Responsivity

Responsivity starts with noticing. A reach, a look, a vocalization, a single word on a device: each one is a turn, and each one gets a response. The response is what teaches, because it tells the student that what they just did worked.

The most useful response is a small expansion. Take what the student communicated and add one or two words to it, modeled on their system with natural intonation. If they say “apple,” you say “red apple.” If they indicate “ball,” you say “Throw the ball?” If they point to the dog in the book, “The dog goes up.” The student hears a slightly more complete version of their own idea, in the moment it matters to them, without being asked to repeat it.

This is expanding utterances, a strategy rooted in developmental linguistics, and it is how children learning to talk get most of their language. It works across the whole day: meals, play, shared reading, and greetings. Consistency matters more than any single exchange, and the rule is encouragement without pressure. Expand, then move on. Never demand a repetition or a correction.