“Empowering Children and Teachers Through Meaningful Conversations” Sample Slides University of Florida Lastinger Center Early Learning Louisiana Karen Molinario Pam Crook Christine Roberts

What’s in a Picture? Think about a meaningful or supportive conversation that you recently had. What are some of the characteristics that made it so? Choose a photo that captures your thinking about meaningful or supportive conversations. Share with a partner Large Group Debrief-Chart words or phrases you heard in your sharing.

Objectives Identify strategies to prompt thought processes in children and adults Apply protocols that promote focused and productive learning conversations with adults

Quality of Feedback: Expansion and Extension with Infants and Toddlers Responding to and building on children's language is important for developing their language Model language using a few more words than young children are using Both expansions and extensions are effective strategies to help children move from saying 1-2 words to combining more words and learn new concepts and word Expansions expand on what a child says and model grammatically correct complete sentences Extensions add new information to what the child says Young children benefit from extensions and expansions by learning new vocabulary and language skills.

Prompting thought processes in preschoolers Ask questions to extend the conversation and expand on thoughts. When children’s thoughts are valued, they are likely more eager to take risks and share their thoughts in the future. These meaningful conversations will help their cognitive skills grow by teaching children to describe what’s going on inside his or her mind. When children are asked to explain their thought processes, what you are asking them to do is to think about their thinking. Thought provoking and open-ended questions encourage children to use higher-order thinking skills and take an active role in their own learning. The ability to have a meaningful conversation will allow them to communicate effectively, building meaningful relationships, and help boost their careers.

Now that we have looked at strategies that empower children to expand and extend on their thinking, let’s look at some ways to do this with adults.

Positively Positive Encourages teachers to explain their connection between the key practice and the impact it will have on teaching and learning by asking a deeper question. Mirror back what the teacher says to reinforce its importance.

Tools to Support Meaningful Conversations with Adults Protocols offer structured processes to support focused and productive conversations, build collective understanding, and encourage teachers to reflect on their practice within the context of Communities of Practice (CoPs). https://www.schoolreforminitiative.org/protocols/

Protocols used in Early Learning Louisiana Tuning Protocol-used to examine CDA Competency Statement Atlas Protocol-used to examine CLASS Observation results

Scenarios: “What’s Your Line? Read your scenario and determine how you would respond What’s your line?” Partner up and share your scenario and response

Protocols used in Early Learning Louisiana CoPs Look at your photos from opening activity, share additional characteristics (new ideas learned today) you want to remember when interacting with children and/or adults to make conversations meaningful. Find your partner from opening activity and share your thoughts.

Implementation: Double-Take Look at your photos from opening activity, share additional characteristics (new ideas learned today) you want to remember when interacting with children and/or adults to make conversations meaningful. Find your partner from opening activity and share your thoughts.

CDA Classes begin July 15! 100% on-line with instructor support and CoPs See us after the presentation for more details or email us at karen.Molinario@coe.ufl.edu

Inspirational Quote Choose a quote and add to ppt.