Professionals sometimes use jargon. Jargon is a word or term that is specific to your work, and families may not know what these terms mean. Use this exercise to change some common education-related jargon into family-friendly words. Brainstorm different ways you can describe the terms in this table. It may also be good to designate a jargon buster at meetings who can help you make sure you are using family-friendly language. Share your responses with your trainer, coach or administrator.
Professional Jargon |
Family-friendly Language |
Observational assessment |
Observing a childs activities, language, or behaviors, to determine what a child has learned in order to further support the childs progress
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Data-based decisions |
Decisions that are made after collecting information about how children are developing in different areas and how children are achieving certain goals
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Gross motor skills |
Using large muscles, for example climbing, or crawling
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Fine motor skills |
Using small muscles, for example picking up very small objects using fingers
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Cognitive development |
How knowledge or information is learned and used
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Developmentally appropriate activities |
Activities that promote optimal development in children and that are suitable for children of a particular age
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Primary caregiver |
Parent or adult who takes primary responsibility for the daily care of a child
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Add other terms or acronyms here that are common to your workplace, and try to make them family-friendly: |
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