DEC (2014) recommends early educators collaborate with families in decision-making that incorporates family knowledge, concerns, and priorities (F3, F4, TC2). How early educators facilitate dialogue with families plays a key role in the extent to which families participate in decisions about their child. Understanding how conversations unfold is important to promoting equitable interactions with all families, and particularly families from culturally, linguistically, and socioeconomically diverse backgrounds. Yet nuances of language use are difficult for speakers to recognize in the moment, and educators are likely to need supports to recognize specific ways in which they use language.
In alignment with DEC Recommended Practices (2014) and the DEC Family Monograph (2017), this Learning Deck deconstructs decision-making, illustrating how decisions are made through language with examples from real-life interactions between early educators and families. Participants will learn to identify and interpret key aspects of decision-making, focusing on implications for parents’ participation in decisions. The session highlights research-based communication strategies that contribute to more equitable parent participation in decision-making conversations. In doing so, this session supports participants’ understanding of how early educators engage in responsive interactions with families (TC2, F3) that foster shared decisions regarding a child’s goals or individualized plans (F4).
Participant Outcomes:
Participants will:
- Understand ways in which discourse contributes to decision-making by families and early educators in EI/ECSE settings.
- Be able to identify key features of EI/ECSE decision-making interactions with families.
- Learn a range of communication strategies early educators can apply to foster more equitable parent participation in EI/ECSE decision-making.
Presenters: Christine Hancock, PhD, and Greg Cheatham, PhD
Christine Hancock, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Special Education at Wayne State University. Her scholarship focuses on how early educators and families of young children communicate and collaborate. She aims to support professionals in facilitating more equitable interactions with all families, resulting in meaningful and mutual decisions.
Greg Cheatham, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Special Education at the University of Kansas. His scholarship focuses on the provision of effective, appropriate, and equitable services for young children and families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. He has a particular interest in language diversity.
Deconstructing Decision-Making with Families to Foster Meaningful Partnerships
This digital product provides access to one Learning Deck Webinar for one individual purchaser. Once the order is placed, the purchaser will receive a link to download the webinar recording as well as any webinar handouts. The webinar can be watched on-demand at any time once downloaded. Note: Purchases do not include certificates of attendance.
Copyright Notice
Please Note: Sharing a Learning Deck Webinar with one or more parties, without prior written permission from Division for Early Childhood, is a violation of copyright law.
Group Orders
If you would like to purchase a Learning Deck Webinar for a group, please place an order here. Discounts are available for members and groups.
Division for Early Childhood Learning Deck Webinars are webinars presented by experts in early intervention, early childhood special education, and related fields. Each webinar lasts approximately one hour (unless otherwise noted) and includes access to the full recording and any webinar handouts. Webinar purchases do not include certificates of attendance.
