Early educators: no one needs yet another after-work slide show about speech and language!
How do we know?
Because we made one available for free download, and very few educators watched it!
Yes, traditional training has its place. But, too often, the main takeaways are forgotten before you get back to work.
Over the last year, we’ve worked with local early educators to do things differently.
We’ve replaced powerpoint slides and lecturing with something much more useful. We call it:
Banter in the Room
The technical name for it is practice-based coaching. And there’s good evidence it works (e.g. Dennis et al., 2023).
Simply put, we:
- join your educators for an hour or so, once a week, for four weeks, during everyday play and other routines;
- show you interaction techniques that build children’s speech and language; and then
- coach your team as they try them out.
No slides. No awkward role plays. No out of hours lecture-watching. Just real interactions and useful practice in your workplace.
Of course, as we work, we’re always happy to answer your questions about speech and language development, bilingualism, red flags for potential communication disorders, and to help out with free evidence-based information and resources. But the focus is on doing useful stuff to help you in the room.
That means:
- showing, rather than telling;
- collaboration, rather than lecturing;
- shared goals, real world help, and constructive feedback;
- live troubleshooting and problem-solving; and
- making work easier, rather than adding to your workloads.
If this sounds like it could be helpful for you, get in touch!
Free resources:
Our free ebooks about speech, language, preschool readiness and more!
Preschool Educators: Speech & Language Training
More structured supports
Check out our workbooks: Banter Oral Language Resources
Evidence summary for practice-based coaching:
