University of Maryland Toggle Talk Project ToggleTalk® is an evidence-based, kindergarten and first grade English language arts curriculum supplement designed to teach students to make situationally-appropriate language choices and support improved literacy outcomes. It helps teachers address hard to meet Maryland College and Career-Ready Standards for Grades K-2. It aligns with Wit and Wisdom’s scope and sequence for high-quality foundational skills, including phonological awareness, morphology, and syntax.
About Us Baltimore City Public Schools are partnering with the University of Maryland on an efficacy study of the ToggleTalk® curriculum. Toggle Talk® is published by Ventris Publishing. The researchers at UMD have no financial interest in ToggleTalk® or Ventris Learning, LLC. This project is funded by The Institute of Education Sciences.
What Toggle Talk Teachers Say: “Toggle Talk gave us some new shared language. It made me more aware of what my students were doing in their speech. My students are very young and part of what I’m trying to do is build a classroom community that is affirming and makes connections between home and school.” - First Grade Teacher, New Song Academy, Baltimore, MD “This program dispels and rewrites this whole idea of talking ‘proper.’ It’s all about knowing when and where and how to talk in certain places. The program is not going to ‘correct’ anything or take anything away from students. It opens up a new perspective.” - First Grade Teacher, Furman L. Templeton, Baltimore, MD “My students loved the books because the characters looked like them. Also, it’s the first time I ever came across books with characters who talked like my students.” - Kindergarten Teacher, Hilton Elementary, Baltimore, MD
Components of ToggleTalk® 1
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Dialect Recognition:
Students learn to recognize Home (Informal) and School (Formal) language; and to match the two dialects to a situational context. Dialect Production:
Students learn to use distinct grammatical features that neutrally contrast Home (Informal) and School (Formal) language; and to translate Home language into School language based on the situational context.
ToggleTalk meets Common Core ELA Standards for student mastery of formal language contexts (G1), and knowledge of language (G2+). CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.L.1. Students demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage in writing or speaking. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L2.3. Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading or listening. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2.3a. Compare formal and informal uses of English. For more information on how your school can participate, please contact Dr. Jan Edwards or Ms. Tatiana Thonesavanh at toggletalk@umd.edu or visit learningtotalk.umd.edu/toggletalk.