A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Audience Teaching Activities for Language Knowledge (TALK) was validated by the Joint Dissemination Review Panel for all elementary students grades K-3. Due to the current emphasis on oral language, TALK is now used in grades K-6, bilingual education, migrant education, special education, gifted education, and in some areas for adult education programs.

Description TALK was designed to improve the oral language skills of children kindergarten through third grades in lower socioeconomic area schools where there is an established need. Although the original program began in a lower socioeconomic school in Rockford, Illinois, it has been beneficial to children from all strata.

The methodology includes training a language specialist and participating classroom teachers of an adopting school district in the use of the TALK manual and suggested materials. The language specialist conducts 30-minute oral language lessons twice each week in each participating classroom. In addition, participating classroom teachers utilize the TALK manual of activities to conduct 30-minute follow-up oral language lessons twice each week. The approach encourages teachers to use a variety of techniques, implementing all modalities and utilizing positive reinforcement, as a means of stimulating oral language. A TALK manual includes lessons in listening skills, grammatical skills, describing and defining, personal and social awareness, choral speaking, story telling, creative dramatics and puppets.

At the end of a six-month period, the teacher should be capable of interfacing TALK with the classroom instructional program.

Evidence of Effectiveness TALK students have shown gains of 30% to 80% on standardized tests for receptive and expressive language. These highly significant gains have been obtained at all grade levels.

This program directly addresses Goal 3 of the National Goals for Education.

Students learn and apply effective oral language and communication skills. This substantially increases their ability to reason, solve problems, apply knowledge, and write and communicate effectively.

Requirements The adopting district provides a speech and language clinician or teacher with a background in language development or reading, one hour per week for each classroom receiving TALK. The TALK program can be utilized by a classroom teacher if speech and language staff are not available. After language specialists and classroom teachers have been trained in the program, they can train other personnel in the local district. TALK staff assist adopting districts in evaluating the effectiveness of the program as it is implemented.

Costs Each language specialist and classroom teacher must have a copy of the TALK manual, $50. A TALK Training Manual, $25, is suggested for each school district. TALK staff and Certified Trainers are available for trainings. Costs for these sessions are negotiable. Contact the TALK Director for specific figures.

Services Awareness materials are available at no cost. Visitors are welcome at the program site by appointment. Demonstration sites are available for visitation in most states. Program staff are available to attend out-of-state awareness meetings (costs to be negotiated). One-day training sessions are conducted at the program site or adopter site (costs to be negotiated). Implementation and follow-up services are available to adopters (costs to be negotiated). Video tapes for awareness and/or training are available on a no-cost loan basis. Statistical analysis of evaluation data is provided to all school districts submitting pre/posttest scores to the program office.

Contact

Stephanie Hendee, Director, National Training Network, P.O. Box 8057, Longmont, CO 80501. (303) 651-0833, FAX (303) 651-1044.

Developmental Funding: USOE ESEA Title III.
JDRP No. 78-189 (7/11/79)
Recertified (4/1/94)

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