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| First Level Language (Kindersay). A program designed to facilitate oral language acquisition and an understanding of the basic language concepts and relationships needed to succeed in the more complex tasks of math and reading, prekindergarten to 1st grade. |
Audience Approved by PEP for pre-primary students in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and transitional first grade, including those with developmental lags and learning disabilities.
Description First Level Language (Kindersay) is viewed as a basic part of a total language program and would naturally be accompanied by other informal language experiences. It provides a sequential curriculum and management system that provides for individual developmental growth and learning of basic language skills in conceptual language, auditory discrimination, and auditory memory. A child may work through as many as 72 lessons to reach advanced objectives. The step-by-step, closely sequenced lessons afford the child frequent experiences of success because higher level objectives are pursued when mastery of preceding skills is established. The curriculum is based on knowledge of developmental theory and cognitive growth. Lessons represent a three-part continuum: receptive language, expressive language, and concept-related activities. The sequenced objectives are also presented in strands so that the child does not reach an impasse in instruction due to a particular area of difficulty. Instructional periods take place on a daily basis for a period of 20-30 minutes. Children are grouped for instruction depending on their determined starting levels; there are typically three or four groups in a classroom. The well-documented lessons describe procedures and are accompanied by appropriate materials.
The program addresses Goal 3 of the National Goals for Education by helping to increase substantially the percentage of students who demonstrate the ability to reason, solve problems, and communicate effectively. The program has been used effectively with bilingual and ESL students.
Evidence of Effectiveness After one year in the program, participants demonstrated statistically significant and educationally meaningful gains relative to national norm groups and local comparison groups on three different measures of language-concept development.
Requirements The program requires no special staff or facilities. A maximum of one day of staff training is required. Administrators and para-professionals are encouraged to attend training sessions. A training tape, complete with manual, is available. One Kindersay materials kit is required per classroom.
Costs Training costs consist of travel expenses plus $150 per classroom for the Kindersay materials kit, which is nonconsumable.
Services In addition to training and materials, follow-up technical assistance is available if necessary. Monitoring and evaluation procedures are also provided. Awareness materials are available at no cost.
Developmental Funding: PRIMAK Educational Foundation.
PEP No. 88-11R2 (2/13/90)
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