ERIC Number: EJ1460543
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1082-3301
EISSN: EISSN-1573-1707
Available Date: 2023-11-27
A Qualitative Exploration of Early Childhood Educators' Declared Practices When Supporting Preschoolers' Oral Language Development
Marie-Pier Gingras1,2; Paméla McMahon-Morin3,4,5; Stefano Rezzonico3,4,5; Louise Duchesne1,2
Early Childhood Education Journal, v53 n2 p551-562 2025
Verbal interactions between children and educators can support the language development of preschoolers when conversations are of high quality. Educators' conversations with preschoolers are known to be responsive, but they are not always sufficiently complex. Educators' talk and topics may be too simple to propel preschoolers' oral language development. Studies on professional development programs that focused on enhancing educators' use of language-supporting practices have shown inconsistent results. A better understanding of how educators use language supporting practices could contribute to the design and implementation of more effective professional development programs. Thus, the purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the declared practices of early childhood educators when they support the language development of preschoolers. Twelve early childhood educators were interviewed individually, and a thematic analysis was conducted. Educators' declared practices are described through five themes: (1) relationships first, (2) planning the day, (3) establishing a supportive environment, (4) encouraging children to talk, and (5) talking to children. Educators are aware of many of the strategies known to be effective in supporting early language development. However, very few of them declared using strategies that specifically support the language development of 4- and 5-years-old children. Finally, findings suggest that early childhood educators could be more cognizant of the importance of their own language regarding preschoolers' oral language development.
Descriptors: Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Teachers, Preschool Children, Oral Language, Language Acquisition, Speech Communication, Educational Practices, Teacher Student Relationship, Classroom Environment, Teacher Role, Teacher Influence
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Département d’orthophonie, Trois-Rivières, Canada; 2Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en réadaptation et intégration sociale, Québec, Canada; 3Université de Montréal, École d’orthophonie et d’audiologie, Montreal, Canada; 4Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire en réadaptation du Montréal métropolitain, Montréal, Canada; 5CIUSSS Centre-Sud-de-l’Ile-de-Montréal, Institut Universitaire sur la réadaptation en Déficience Physique de Montréal, Montréal, Canada