SLCECESCDOL - Developing Oral Language - Short Course
This eight-week course for teachers of 3 years old to first grade, will present research-based strategies for using quality children’s literature, dramatic play scenarios, and children’s interests throughout the classroom to get young children talking and sharing their stories. These strategies can provide both a strong foundation in children’s first language and a meaningful context for emergent bilinguals. We will address the classroom environment and how to plan for and implement language-rich, open-ended, and engaging activities for young children. We will also explore the role of extended conversation and the teacher-child relationship in promoting oral language as well as a philosophy of family engagement that builds upon families’ strengths and diverse life experiences.
Course Details
Dates: Wednesdays, February 5-April 2, 2025
This course is considered a blended course (asynchronous and synchronous). We will meet in person 3 times, virtually (synchronous) 2 times, and there will be 3 weeks when participants will practice implementing the recommended strategies and activities in their own classrooms using the suggested materials. Participants will be assigned a total of 4 modules to complete, including activities such as readings, videos, reflection posts, and quizzes.
Student Reflection Project: Putting it All Together: Meaningful Teacher-Child Interactions in a Language Rich Environment
Course Topics
• Characteristics of a language-rich classroom
• Importance of the teacher-child relationship; having extended conversations with children
• Interactive read-alouds, story dramatization, story retelling
• Using real-life dramatic play scenarios as a tool to develop language
• Highlighting student interest in the classroom
• Celebrating families' strengths and funds of knowledge
• February 5, 2025, 3:30-5:30 p.m. - In person at a Houston-area Rice OWL Lab
• Week of February 11, 2025 – Implementation week
• February 19, 2025, 4:30-6:30 p.m. - Synchronous online session
• Week of February 25, 2025 - Implementation week
• Week of March 5, 2025, 3:30-5:30 p.m. - In person at a Houston-area Rice OWL Lab
• Week of March18, 2025 - Implementation week
• March 26, 2025, 4:30-6:30 p.m. - Synchronous online session
• April 2, 2025, 3:30-5:30 p.m. - In-person End-of-Course celebration at Rice University
The enrollment deadline is Tuesday, January 28, 2025. Space is limited and registrations are on a first-come, first-served basis.
The special introductory cost of this course for the 2025 inaugural cohort is $500.The actual course value is $1,250 consisting of a course fee of $1,000 plus $250 of classroom materials.
If a student is paying for themselves, they will just need to click on the “Add to Cart” button to register and pay.
If a school/district is paying for one or more students, they will need to click on this link and complete a google form and we will register the student(s) and communicate with the school/district contact person.
We encourage participation of 2 or more teachers per campus, when possible, so they may support each other with course implementation.
The last day to cancel a registration and receive a partial refund is Monday, January 20, 2025.
A 10 percent processing fee will be subtracted from all refunds. Due to the high demand for courses, registrations are considered final 14 days before class begins. No refunds will be issued after this date and credits will not be given for future classes. No refunds will be granted for participants who miss a portion of a program. Refund requests by the deadline must be made in writing to slc@rice.edu. Refunds for credit card payments will be processed as credits to the accounts from which they were paid and may not appear as a credit on your statement for up to four to six weeks. Refunds for enrollments paid by check take up to four to six weeks to be processed and mailed by the Rice University accounting office. There is a $30 charge for any check returned for insufficient funds.
The last day to make a substitution for a registered participant is Tuesday, January 28, 2025. Substitution requests must be made by the deadline to slc@rice.edu. If a participant has paid the fee themselves, a refund minus the 10% processing fee will be processed after the substitute participant has registered and paid. The substitute participant must be a current classroom teacher of Pre-K or Kindergarten students.