language Development Circle Time sessions, but can also be used independently. There is a clear structure and progression of ideas, with supporting black-line drawings to acts as prompts and simple record - keeping system to support home/school communication.

Building on the successful 'spirals' programme this series of books addresses language development in the three core areas of the curriculum. Linking the work done in school with simple games and activities to be used at home. All activities have been tried and tested - proven effectiveness. downloadable resources contain explanation and demonstration of the programme and its implementation, with commetns from staff who have used it.

Early years practitioners, parents and carers, child minders, health visitors do you need effective ideas for giving your babies and toddlers support to become confident talkers? National research shows that poor language and communication skills have a profound effect on the life chances of children and young people. This highly practical book will enable you to give children in your care the help they need to build their crucial language skills at the earliest point in their development. Based on the author's highly regarded SPIRALS language development programme, the book provides over 40 tried and tested sessions to help develop children's early speech, language and communication. Each language concept is introduced one at a time and builds on the most frequently used words by infants. It suggests ways to use music, repetition, simple meaningful gestures and signing to reinforce children's understanding. Features include: Clear guidelines for introducing specific games and activities at the right developmental level for babies and toddlers to develop their language skills from 0 to 3 1/2 years Ideas for progression based on child development Insights into the underlying psychology of the activities we suggest Advice on when to begin to use small group activities Guidance on what to do if a child is reluctant to join in. Practical suggestions for involving parents as partners Photocopiable recording sheets Suggestions for further reading and resources. Written by a leading authority in the field, this exciting new resource provides everything you need to support young children's language skills at the earliest point in their development.

First published in 2011. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Building on the successful 'spirals' programme this series of books addresses language development in the three core areas of the curriculum. Linking the work done in school with simple games and activities to be used at home. All activities have been tried and tested - proven effectiveness. downloadable resources contain explanation and demonstration of the programme and its implementation, with commetns from staff who have used it.

Early years practitioners, parents and carers, child minders, health visitors do you need effective ideas for giving your babies and toddlers support to become confident talkers? National research shows that poor language and communication skills have a profound effect on the life chances of children and young people. This highly practical book will enable you to give children in your care the help they need to build their crucial language skills at the earliest point in their development. Based on the author's highly regarded SPIRALS language development programme, the book provides over 40 tried and tested sessions to help develop children's early speech, language and communication. Each language concept is introduced one at a time and builds on the most frequently used words by infants. It suggests ways to use music, repetition, simple meaningful gestures and signing to reinforce children's understanding. Features include: Clear guidelines for introducing specific games and activities at the right developmental level for babies and toddlers to develop their language skills from 0 to 3 1/2 years Ideas for progression based on child development Insights into the underlying psychology of the activities we suggest Advice on when to begin to use small group activities Guidance on what to do if a child is reluctant to join in. Practical suggestions for involving parents as partners Photocopiable recording sheets Suggestions for further reading and resources. Written by a leading authority in the field, this exciting new resource provides everything you need to support young children's language skills at the earliest point in their development.

These simple play-based activities are ideal for teachers to copy and give out to parents who want to know how to help their child improve his or her science language skills and have fun at the same time. Activities are linked directly to the school-based Language Development Circle Time sessions, but can also be used independently. There is a clear structure and progression of ideas, with supporting black-line drawings to acts as prompts and simple record - keeping system to support home/school communication.