Language Series: Speaking with the Land
Exploring the relationships between language, identity, development, and land in early childhood learning environments.
An Invitation To Early Year Professionals
This professional learning series,Speaking with the Land: Language in Early Learning, invites educators to explore the deep relationships between language, identity, development, and land within Indigenous and early childhood contexts. Facilitated by Kristi Talbot, the series includes four short video modules paired with live online discussions.
Participants will consider how language carries identity, worldview, and belonging and how reconnecting to land can bring language to life in early learning settings.
Session Themes:
Session 1: The Importance of Language in the Classroom
Explore how language shapes relationships and a sense of belonging in early learning spaces.
Session 3: Language and the Land
Deepen understanding of land as a source of language, story, and learning for children and educators.
Session 2: Language and Development
Reflect on how language nurtures all areas of a child’s development: cognitive, emotional, social, and spiritual.
Session 4: Language in the Classroom: Applied Practice
Share strategies, reflections, and classroom examples of integrating language and culture in practice.
Each session includes access to pre-session Sway presentations, guided reflections, and discussion circles to share strategies for nurturing language-rich environments.
Suggested Use for Early Childhood Educators
- Professional Reflection and Learning Sessions
- Use the video modules and guided reflections as part of individual or team-based professional learning to deepen understanding of language, identity, and belonging.
- Language-Rich Program Development
- Apply insights from the series to strengthen language-rich environments that support Indigenous language revitalization and inclusive communication practices.
- Family and Community Connections
- Engage families and communities by incorporating land-based and language-focused activities that honour cultural identity and lived experiences.
- Team Discussions and Learning Circles
- Facilitate conversations with colleagues about the relationship between language, development, and land to strengthen shared understanding and practice.
- Bridging Knowledge Systems
- Use discussion circles and reflections to explore Two-Eyed Seeing approaches that connect Indigenous and Western understandings of language and child development.
Learning Outcomes
- Deeper Understanding of Language and Identity
- Educators will deepen their understanding of how language shapes identity, belonging, and relationships in early childhood environments.
- Strengthened Support for Indigenous Language Learning
- Educators will develop strategies to nurture Indigenous language learning and respect diverse language experiences within early years programs.
- Enhanced Understanding of Land-Based Learning
- Educators will explore how land and place support language development and cultural connection for children and families.
- Reflective and Inclusive Communication Practices
- Educators will strengthen their ability to create inclusive learning environments that honour multiple ways of communicating and knowing.
- Application of Two-Eyed Seeing
- Educators will apply Two-Eyed Seeing approaches to connect Indigenous and Western perspectives on language, learning, and development.