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Communication, Language and Literacy
Younger Toddlers (8 to 21 months)

Components and Developmental Indicators

crying-daughter-sitting-mother-s-hands-sunny-day-field-young-mom-trying-calm-down-little-baby-talking-her-woman-having-red-hair-wearing-jeans-shirt

COMPONENT 1:
Communicating and Oral Language Development

Developmental Indicators

CLL Goal-1: Through their explorations, play, and social interactions, children successfully communicate for multiple purposes.
 
 
1

Checkmarks

Respond to gestures, facial expressions, and tone of voice, with words or simple sign language.

2

Checkmarks

Establish joint attention by repeated cycles of looking at an object, at the adult, then back at the object.

3

Checkmarks

Use sounds, actions, or simple words to initiate interaction and simple conversation with another person to meet needs.

 
 
1

Checkmarks

Follow simple directions and visual cues (“Pick out your favorite book and I’ll read it to you.”).

2

Checkmarks

Respond to simple statements and questions about pictures, play, people, and happening.

CLL Goal-2: Through their explorations, play, and social interactions, children speak clearly and use the grammar of their home language.
 
 
1

Checkmarks

Communicate through facial expressions, sounds, and body movements, such as waving and nodding.

2

Checkmarks

Expect others to understand them and show frustration if not understood.

3

Checkmarks

“Babble” and put together vocalizations mimicking the rhythm and flow of their home language.

 

CLL Goal-3: Through their explorations, play, and social interactions, children understand and use an ever-expanding vocabulary.
 
 
1

Checkmarks

Show steady increase in words they use (name family members and familiar objects).

2

Checkmarks

Use simple words to label people and objects and make requests (“doggy,” “more,” “all done”).

3

Checkmarks

Imitate familiar people, as well as repeating parts of songs and rhymes.

 

4

Checkmarks

Respond to simple spoken or signed words and phrases that they hear often.

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COMPONENT 2:
Foundations for Reading

Developmental Indicators

CLL Goal-4: Through their explorations, play and social interactions, children develop interest, motivation, and appreciation for literacy-based materials and activities.
 
 
1

Checkmarks

Explore reading behaviors with assistance (choosing books, opening and closing books, or turning pages or grouped pages in a book).

2

Checkmarks

Show interest in picture books especially tactile books, points to pictures.

3

Checkmarks

Listen to simple and repetitive books, stories, and songs for brief periods of time (may join as adult finishes a short book with another child).

4

Checkmarks

Carry books around and ask adult to read favorite books aloud.

 

CLL Goal-5: Through their explorations, play, and social interactions, children comprehend, use, and begin to reflect on and analyze information in books and other media.
 
 
1

Checkmarks

Listen to and repeat parts of simple and repetitive books, stories, songs, and finger plays.

2

Checkmarks

Make appropriate sounds when looking at pictures (when looking at a duck says, “Quack, quack.” or car says “Vrrrrooom.”).

3

Checkmarks

Looks at most pages as adult reads short book.

CLL Goal-6: Through their explorations, play and social interactions, children begin to recognize basic concepts of print and discover that they can get meaning from print.
 
 
1

Checkmarks

Sometimes treat pictures as real (licking a picture of ice cream, rubbing “fur” of a cat in a book).

2

CheckmarksTurn pages (but not always in the right order) or point to and label pictures in books.

3

Checkmarks

Show awareness of and identify some environmental print and logos (favorite cereal box, a sign for a familiar store).

CLL Goal-7: Through their explorations, play, and social interactions, children listen, identify, and respond to sounds, and develop phonological awareness.
 
 
1

Checkmarks

Focus on and enjoy playing with repetitive sounds, words, rhymes, and gestures.

2

Checkmarks

Express interest and sing along, clap, or move with rhyming and rhythmic songs.

CLL Goal-8: Through their explorations, play, and social interactions, children develop knowledge of letters and the alphabetic principle.
 
 
1

Checkmarks

May point to print (such as their name) in everyday interactions.

father-daughter-playing-together

COMPONENT 3:
Foundations for Writing

Developmental Indicators

CLL Goal-9: Through their explorations, play, and social interactions, children use writing and drawing as means of communication.
 
 
1

Checkmarks

Make marks and scribble using assorted simple writing tools (large crayons, thick-handle paint brushes).

CLL Goal-10: Through their explorations, play, and social interactions, children grow in their understanding of letters and writing skills.
 
 
1

Checkmarks

Hold marker or crayon with the fist.

2

Checkmarks

Dot or scribble with crayons, and other materials; may progress to vertical lines, marks, or other forms of expression.

mother-pointing-something-her-son

COMPONENT 4:
Learning New Languages

Developmental Indicators

CLL Goal-11: Through their explorations, play, and social interactions, children demonstrate an understanding that there are multiple languages and begin to communicate in another language other than their home language.
 
 
1

Checkmarks

Emerging as young toddlers listen to and repeat the sounds of their home language and other languages they hear.