In one community, adults noticed low communication scores on the EDI dashboard. In response, local programs began creating more opportunities for small-group conversations and modeling how to listen and respond.
By the end of this module you will be able to
- Describe what the Communication Skills & General Knowledge domain measures
- Recognize how communication skills shape whether children feel heard and included
- Connect communication patterns to the opportunities children have to speak, be listened to, and be understood
Definition
Communication skills and general knowledge support children's ability to express themselves, understand others, and participate in conversations and learning experiences. These skills influence how children share ideas, ask questions, and connect language to their understanding of the world.
This domain contains only one subdomain with the same name:
Children who do well in this subdomain are adept at listening, expressing ideas
clearly, telling stories, participating in imaginative play, and communicating
needs in ways that others can understand. This subdomain also reflects children's
ability to draw on their general knowledge when responding to questions and
engaging with others.
Communication skills are important for children's development because they:
Correct. Communication skills go beyond speaking clearly -- they support children in expressing ideas, understanding others, participating in learning, and connecting language to their knowledge of the world.
Not quite. Communication skills support children in expressing ideas, understanding others, participating in learning, and connecting language to their knowledge of the world -- far beyond just speaking clearly.
What This Looks Like
Communication skills allow children to make themselves understood in everyday moments. A child might be trying to explain something, ask for help, tell a story, or join a conversation. Some children are understood right away.
Other children may try to communicate but aren't always understood. They may repeat themselves, get overlooked, or stop trying to share altogether. Over time, it can shape whether children feel heard and how often they speak up. Across a community, it affects who gets included in conversations and who gets left out.
Spark Question
Spark Question
How might children's opportunities to express themselves shape how they participate in the world around them?
One perspective
When children have consistent opportunities to speak, be listened to, and be understood, they develop confidence in their ability to participate. Conversely, when children are repeatedly overlooked or not understood, they may learn to stay quiet. These patterns shape not just language development but also how children see themselves as capable contributors to conversations and learning.
Dive into the Dashboard
Start by looking at overall patterns:
- Which areas have higher percentages?
- Which areas have lower percentages?
- Are there places that look different from nearby areas?
Role-Specific Reflections
Your entry point
Compare census tracts. What early childhood programs might be impacting this domain?
Your entry point
Review the dashboard and consider if there are any connections between the EDI data and how students in your school express ideas.
Your entry point
Map where children have opportunities to speak, be listened to, and be understood, and where those opportunities may be limited.
Success Story
Check for Understanding
Question
Why are communication skills important for children's development beyond just speaking clearly?
Answer
They support children in expressing ideas, understanding others, participating in learning, and connecting language to their knowledge of the world.