Writer: Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5608, skledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Fred M. Hall, 940-716-8610, fmhall@ag.tamu.edu
WICHITA FALLS – Parents with children ages 0-5 will have the opportunity to attend a language development workshop from 5:30-8 p.m. Dec. 14 at Washington-Jackson Elementary School.
The school is located at 1300 Harding St. in Wichita Falls, said Fred Hall, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agent for Wichita County. Participants will be served a light meal before the workshop, and there will be child care available.
“Children who are consistently exposed to a variety of language uses and forms develop more effective language skills and a larger vocabulary,” Hall said. “Both are important to their academic and social success.”
Cathy Cole from Kaplan Early Learning Company in California will be the presenter.
In this workshop participants will develop an understanding of appropriate language modeling practices to intentionally encourage, expand on and respond to children’s speech, Hall said.
Parents will learn to develop and enhance their skills and abilities in asking open-ended questions, using self-talk and parallel talk, promoting child-initiated conversations and the use of advance language by working through both small and large group activities and discussions.
This workshop is hosted by AgriLife Extension’s Wichita County office, the North Texas Area United Way, the North Texas Child Care Association and Region IX Education Service Center.
Hall said seating is limited and preregistration by 5 p.m. Dec. 13 is required to ensure enough meals and child care providers are available.
To preregister or for more information, contact the AgriLife Extension office in Wichita County at 940-716-8610 or http://wichita.agrilife.org/early-childhood-development/.
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