Oral Language and Critical Listening Pieces of the Literacy Puzzle – Part 1

January 20th, 2026

By the time a child is 4 years old, how many words do you think he or she has heard at home? Two child psychologists, Betty Hart and Todd R. Risley, from the University of Kansas wanted to know exactly that, so they conducted a research study on oral language development in homes. What they found was astonishing. There was a huge gap between children whose parents provided rich language experiences (talking to children, singing, reading, etc.) – they heard about 45 million words – and children who grew up in impoverished language experience homes – they heard about 13 million words. That is a gap of  over   30 million words ! That gap presents a problem for classroom teachers across the country in today’s high-stakes educational environment.

Research has shown over and over again, listening informs reading, while speaking informs writing; if you cannot do one, you will struggle to do the other.  Many schools today have implemented great reading and writing programs but have found that there is a piece of the literacy puzzle missing for children. That missing piece is ORAL LANGUAGE.  If a child’s oral language does not match book language, that child will struggle to become a reader and writer.

Stephen Krashen, a respected linguist and researcher in the fields of second-language acquisition and bilingual education, conducted highly regarded research in the area of oral language development. He found that, “In all successful language teaching methods, the focus is on the message and not on the form, on what is being said, rather than how it is said.”  And to that end, we want children to be exposed to oral language that will help them communicate in a meaningful way.

Let’s take a look at how GrapeSEED works

THROUGH REPETITION AND WITH GRADUAL RELEASE

As teachers of reading and writing, we know that children will not be able to read a sentence on their own unless they are able to repeat that same language pattern or expression that they heard. Through repeated exposure to songs, stories, chants, big books, poems, and action activities, students will take on the oral language patterns used in these teaching tools. Research has shown that students need about 20 repetitions or exposures in order to master the patterns and expressions.

GrapeSEED teachers use the  Gradual Release of Responsibility Model  to teach oral language. At first teachers model correct language and pronunciation and then the children join in and “share” with the teacher. By the end of the 20 exposures, the children will be able to sing and say all of the songs and stories on their own!

TEACH SKILLS IN THE CONTEXT OF CONTINUOUS TEXT

Letters and sounds, high frequency words, concepts about print… these are all skills that children need to know in order to become readers and writers. However, in isolation, learning these skills will not help children make sense of text. These skills and others need to be taught through the use of continuous text in order to build meaning for children. GrapeSEED’s phonogram cards, phonogram word cards and poems used in tandem, as well as with our big books, provide the perfect shared reading experience to teach these skills in context.

More in Part 2…coming soon!

New Year, Clearer Path: Decluttering for Stronger Language Learning

January 20, 2026
January is the season of decluttering, but in schools, it’s about clearing space for what truly matters! This month’s blog explores how thoughtful organization supports multilingual learners and why strong language systems are worth keeping. A little clarity now can create momentum that lasts all year… and beyond!

Midyear Glow-Up: Refreshing Routines in Your Classroom!

December 11, 2025
The new year is a perfect time for reflection and renewal—not just for us, but for our students, too. After a long winter break, January offers a natural opportunity to revisit and reinforce classroom routines and procedures, especially in multilingual classrooms where clarity and consistency are key to helping all students feel secure and successful. For multilingual learners, routines are more than just classroom management—they provide language-rich structures that support understanding, reduce anxiety, and foster confidence. Whether students are newcomers or have been learning English for years, a clear and predictable environment helps them focus on learning rather than guessing what’s expected. Start the month by gently reviewing procedures: entering the classroom, transitioning between activities, participating in group work, asking for help, and using classroom materials. Model each step and invite students to demonstrate, using visuals, gestures, and multilingual supports when possible. Pair verbal directions with pictures or sentence stems to help students connect words with actions. This not only aids comprehension, it builds community and shared responsibility. Remember, reviewing routines isn’t about enforcing rules—it’s about resetting the tone for a peaceful, productive, and joyful classroom. Make space for students to share what helps them learn best and celebrate the positive habits they already bring with them. By investing time in January to revisit expectations with warmth and intention, you're setting the stage for a second half of the school year filled with growth, laughter, and learning—for every student, in every language.

Meet AI, Your New Teaching Assistant!

December 2, 2025
In today’s classrooms, elementary school teachers juggle countless responsibilities—planning engaging lessons, managing behavior, communicating with families, and differentiating instruction for every learner. Fortunately, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is opening up a world of support tools that can help educators reclaim valuable time while still meeting the diverse needs of their students. Lesson Planning, Simplified AI tools and other educator-focused platforms can generate customized, standards-aligned lesson plans in minutes. Whether you're teaching reading comprehension, performing science experiments, or developing math centers, AI can help you brainstorm activities, create differentiated tasks, and suggest formative assessments—all tailored to your students’ grade level and learning goals. Behavior Intervention Plans Made Easier Creating thoughtful, individualized behavior intervention plans (BIPs) often requires collaboration and time that’s hard to find. With the right prompts, AI can assist by generating plan templates, suggesting positive reinforcement strategies, and even helping you write goal-specific language that’s clear and professional. This allows for quicker implementation and better support for student growth. Boosting Communication with Families Need to send home a weekly newsletter, a classroom update, or a quick note in family-friendly language? AI can help you write clear, respectful, and engaging messages in seconds—and even translate them into multiple languages. This promotes stronger school-home connections without adding to your workload. More Than Just Words AI isn’t just about writing. It can generate visual aids, adapt texts for different reading levels, offer creative ideas for classroom themes, or even draft rubrics and anchor charts. When used responsibly, AI becomes a teaching assistant in your pocket—offering fresh ideas and saving you time. A Word of Caution—and Empowerment AI isn’t a magic wand, and it doesn’t replace the care, creativity, and wisdom that teachers bring to the classroom. But when used thoughtfully, it can remove some of the mental load and help you focus on what matters most: building relationships, inspiring learners, and making a lasting impact. AI can be a game-changing tool for educators—not by replacing the human touch, but by enhancing it. With the right approach, you can use AI to create, communicate, and collaborate more efficiently—without sacrificing quality. Just as AI can support teachers in the classroom, GrapeSEED does the same. From intentionally designed lesson plans to materials at your fingertips, to a results driven, joy filled curriculum for your language learner students, GrapeSEED has it all. Click here to learn more !

Finding Balance in a Too-Much-to-Teach World

November 3, 2025
If you’ve ever looked at your lesson plans and thought, “There’s no way I can fit all this in,” you’re not alone. Teachers today face an ever-growing list of standards, assessments, and initiatives, all while striving to create joyful, meaningful learning experiences for young children. The struggle is real! So how can we honor curriculum expectations without overwhelming ourselves or our students? Read on for ideas and strategies! Start with What Matters Most Not everything carries equal weight. Identify the skills and concepts your students truly need to succeed, both academically and developmentally. Prioritize depth over breadth when possible. A well-understood concept is more valuable than one that’s been rushed and checked off a list. Integrate Across Subject Areas Look for ways to blend content. A science lesson can include reading comprehension. A writing activity can connect to social studies. Integration allows for richer, more efficient learning and saves time while deepening student understanding. Protect Time for Play, Talk, and Joy Children learn best when they are engaged and emotionally connected to content. Carve out time for class discussions, movement, and creative exploration. These “non-academic” moments often bring about the deepest learning and are critical for social-emotional development. Be Realistic, Not Perfect It’s okay if not every lesson goes as planned or every objective is met on the first try. Focus on consistent growth, not perfection. Trust your professional judgment. After all, you know your students best. Support One Another Collaboration is key. Talk with teammates about what’s working, what can be scaled back, and how to share the load. A balanced curriculum starts with a balanced teacher, and that balance often comes from working together. Remember, you aren’t just covering content, you’re helping to shape children’s lives. When we prioritize purposeful, joyful learning over packing it all in, we give students (and ourselves) what truly matters most.. To learn how GrapeSEED English for Children saves teachers time so that they can focus on what is important, click here today!
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