Teacher Talk™ In-Person and Online

Teacher Talk™ is a flexible series of trainings that introduce early childhood educators to the key strategies from the Learning Language and Loving It™ program. If you're certified in Learning Language and Loving It, you can obtain a license to lead Teacher Talk to help educators create rich and stimulating language-learning environments for all young children in their care.

The three Teacher Talk trainings in the series are:

• Teacher Talk™ Training A: Encouraging Language Development in Early Childhood Settings
• Teacher Talk™ Training B: Let Language Lead the Way to Literacy
• Teacher Talk™ Training C: Fostering Peer Interaction in Early Childhood Settings

The flexible format of the series allows you to offer Training A on its own, or in combination with either or both Training B and C. The only requirement is that participants must complete Training A before attending B or C.

Teacher Talk Online

The full Teacher Talk series is now also available in an online format. The training is divided into three 2 ½ hour sessions, with each session providing an overview of the strategies of the Learning Language and Loving It Program. Expand the tabs below to learn more.  

Teacher Talk Training A Online: Encouraging Language Development in Early Childhood Settings

The foundation training of Teacher Talk addresses how educators can use everyday conversations, play and daily routines to promote the communication and social development of all children.

Participants learn how to:

• Identify children’s conversational styles and the role teachers play in interactions
• Implement six steps to following the child’s lead: Observe, Wait and Listen, Be Face to Face, Imitate, Interpret, Comment, and Join in and Play
• Help children become better conversation partners by using appropriate questions, comments and turn-taking cues
• Use five important steps to ensure that no child is left out of the interaction during group activities

Teacher Talk Training B Online: Let Language Lead the Way to Literacy

The second training in the series discusses the important links between oral language development and literacy, and provides teachers with practical strategies for paving the way for children to read and write.

Participants learn how to encourage and support literacy development by:

• Helping children develop a positive attitude toward the use of print
• Choosing books that match children’s interests and stages of development
• Using book reading as a time for interaction and conversation
• Making print a natural and meaningful part of every day

Teacher Talk Training C Online: Fostering Peer Interaction in Early Childhood Settings

The third training in the series shows participants how to provide a physical and social environment that encourages peer interaction and creates many opportunities for successful interactions with other children.

Participants learn how to:

• Make the most effective use of space in the classroom
• Encourage a variety of groupings for interaction
• Provide appropriate materials and activities
• Create reasons for interaction and provide specific coaching

Highlights of the Teacher Talk Online Version

• You deliver the same evidence-based training series in an online format
• Your Teacher Talk Online license duplicates the essential ingredients of the in-person series, including interactive group activities, analysis of video examples and completion of practical plans that participants can apply in their classrooms
• You support teachers to personalize Teacher Talk workbooks to meet the needs of the individual children in their classrooms
• You receive the Leaders’ Guide and slides for digital delivery of the training
• You’re able to reach a broader audience with no travel time or space constraints (note: you must abide by any applicable licensing regulations when offering service to participants outside of your jurisdiction). All you need is an internet connection and videoconferencing software to connect with your group

Getting your Teacher Talk Online License

For current Teacher Talk license holders, you can upgrade your certification with a Teacher Talk Online license for USD$34.95 for worldwide purchasers or CAD$39.49 for Canada (price includes HST of 13% for all provinces).

The Online license includes:

• Access to the Leaders Guide, which includes guidance regarding leading a group online, as well as session modifications and technology requirements
• Downloadable session slides modified for online delivery
• Downloadable guides for the online breakout activities

If you are a Learning Language and Loving It member but aren’t licensed in Teacher Talk, you can buy a Teacher Talk combo license pack, which includes Teacher Talk: In-Person and Teacher Talk Online, for $139.95 (plus tax where applicable). When purchasing the combo pack, please allow 24-48 hours to receive access to your licenses.

Combo license purchasers will be shipped the Teacher Talk Leader’s Guide to lead you through the in-person trainings, a USB drive with the Teacher Talk in-person slides, and a set of 3 workbooks. All license holders will also get digital access to the online program materials to deliver Teacher Talk Online.

Add Teacher Talk to your toolkit

If you already have a Teacher Talk license and would like to upgrade it to be able to offer Teacher Talk Online as well, chose the "Online License" option below.

If you are a Learning Language and Loving It-certified member who does not have a Teacher Talk license, select the "Combo License" option below in order to receive the license and materials to offer the training both online and in-person.

Teacher Talk Online License Teacher Talk Combo License