How do we ensure that all children are receiving the levels of interaction that pave the way for school success?
On Demand
Duration: 1 hour, 7 minutes
LENA and Trust for Learning both recognize the importance of language and interaction to boost early brain development and set children up for a lifetime of learning success. We’ve seen that customizing supports to meet each child where they are can be a challenge in ECE settings. Using both TFL’s Ideal Learning Principles and LENA Grow’s tools and technology, early care providers can define their overall approach to individualizing instruction and classroom equity, measure interactions, and provide targeted coaching to foster an ideal learning environment for all children.
Participants will walk away with a clear understanding of what equity looks like in early childhood classrooms along with concrete strategies for supporting stakeholders at every level — teachers, early care and learning centers, districts, and communities — in fostering more equitable classroom environments.
Visit our blog to learn more about creating equitable classroom environments.
About Ellen Roche
Ellen joined Trust for Learning in 2018 after graduating from a Montessori preschool and with many years of experience with schools, nonprofits, and foundations since.
Prior to recent leadership roles at two strategy firms, Ellen taught music, English, and humanities and discovered a passion for civic ed and the history of progressive schools while earning an M.Ed. She’s been lucky enough to teach and develop curricula across ages, settings, and approaches and is fascinated by the dynamic relationships between American schools, democracy and culture.
Outside of schools, she has developed and led workshops around the country on racial equity, political storytelling, and the hidden literature of American women.
About Ihemoa Iruka
Iheoma U. Iruka, PhD, is the Chief Research Innovation Officer and Director of The Center for Early Education Research and Evaluation at HighScope Educational Research Foundation. Dr. Iruka is engaged in projects and initiatives focused on how evidence-informed policies, systems, and practices in early education can support the optimal development and experiences of low-income and ethnic minority children, such as through family support and education systems and programs. She has been engaged in addressing how best to ensure excellence for young diverse learners, especially black children.
She has a PhD in applied developmental psychology from the University of Miami.
About Lauren Cooper
Lauren Cooper is a Customer Implementation and Success Coordinator at LENA. She is a Speech Language Pathologist and brings extensive experience supporting children and families in Early Intervention programs, public and private schools, clinics and Early Head Start programs.
At LENA, Lauren uses her background as an SLP and experience in early childhood education to support LENA Grow and build interactive language environments within childcare settings.
Lauren earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies and Spanish from Saint Louis University and earned her Master of Health Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Missouri. Lauren holds a Certificate of Clinical Competency through the American Speech Language and Hearing Association and additional licensure through the State of Colorado and the Colorado Department of Education.