Michael Jones

Michael Jones has a background in Speech and Language Therapy and teaching. Michael has been a SENCo and class teacher in infant, primary and middle schools. He was head of the Luton Traveller Education Service and went on to become Luton’s advisory teacher for children with speech and language difficulties.

Michael is now a freelance trainer in young children’s communication. He led the Every Child a Talker project in three different boroughs. He has written widely on the subject of young children’s language and learning, and is co author of ‘Let’s get talking!’ and ‘Supporting quiet children’, both published by Lawrence Educational. To find out more about Michael’s work visit //www.talk4meaning.co.uk/. 

We all mishear song lyrics. Some pop singers are particularly difficult to understand, but we try an... “Cod in a Landslide” – Helping Children Make Sense of Strange Situations (and Improving Register Times)

“Cod in a Landslide” – Helping Children Make Sense of Strange Situations (and Improving Register Times)

When I was teenager we had one teacher in particular who we didn’t respect, and whose life we made... “You Wouldn’t Do That At Home, Would You?”

“You Wouldn’t Do That At Home, Would You?”

During a visit to a nursery to explore developing language through outdoor play, I was sharing out a... Building with blocks: building stories with words

Building with blocks: building stories with words

  How many children spontaneously visit your setting’s or class book area? How long do they s... Give your book corner a makeover!

Give your book corner a makeover!

When I was at secondary school my friends and I wanted to start a band. We split after one rehearsal... Helping Children to Listen at Storytime: With Help from Elton John and The Proclaimers!

Helping Children to Listen at Storytime: With Help from Elton John and The Proclaimers!

I was leading a story session in a nursery once, and we were having a few problems getting the child... Helping Children’s Behaviour and Wellbeing by using British Sign Language: With Help from The Beatles!

Helping Children’s Behaviour and Wellbeing by using British Sign Language: With Help from The Beatles!

Using British Sign Language with hearing children to promote their storytelling and writing skills &... Say it, sign it, and remember it: Using British Sign Language with hearing children

Say it, sign it, and remember it: Using British Sign Language with hearing children

Evie and her Grandad’s canal barge: shyness, introversion and selective mutism explained   Si... Shyness, introversion and selective mutism explained

Shyness, introversion and selective mutism explained

Picture the scene: I am in a preschool book area. I am reading The Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle... The difference between sharing a story and reading a story

The difference between sharing a story and reading a story

I, like millions of other people, have got a smartphone. In many ways it has changed my working life... The Genius of Children in Role-Play

The Genius of Children in Role-Play

From the tips of your fingers to the tips of your tongue…. Maths is a second language, and unl... Using British Sign Language to help young children understand and use mathematical vocabulary

Using British Sign Language to help young children understand and use mathematical vocabulary