This week Pūkeko have been able to start their Intensive Oral Language Programme. The children are getting used to holding conversations with others and taking turns to speak. This week they were engaged in the topic of Families and they really enjoyed talking and creating texts together. In each session the children are gifted new vocabulary and guided to expand their sentences when they talk. There are three parts to the programme: Book Talk, Photo Talk and Hands On.

Book Talk - The children work in a group with the teacher to develop ‘their own story’ based on the pictures in a quality picture book. Then they are supported to develop and remember an oral text which is recorded by the teacher.

Photo Talk - The children are supported by the teacher to choose a photo and then shape a spoken paragraph about it. The paragraph is recorded and becomes part of the children’s reading.

Hands On - The children are given materials to look at and manipulate. Then they are supported to talk about the chosen topic. This week the children were talking about members of their family and here are some photos of them dressing up as different members of their family.