Language development 6-7 years: At this age your child's language abilities are becoming much
more complex. They should be able to understand and use more sophisticated language forms.
Children's language skills become this way because they
are using more correct grammar and more variety in their vocabulary.
Children at this age also think and understand more complex concepts,
which naturally makes them want to express more complex ideas.
A child at this age is also better at interacting socially with his/her
peers and adults.
Their desire to be a part of adult conversations and
behave more like an adult is also increasing.
**NOTE:
The ages and their corresponding grades are based upon
guidelines followed in the United States.
Expressive
Language / What the Child Says
- Uses preposition “above” (6 years, 6 months)
- Uses most parts of speech, grammar is mostly acquired
- Begins to master exceptions to grammatical rules (5-7 years)
- Use and understanding of passive sentences begins (5-7 years)
- Expresses ideas with a variety of complex sentences
- Asks/answers factual and inferential questions
- Gives directions
- Uses a variety of words, not just the same ones over and over
Total # of
words in 100 utterance speech sample: 457-622 (7 years)
Total # of different words in 100 utterance speech sample: 173-212 (7
years)
Receptive
Language / What the Child Understands
- Follows 3 step directions and
multi-step unrelated commands
- Answers more complex "who", "what",
"where", “when”, “how” and “why” questions
- Listens to and understands grade level
stories that are read aloud to them
- Demonstrates listening comprehension by
recalling information and responding to instruction
Narrative
Development
- Complex Episodes /
Multiple Episodes (7
years)
- Complete Episodes /
True Narratives (6
years)
- Narratives have a theme, character,
plot, logically sequenced, temporally ordered, initiating even, action,
consequences, emotion, and resolution
- Contain at least 5 story grammar
elements (example: setting, characters)
Phonological Awareness (5-7 years)
- Able to match all sounds with the
written letter and name (grapheme/phoneme correspondence)
- Alliteration solidifies. They can
identify words beginning with the same letter.
- Rhyming solidifies. They know the onset
(the beginning sound that changes) and the rime (the last part of the
word that rhymes)
Examples: “park”
and “bark” rhyme (“p” and “b” are the
onsets,
“ark” is
the rime)
“witty” and “kitty” rhyme (“w” and “k” are the onsets, “itty” is the
rime)
- Segmentation, blending, and
manipulating of words and syllables solidifies
Examples: put the
words "butter" and "fly" together and you
get..."butterfly"
take
"room" off of "bedroom" and you get... "bed"
change
"cat" to a new word by putting "p" in the front and it
becomes... "pat"
take
the "t" off the end of "cat" and you have... "ca"
put
"s" on the end of "cat" and you have... "cats"
Reading
- Creates words that rhyme
- Blends separate sounds to form words
- Identify all sounds in short words
- Match spoken words with print
- Reads words by sight (about 100)
- Applies knowledge of how print is
organized
- Reads 60 words per minute (wpm)
Writing
- Expresses ideas through writing
- Prints clearly
- Spells frequently used words
- Begins sentences with capital letters &
uses end punctuation (. ? !)
- Writes a variety of short compositions
Social/Play
- Starts and takes turns in conversations
- Stays on topic
- Uses many types of expression to
express needs, wants, and ask questions or give information
Can You Guess
What This Is?
