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Cleveland Jewish News
June 6, 2024

By STEVE MARK

Of the multitude of established dynamics that help students develop early communication skills, two tend to stand out – repetition and socialization. The daily routines stressed in schools play a big part in learning, and there is stimuli in that dynamic that simply can’t be replicated elsewhere.

For more on how schools assist in the development of young children’s skills, Fatemeh Toossi, lead preschool teacher at Hanna Perkins School in Shaker Heights, shared her observations:

“We deeply value the unique voice of each child,” Toossi said. “We believe that behaviors are a powerful means of communication, and we actively encourage children to verbalize their thoughts, ideas, and feelings. Our teachers keenly observe these behaviors, sparking curiosity and providing the child with the time and space to express what is on their mind.”

Toossi stressed the development of early communication skills is not always a one-size-fits-all approach.

“We are committed to providing an individualized learning experience for each student,” she said. “This is reflected in the variety of visual cues throughout our classrooms, including picture cues, written cues and a range of materials. These cues are designed to empower students to choose tasks that cater to their unique interests and learning needs.”

The first thing Toossi’s team does when evaluating a child’s communication skills is schedule one-on-one visits with the children to cultivate their relationship.

READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE at the Cleveland Jewish News.

Fatemeh Toosi, Lead Preschool Teacher, Hanna Perkins School