Improving the Vocabulary and Oral Language Skills of Bilingual Latino Preschoolers ― An Intervention for Speech-language Pathologists

Gutierrez-Clellen (speech, language, and hearing sciences, San Diego State U.), Simon-Cereijido, and Restrepo offer a nine-week intervention program that bilingual and monolingual speech-language pathologists can use with Spanish-speaking preschool dual language learners with language disorders. The VOLAR program (Vocabulary, Oral Language, and Academic Readiness) is research-based, stimulates development in the two languages, teaches language within the context of the preschool curriculum, promotes vocabulary development, and facilitates oral skills. The authors detail their rationale for using two languages, reasons why teachers and clinicians may be reluctant, and the conceptual framework of the program; its advantages, research base, and options for implementation; its use of large and small group activities, picture book read-alouds, fiction and nonfiction books, and hands-on activities and manipulatives; the vocabulary and oral language components and strategies; and the overall program, its books, schedule, structure, lessons, and alternation of languages. They provide 36 lessons in Spanish and English and explain how to train and coach other professionals. Annotation c2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)