E for Expand
In the evidence-based ShREC approach, E stands for expand. It is one of the four strategies that educators use to support high-quality interactions in daily practice.
Once we become familiar with it, expanding can be part of all our interactions with children. As the adage says, ‘Repetition is the mother of skill’.
Here are some straightforward examples of how educators may expand an interaction:
(i) Child: “Dog.”
Educator: “Yes, it’s a big brown dog.”
(ii) Child holds a toy car and makes a sound.
Educator: “It’s a car.”
(iii) Child: “Play…. Blocks.”
Educator: “Yes, let’s play with the blocks.”
(iv) This example is on the ShREC poster:
Child: “Bigger.”
Educator: “Yes, it’s getting taller.”
In each of these, the educator builds on what the child says, adding new words or developing what they say into a phrase or short sentence.
It is essential to remember that all interventions should be guided by your knowledge of the individual child. We must not overlook this - expanding on an interaction should not be formulaic but tailored to the child’s unique needs.
A Case Study: Expanding a Conversation, Sheringham Nursery School and Children’s Centre
Malik is building with the blocks. Shamima, his key person, goes over to join him. Seeing her walking over, Malik is excited.
Malik: “Building a wall.”
Shamima: “Wow, you’re building a wall. It’s a huge wall.”
Malik: “It very very huge … it … it … enormous.” Malik uses his arms to stretch up high.
Shamima “Yes, it’s an enormous wall.”
A few children come around the corner on bikes. Shamima intercepts them to prevent them crashing into Malik’s wall.
Shamima: “We don’t want them to crash into your wall.”
Malik: “No, don’t want crash.”
Shamima “How can we stop a crash?”
Malik looks around.
Malik: “I know.”
He runs over to the block area and fetches a road sign. He puts it in front of the wall.
Malik: “There!”
Shamima: “Good idea! That should stop them crashing into your wall.”
Malik: “That (pointing at the sign) stop them crashing into my wall.”
In this conversation, we can see that Shamima’s interactions use expansion at every turn, supporting a rich back and forth conversation. Shamima’s input helps Malik use new vocabulary and create short phrases – he expresses himself using Shamima’s prompts.
Throughout the conversation, Shamima is guided by 2 fundamental principles:
- being mindful that Malik takes the lead
- pitching her interventions just above his
The blog that includes this conversation can be found here. It is a fine example of how the expand strategy contributes to the all-important high-quality interactions.
Ideas to support practice:
- video record each other having a conversation with a child. When you play it back, focus on the expand strategy. What can you learn about your interventions from this?
- reflect on a time you used expand with a child today – how did your knowledge and understanding of the child inform what you said?
- how might you support each other to develop your skills in expanding a conversation?
Educators can have significant impact on the child’s language development just through talking and knowing where to take a conversation next.