A builder built a temple,
He wrought it with grace and skill;
Pillars and groins and arches
All fashioned to work his will.
Man said, as they saw its beauty,
"It shall never know decay;
Great is thy skill, O Builder!
Thy fame shall endure for eye."

A teacher builded a temple
With loving and infinite care,
Laying each stone with prayer.
None knew of her wondrous plan,
For the temple by the eye of man.

Gone is the builder temple,
Crumbled into the dust;
Low lies each stately pillar,
Food for consuming rust,
But the temple the teacher built
Will last while the ages roll,
For that beautiful unseen temple
Was a Child's immortal soul?

-Hallie Vose Hall

YOUNG CHILDREN ARE CONSTANTLY LEARNING LANGUAGE FROM THEIR ENVIRONMENT, BUT WE CAN HELP THEM TO LEARN IT BETTER. WHEN CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL, THEY WILL BE TAUGHT TO READ AND WRITE. BUT FIRST THEY MUST LEARN TO UNDRSTAND LANGUAGE AND SPEAK FLUENTLY. THE CHILD MUST BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE AND EXPRESS FEELINGS AND IDEAS IN THE SPOKEN LANGUAGE.

We can assist the child to learn language through;
      listening
      speaking
      encouragement

Activities for language Development

Tell about
Seat the children in a circle. Put a collection of toys and common objects in the centre and cover these with a cloth. Each has to pick up an objects from under the cloth and say a few sentences about it. See that every child gets a turn. Encourage them and ask questions when they find it difficult to express themselves.

Following directions
Seat or stand the children in a circle around you. Give directions for two or three different actions which have to be done in the same order as stated by you. For example, " First touch your toes, then put your hands on your head, and then jump three times." Begin with only two instructions and later make it difficult by adding more. At first let all the children do the series of actions together. Later each child must act individually while the others watch to see if the squence is correct. when the children are confident of the rules, let them take your place as leader turn by turn.

Tashi says
this game needs careful listning. the children form a circle around you and have to listen carefully to your directions, which may be "jump, clap, bend, touch your toe, close your eyes etc" they must arry out your instructions only if these are preceded by "Tashi says". If you don't say "Tashi says" first, they must not do what you say. Now start giving directions, sometime with "Tashi says" sometime without. Do this quickly and watch the children. Those who are acting at the wrong time must sit out and watch. Let the children take turns at being leader in your place.

In and out
Here is another listening game you may already know. Draw a circle or line and name the two areas formed- for example, inside circle or left line is LAND and outside circle or right line is AIR. When you say the name of land animal or things that lives on land, the children must jump inside and when you mention the name of a bird or insect that flies, they must jump outside. You can this game for several other things which fall into two groups, for example living and non-living. You can also say the name of objects that begin with different sound.

Family names
Divide the children into teams or group or play as individuals. First decide on the name of a particular class or family- for example, fruits, something edible etc. discuss the chosen class in brief and get the children to name a few members that belongs to it. then ask each child in turn to call out the name of a member of the class. For example, if you have chosen "fruits" each child in group must name a fruit. the ones who do not do so must sit out and watch. To make it difficult, after some practice,no one should be allowed to repeat the name of a fruit that has already been said. This will make the children listen more carefully and test their memory. After a few rounds, select a new category.

First sound
This game is similar to Family names, but here every child must say a different word commencing with a particular sound- for example, m, or k, l,- which has been decided upon in advance. In the beginning, the children may find this difficult, so discuss some words with them before you start playing; this will give them word ready to use. Later, they will be able to recall words themselves.