LENA Team

The LENA Team is a dedicated group of professionals who are passionate about increasing awareness of the importance of early interactive talk. We are statisticians, speech-language pathologists, curriculum specialists, engineers, and linguists.

Blog Posts (24)

Dual language learners in early childhood education: Webinar highlights

By LENA TeamMay 17, 2023

“You have it already in your heart. Get rid of your fear. Go for it. Try.” Highlights from LENA’s webinar about dual language learners in early childhood education.

“A soft landing spot, a happy place”: Celebrating early childhood educators

By LENA TeamMay 9, 2023

Just as the early childhood education profession is unique, so is each teacher’s story. This week, Teacher Appreciation Week, we’re telling just a few of them.

early childhood educators interacting with a toddler, with text: Using LENA Grow to meet Head Start performance standards

How Early Head Start/Head Start grantees use LENA Grow to meet performance standards during federal review

By LENA TeamApril 25, 2023

“The federal review team was impressed that LENA Grow was something we were doing for our teachers in the classroom,” said Jon-Vincent Jamir, PACT’s Head Start Area Manager and LENA Grow coach.

Lakeshore^® partnership offers materials to help early educators increase quality interactions in the classroom

By LENA TeamApril 11, 2023

Developed in partnership with Lakeshore®, four kits are available to provide age-appropriate materials that align with the topics teachers explore during LENA Grow’s five-week coaching sequences and beyond.

LENA Grow goes statewide in Tennessee

By LENA TeamMarch 23, 2023

“The TN CCR&R sees the LENA Grow program as an important piece of the puzzle in proper language and socio-emotional development for children in Tennessee,” said Heather Hicks, Director of the TN CCR&R.

Preschooler putting a sticker on a poster

Coaching for impact in Sarasota County: Increased TS GOLD^® and CLASS^® scores

By LENA TeamMarch 14, 2023

An organization in Florida saw some amazing results in their very first LENA Grow classrooms. They want those results to have a positive impact on the whole community.

Developmental Snapshot analysis shows that LENA Start’s benefits endure for two years

By LENA TeamFebruary 27, 2023

For children who began LENA Start at risk for language delays, the results are especially encouraging.

preschool teachers reading and playing with children

“I probably think about the program every day”: When professional development is more than just a program

By LENA TeamFebruary 16, 2023

“One of my students, he came in and told me, ‘Auntie, I’d like to read to you.’” A preschool teacher and a family child care provider in Hawaii tell their stories. What keeps them excited and motivated?

Early childhood educator sitting on the floor talking with a group of toddlers

Survey results suggest LENA Grow improves educators’ professional outlook

By LENA TeamFebruary 7, 2023

Does LENA Grow help early childhood educators increase self-efficacy and job satisfaction as professionals who play a critical role in children’s lives?

webinar presenters on cartoon computer screen

Evidence-based professional development for early childhood educators: Webinar highlights

By LENA TeamFebruary 1, 2023

Two independent program evaluations of LENA Grow have established the program as evidence-based professional development. See the highlights from the webinar here.

preschooler and teacher smiling and talking at a water table

“Mae Mae’s House”: One teacher’s story behind an evaluation of LENA Grow in Milwaukee

By LENA TeamJanuary 23, 2023

In this video, a long-time preschool teacher in Milwaukee reflects on LENA Grow and what motivates her dedication to the profession.

Bridging research and practice in early childhood education: SproutFive’s independent evaluation of LENA Grow

By LENA TeamJanuary 12, 2023

True to their commitment to bridging research and practice, SproutFive embarked on an independent evaluation of LENA Grow soon after implementing the program.

Preschooler in art smock smiling at the camera

New research links early vocabulary skills to teacher-child interaction in preschool classrooms

By LENA TeamJanuary 3, 2023

“For all of us who care about the millions of children who spend most of their waking hours in child care, this is a call to action,” said Dr. Jill Gilkerson, Chief Research and Evaluation Officer at LENA.

Sounding the alarm about young children’s language development: A look back at our most viewed content of 2022

By LENA TeamDecember 6, 2022

A look back at some of the blog posts and webinars that attracted the most eyes and ears in 2022.

graphic showing one child separated from four others

New data analysis: One in five children in child care spends most of the day in language isolation

By LENA TeamNovember 2, 2022

According to LENA’s recent analysis of day-long audio recordings from 15,820 children, approximately one in five children spent most of the day in language isolation.

Classroom interaction and teacher experience: Relationships between conversational turn rates and years of experience in child care

By LENA TeamOctober 25, 2022

While more experienced teachers foster more interactive talk in their classrooms, participating in LENA Grow helps less experienced teachers catch up.

Press Releases (1)

Early Learning Indiana announces partnership with LENA to strengthen early language and literacy practices

By LENA TeamOctober 16, 2024

Early Learning Indiana (ELI) announced today an innovative partnership with LENA, a national nonprofit that is a leader in research and programing focused on language development in young children.

Page 2 of 7
←
1
2
3
...
7
→

TECHNOLOGY

PROGRAMS

RESEARCH

LAUNCH A PROGRAM

LENA for…