Oral Language
Really Great Reading has partnered with OxEd & Assessment to provide a data-driven approach to literacy and oral language instruction. This collaboration brings together Really Great Reading’s proven foundational curriculum with OxEd’s research-based oral language diagnostic tools, whole class and intervention solutions, to help educators identify learning challenges early and provide targeted support.
Together, our programs ensure students are surrounded by language, both oral and printed, to reap the full benefits of literacy instruction, resulting in the strongest groundwork for long-term academic success!
Our latest white paper, From Early Assessment of Oral Language Skills to Confident Reading, explores the critical role of oral language in literacy development and offers evidence-based strategies for early intervention. You’ll discover:
- How educators can create language-rich environments
- Practical tools for assessing oral language in young learners
- The impact of early intervention on literacy and social-emotional growth
- How innovative solutions like LanguageScreen empower teachers to identify and support at-risk students
Don’t let language barriers hold students back! Download the white paper today and learn how you can make a lasting impact in your classroom, school, or district.
LanguageScreen for Early Language Intervention
LanguageScreen quickly measures children’s oral language abilities—covering listening comprehension, sentence repetition, and expressive/receptive vocabulary—to pinpoint those who may need extra support. By providing immediate, data-driven results, educators and paraprofessionals can intervene early and track progress effectively, ensuring students meet age-expected language milestones.
Solution Overview
Unlocking Language Development: OxEd's LanguageScreen for Early Diagnosis
A diagnostic tool designed to evaluate essential language skills and guide educators in tailoring instruction to meet individual student needs.
- Evidence-Based Approach: Utilizes proven diagnostic methods to enhance literacy outcomes
- Scaffolded Learning: Identifies specific language challenges for targeted intervention
- Interactive and Engaging: User-friendly and engaging interface for both children and educators
- Progress Monitoring: Tracks language development and supports ongoing progress assessments
- Teacher-Friendly Tools: Quick setup and easy-to-use features for efficient testing and data analysis
Unlocking Language Development: OxEd's LanguageScreen for Early Diagnosis
A diagnostic tool designed to evaluate essential language skills and guide educators in tailoring instruction to meet individual student needs.
- Evidence-Based Approach: Utilizes proven diagnostic methods to enhance literacy outcomes
- Scaffolded Learning: Identifies specific language challenges for targeted intervention
- Interactive and Engaging: User-friendly and engaging interface for both children and educators
- Progress Monitoring: Tracks language development and supports ongoing progress assessments
- Teacher-Friendly Tools: Quick setup and easy-to-use features for efficient testing and data analysis
Language Enrichment for All
TEL Ted is a complete toolkit for oral language development in students aged 4-7. TEL Ted tackles oral language issues with a four-phase approach: assessment, professional development, whole-class instruction, and targeted intervention. TEL Ted Whole Class is a structured, evidence-based program that boosts oral language skills for all students with flexible language activities designed for class-wide enrichment.
Solution Overview
Enhance Language Skills for All with TEL Ted Whole Class
TEL Ted Whole Class brings evidence-based language enrichment to the entire classroom, with structured activities delivered in three 20-minute sessions per week, focusing on vocabulary and narrative development. This allows all students to benefit from proven language-building strategies while boosting progress for those in intervention groups.
- Ready-to-Use Materials: Teaching handbooks, digital slides, and printable activities deliver engaging oral language enrichment
- Proven Approach: Created by Science of Reading and Oral Language experts, with input from educators and speech-language pathologists
- Critical for Learning: Targeted oral language development improves reading comprehension and word reading, supporting academic, social, and emotional development
Launchpad & TEL Ted Whole Class
Young students need to be surrounded by oral and printed language to reap the full rewards of early literacy instruction. Our foundational literacy program, Launchpad, used alongside TEL Ted Whole Class provides young learners with a crucial language enrichment opportunity, vital for their success at school and beyond.
- Comprehensive Approach: Together, the two programs address phonological and phonemic awareness, alphabet knowledge, phonics, and oral language
- Improved Comprehension: Launchpad supports mastery of early literacy skills, laying the groundwork for comprehension, while TEL Ted further enhances reading comprehension and word reading
- Helping All Students to Learn: Launchpad and TEL Ted support learning for monolingual and bilingual students, improving language skills, engagement, and confidence for all
Enhance Language Skills for All with TEL Ted Whole Class
TEL Ted Whole Class brings evidence-based language enrichment to the entire classroom, with structured activities delivered in three 20-minute sessions per week, focusing on vocabulary and narrative development. This allows all students to benefit from proven language-building strategies while boosting progress for those in intervention groups.
- Ready-to-Use Materials: Teaching handbooks, digital slides, and printable activities deliver engaging oral language enrichment
- Proven Approach: Created by Science of Reading and Oral Language experts, with input from educators and speech-language pathologists
- Critical for Learning: Targeted oral language development improves reading comprehension and word reading, supporting academic, social, and emotional development
Young students need to be surrounded by oral and printed language to reap the full rewards of early literacy instruction. Our foundational literacy program, Launchpad, used alongside TEL Ted Whole Class provides young learners with a crucial language enrichment opportunity, vital for their success at school and beyond.
- Comprehensive Approach: Together, the two programs address phonological and phonemic awareness, alphabet knowledge, phonics, and oral language
- Improved Comprehension: Launchpad supports mastery of early literacy skills, laying the groundwork for comprehension, while TEL Ted further enhances reading comprehension and word reading
- Helping All Students to Learn: Launchpad and TEL Ted support learning for monolingual and bilingual students, improving language skills, engagement, and confidence for all
Proven Language Support for Early Intervention
TEL Ted Intervention identifies and addresses early language difficulties, combining quick, reliable assessments with professional development and targeted small group and individual interventions. This evidence-based and research-proven program ensures students with the weakest language skills catch up with their peers. Grounded in decades of research, it is the world’s most well-evidenced oral language intervention.
Solution Overview
Boost Learners’ Confidence with TEL Ted Intervention
TEL Ted supports early language development through three core components: quick and accurate student screening using LanguageScreen to identify those needing support, comprehensive online training to equip educators with the tools for effective intervention, and a 20-week series of scaffolded small group and individual sessions focused on improving vocabulary, listening, and storytelling skills.
- Accelerated Language Growth: Students make 3–5 months of additional progress in language skills, helping them catch up with peers faster
- Tailored Support: Individualized and small group sessions target specific language challenges, ensuring each child’s unique needs are addressed
- Empowered Educators: Comprehensive training provides teachers with the confidence and skills to deliver evidence-based interventions effectively
- Long-Term Impact: The program fosters lasting improvements in language, reading, and behavior, creating a strong foundation for academic success
Launchpad & TEL Ted Intervention
Early identification and timely intervention are critical for young students with oral language deficits. TEL Ted Intervention and its embedded oral language assessment, LanguageScreen, make early intervention possible, preventing further gaps before they happen. Combined with Launchpad, the two programs build a strong foundation for the young learners who need it the most.
- Fast, Reliable, Objective Assessment: An easy to administer assessment identifies learners in need of intervention or specialist support
- Targeted Support: Listening games, vocabulary instruction, and storytelling in small groups combined with instruction tailored to student needs in individual sessions, along with immersive, interactive activities during whole class literacy instruction, pave a path to success
- Better Together: In Launchpad, students are exposed to rich vocabulary and engage with language by listening and responding to teachers’ questions, repeating words and sentences, and using descriptive language, reinforcing the skills taught in TEL Ted Intervention
Boost Learners’ Confidence with TEL Ted Intervention
TEL Ted supports early language development through three core components: quick and accurate student screening using LanguageScreen to identify those needing support, comprehensive online training to equip educators with the tools for effective intervention, and a 20-week series of scaffolded small group and individual sessions focused on improving vocabulary, listening, and storytelling skills.
- Accelerated Language Growth: Students make 3–5 months of additional progress in language skills, helping them catch up with peers faster
- Tailored Support: Individualized and small group sessions target specific language challenges, ensuring each child’s unique needs are addressed
- Empowered Educators: Comprehensive training provides teachers with the confidence and skills to deliver evidence-based interventions effectively
- Long-Term Impact: The program fosters lasting improvements in language, reading, and behavior, creating a strong foundation for academic success
Early identification and timely intervention are critical for young students with oral language deficits. TEL Ted Intervention and its embedded oral language assessment, LanguageScreen, make early intervention possible, preventing further gaps before they happen. Combined with Launchpad, the two programs build a strong foundation for the young learners who need it the most.
- Fast, Reliable, Objective Assessment: An easy to administer assessment identifies learners in need of intervention or specialist support
- Targeted Support: Listening games, vocabulary instruction, and storytelling in small groups combined with instruction tailored to student needs in individual sessions, along with immersive, interactive activities during whole class literacy instruction, pave a path to success
- Better Together: In Launchpad, students are exposed to rich vocabulary and engage with language by listening and responding to teachers’ questions, repeating words and sentences, and using descriptive language, reinforcing the skills taught in TEL Ted Intervention
Oral language is a crucial part of daily interactions. People who struggle with oral language have difficulties understanding and/or communicating clearly, in speaking and writing, which can have a considerable impact across all academic areas.
Difficulty in the development of oral language skills can affect various aspects of learning in the classroom. That is why it is important to recognize when a student may be struggling with oral language development.
Reading and writing begin with language. Most academic skills, social skills, and even the “soft skills” of vocational tasks are rooted in oral language. Students start to develop oral language skills long before they set foot in the classroom.
By assuming competency, we focus on the intent behind the student's response and the language they use. There are many reasons why incoming information might not be interpreted efficiently or correctly and equally many reasons why a student's response might not seem to "fit." It is crucial to show students that their contributions are valued.
There is a fundamental relationship between oral language, handwriting, and reading. Let's dive in to better understand how these three concepts work together to enhance literacy development in children.
Most academic instruction relies on oral language, the primary medium through which teachers convey information, give instructions, and engage students in learning. When we consider that not every student will have the same level of oral language proficiency, classroom teachers need ways to support these differences without reducing the quality of the content. One way to supplement oral language instruction is to present it alongside visual information.
Across the school day, students are exposed to new vocabulary during story reading, discussions, and content area instruction. Yet, hearing or reading a new word in a single context is not the same as learning it! Students may need 5 to 20 exposures to recognize and fully understand a new word.
Teachers should keep oral language at the forefront of their minds as oral language is foundational for all areas of learning. Strong verbal skills support reading comprehension, writing abilities, and overall academic performance. Students who can articulate their thoughts and understand others are more likely to excel academically.
Join Professor Maggie Snowling as she shares the latest research on the connection between oral language and dyslexia. Watch the Language is Everything for Literacy video, and see how strong oral language skills are fundamental to children's reading and literacy skills.
