My Personal Research Journey

The topic I have chosen is language development. I have chosen this topic for several reasons. 1. I work at a center where so many children are receiving services because of a speech delay. 2. I work with children and families who are second language learners. 3. reason for choosing language development is because I am using the bilingual emergent approach within my classroom in order to speak both English and Spanish language to children and their family.

Language development is a very important skill, in which a child will use to communicate in order to express their needs and thoughts. As an educator it is so important to help children enhance their language development by providing them with age appropriate activities that will allow them to learn new words and communicate well. For example: providing daily reading of short story, asking the children open-ended question, using music as a mean of communication, one on one communication between the teacher/child and supporting group discussion (peer to peer communicate). 

I remember when my daughter was about the age of two years old had to receive a tracheotomy due to a sudden illness, where she was not getting the proper oxygen to her brain. After receiving the tracheotomy my daughter was moving her lips to talk, but not one sound came from her mouth. I was told by doctor if my daughter would cover the hole of the trach with her finger then sound will come from her mouth. My daughter got smart by using her chin to communicate her needs and thoughts with a clear sound. For about three years that’s how my daughter communicated with me and others her life. At first, it was a challenging and scary experience for both my daughter and I, but over the years it got better especially when we was able to communicate again. It felt and sound good to hear her voice after weeks of silence. In school my daughter also receives speech therapy as well to enhance her language development. I am currently working in a classroom where children have an IEP and receiving speech therapy once a week. In conjunction with the speech therapy it is my duty to provide weekly lesson plan that will meet the child’s individual need. 

I am not sure just of yet where I am going with research topic on language development with the subtopics of strategies use to promote healthy language development in young children, the advantage of speaking in the child’s home language and the importance of an on-going positive communication between the teacher, children and their families.  So, if someone has any suggested resources or knowledge about the language development please feels free to share it.