Audiences

Language is the Key is used widely in Even Start and Title I Family Literacy programs. Parents learn how to interact with preschoolers in a way that increases language development during PACT time (Parent and Child Together Time). The two Language is the Key videos provide an ideal, multi-session, PACT time program.

Early language development promotes literacy and prevents school failure. Title I programs use Language is the Key to help parents promote literacy development and later school success.
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Head Start programs in all 50 states use Language is the Key for staff development and parent education. The program teaches strategies that are effective with preschool children who are developmentally “on-target” and with children who have developmental delays. Both teachers and parents learn to use the strategies quickly and easily.

Language is the Key is available in many languages so programs can address the needs of diverse families.

For Early Head Start, the strategies presented in Language is the Key can be used with infants and toddlers. You can never start too early!!!! For Head Start, more complex conversations with adults can be supported and enriched when adults use the CAR strategies.

Three versions of Language is the Key are available free to Head Start programs. The National Head Start Family Literacy Center and Washington Learning Systems have entered into a licensing agreement that provides free, Language is the Key sets to Head Start grantees. One is available to each grantee upon request. For more information please go to http://www.sonoma.edu/cihs/familyliteracy/languagekey.html. The versions available are all in DVD format and include: English, Spanish, and English with subtitles for parents with hearing impairments.

The Mediated Learning Curriculum CD is used in many Head Start and Early Head Start programs because it was specifically designed for including children with disabilities. All activities have three different levels of expectations to address the goals of diverse children.
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Public Libraries
Language is the Key is included in the parent education collections of public libraries throughout the U.S. , Canada , Australia , and New Zealand .

Library “Story Time” is an opportune time to share Language is the Key with parents while the little ones participate in story time. “Charming the Next Generation” (School Library Journal, 7/1/2005 ) discusses how dialogic reading strategies can accelerate language development.

The Public Library Association recognizes that “Dialogic Reading,” a technique taught in Language is the Key, is a very effective method for public libraries in promoting early literacy.

Because picture books are used, adults do not need to be proficient readers in order use the Language is the Key strategies.

High School Libraries
You will find Language is the Key in Family and Consumer Science collections in senior high schools. It is an excellent complement for courses in Child Development. Many teen-parent programs, in high schools and in the community, use Language is the Key with young parents.

State Libraries
Many state libraries hold the complete collections of the Language is the Key videos (English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog (Filipino), Mandarin with Subtitles for speakers of Cantonese, English with Subtitles for parents with hearing impairments.

Specialty Libraries
State and regional specialty resource libraries serving Early Childhood Development programs and early literacy initiatives have Language is the Key programs, as well as the Mediated Learning Curriculum CD in their holdings.

University and Community College libraries include Language is the Key videos and the Mediated Learning Curriculum CD in their child development, special education, and curriculum and instruction collections.
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The Language is the Key video programs and the Mediated Learning Curriculum CD were designed, up-front, to serve a broad, developmental spectrum in early childhood special education programs and inclusive preschool settings. The CAR strategies are very effective with children who have specific language impairments as well as developmental delays.

Language is the Key is an essential tool for programs serving families whose home language is Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, and Tagalog (Filipino). It’s easy to teach parents how to support language development at home, in the language they speak best.
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Community colleges use Language is the Key in a number of settings: preschool cooperatives; child development courses; and early childhood professional certification programs.

Colleges and Universities use Language is the Key in undergraduate and graduate course-work in early childhood development, special education, speech-language pathology, and bilingual education.

Parents who are learning to speak English can learn to use the Language is the Key strategies to promote their children’s language and literacy development. Since Language is the Key is available in six different languages, you can show parents from different linguistic groups how to promote language development using the family’s home language.

Each version of Language is the Key was re-shot showing parents and children who are native speakers of the particular language. The Language is the Key programs encourage parents to use the language they speak best when using the CAR strategies. The program also points out the value of maintaining heritage languages, and bilingualism.

The Mediated Learning Curriculum is a useful tool for transmitting culture and facilitating social development in diverse populations. The model has been advocated for use with Native American, Ethiopian, and South African communities. The model is designed to allow teachers to infuse cultural values and information into activities and interactions. For more information and references, see the Mediated Learning Curriculum Research section.
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