We believe that children are active learners. When given a language-rich learning environment, children will actively construct language from their experiences. All children are viewed as candidates for language enhancement. Language teaching is most effective when it focuses on the interests of individual children during natural interactions in the classroom setting. Since language crosses all areas of development, we believe in an integrated approach where cognitive, social-emotional, motor, and other learning occurs throughout the day and in the context of meaningful activities.

The preschool program is divided into two groups which meet on either Monday and Wednesday morning or Monday and Wednesday afternoon. Preschool times are from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The program runs year-round, coinciding with the fall, spring, and summer semesters at Indiana University. There are breaks between sessions. Enrollment in each group is typically limited to a maximum of 10 children, with the number of children with communication delays limited to 6, to maintain diversity in the children we serve. The other 4 children in the class have typically developing language and social skills and are native English speakers or children that are English language learners.

Our experienced preschool teachers and certified speech-language pathologists establish the curriculum and supervise the program. Three graduate clinicians in speech-language pathology are assigned to each of the two groups, in order to help stimulate language acquisition for all children and to help establish and implement objectives for communication delayed children during the day. A certified speech-language pathologist serves as the clinical supervisor for each of the groups and collaborates with both the classroom teacher and the graduate clinicians.