How to Use the Word ‘Star’ to Build Speech and Language Skills
Our very first Word of the Week is star.
Today, we will learn ways to use the word star to build speech, language, and early literacy skills.
These ideas would work well for early communicators (birth-three) through early elementary school (preschool-first grade).
Early Songs
I’m going to share with you how I use the song “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” to grow language skills for a range of young children.
Early Communicators
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is one of my favorite songs to sing with children who are not yet using words to communicate.
I haven’t met a parent yet who didn’t at least know the first few lines.
This song is great because your child can participate with a few simple gestures.
Twinkle Twinkle - open and close hands
How I wonder what you are - arms out to the side with hands facing up like you’re asking a question
Up above the world so high - point up using your finger
Like a diamond in the sky - point up or make a diamond with two hands
I track these gestures and other language skills to show growth.
That’s right.
Even a gesture as small as pointing up is something to celebrate.
Here are some skills you can observe to see growth.
Attention - Will your child sit with you as you sing the song?
If not, that’s a great place to start. Songs are a great place to start building attention.
Requesting - Will your child make the Twinkle Twinkle gesture to request the song?
Does your child only imitate the Twinkle Twinkle gesture? Use the strategy of “wait time” to see if they will use the gesture to communicate that they want you to sing the song.
Gestures - Can your child participate by making one or more of the gestures suggested above?
I use check sheets to track communication, whether it’s first words, signs, or gestures.
Imitation - Is your child imitating gestures or vocalizations?
Early songs like these are great for teaching imitation skills.
First Words
“Twinkle Tinkle Little . . . “
“Star”
Have you ever had that urge to fill in the word at the end of song lyrics?
The repetition and musical component of songs can produce spontaneous language.
Try cutting off the last word in a verse and wait to see if your child will fill it in.
Songs are great because the rhyming words give a little extra prompt for what to say, star - are
Expanding Language
For a real challenge, try changing the words to see if you and your child can make up your own verses.
“Twinkle twinkle, what a show!
Do you twinkle fast or slow?”
Daily Routines
A great way to learn new words is through repetition.
Collect books and toys that have stars from around the house so you can model the word star all week.
Identifying Shapes
Shapes in Nature
Shapes are all around us!
Let’s look for star shapes in nature.
Can you find the 4 stars below?
These are called starfish.
Around the Home
How about finding stars on objects you see every day?
Below are things you’d find at a birthday party.
Do you see the star?
Challenge: Name the other objects. What shapes are they?
Early Literacy
Let’s think about the word star.
It has one syllable (clap one time when you say the word star).
The beginning sound is a blend of the letters S and T.
We say these together as one blended sound, St, as in stair, story, or stop.
The ending is part of the -ar word family (are, far, tar).
Rhyming
We’ll finish with a short activity with words in the -ar word family.
Follow the tangled paths below.
Which two words rhyme with star?
Which does not rhyme.
Wow! You learned so much today.
Visit again for more speech, language, and literacy fun!
Illustration Credits: Kari Bolt