Expanding Oral and Written
Language
Speech-Language Pathologist
Livonia Public Schools
“You can have language
without literacy,
but you CANNOT
have literacy without language”
Embedding Language Supports into
Academics
• Two strategies that enhance oral and written
language:
– Expanding Expression Tool, Sara Smith, 2007
www.expandingexpression.com
– Visualizing and Verbalizing, Lindamood-Bell
www.lindamoodbell.com
What is the EET?
The Expanding Expression Tool (EET) is a
framework designed to assist students in
organizing their language and expanding their
expressions both within and outside of the
classroom.
Smith, 2007
The Expanding Expression Tool
Green = Group
Blue = Do
What does it look like?
What is it made of? (What does it come from)
Pink = Parts
White = Where
?? What else do I know?
What skills will be enhanced?
• Word associations and relationships
– Similarities and differences
– Comparing and contrasting
• Vocabulary comprehension
– Defining / rewording definitions
• Concept knowledge
– Describing / explaining
• Organization
– Storytelling / Re-telling
– Summarizing
How Does This Work?
• More comprehensive answers:
– students know (7) areas to include when defining
or describing.
• Structure/sequence gives them a place to start
– Start with “group” and move on from there (builtin sentence starters)
• Visual reminders help them to self-monitor
their work
Example – First Grader
Before EET
Tree
A tree has leafs.
A tree has long branchs.
Som trees can be bald.
# of facts = 3
After learning to use EET
Tree
A tree is a plant.
It gives us leafs.
It is gren.
It coms frum sds (seeds).
It has branchs.
Trees are in woods.
Som are big.
# of facts = 7
Example – 3rd Grader
Before EET
Valentines Day is fun. I give
valentines to my friends.
We have a party in our class
with our friends. I like
Valentines Day.
# of facts = 2
Using EET
Valentine’s Day is a holiday. You
celebrate the day by passing
out cards and candy. You see
red, purple, pink, and white
hearts. It is made out of love.
Valentine cards, chocolates,
teddy bears, and other loving
gifts are part of this day. It is
in February.
# of facts = 6
Visualizing and Verbalizing
• How does this work?
– Students are taught to first identify the “fine”
vocabulary that helps to form a mental image
– Then students learn to use this rich vocabulary /
details to create a picture for the reader / listener
– “I have a picture in my head and I am going to try
to paint that picture in your head”
What skills will be enhanced?
• Reading comprehension
– Getting the “gestalt” of the story
• Oral / written expression
– Describing: setting, characters
– Re-telling in a logical sequence
– Summarizing
– Predicting
• Concept knowledge
– Explaining