Using Skilled Dialogue to Transform Challenging Interactions: Honoring Identity, Voice, and Connection

Because behavior is rooted in culture, responding to the challenges posed by diverse behavior in early childhood settings depends on a deep understanding of the experiences, values, perceptions, and beliefs that shape it. This is the book that shows professionals how to interpret behavior in the context of culture—and use their knowledge to improve even the most challenging interactions.

Applying Isaura Barrera's popular Skilled Dialogue approach to challenging interactions of all types—be they between adults and children or only between adults—this positive and practical guide works because it transforms the behavior of everyone: young children with special needs, early childhood professionals, and families. With this fresh, creative approach to addressing behavior challenges, early education professionals will discover how to

• apply the three critical qualities of Skilled Dialogue: respect for differences, reciprocity that honors diverse perspectives, and responsiveness to a person's true identity and needs
• nurture young children's confidence and sense of self while building effective behavioral supports
• become better communicators and collaborators with colleagues and families
• make the most of the gifts and strengths inherent in differences rather than perceiving them as roadblocks or weaknesses
• build mutually beneficial relationships rather than seeking control over others
• dismantle the stereotypes that can harm relationships and encourage negative judgments
• move beyond rigid "either-or" thinking and welcome multiple ways of reaching a desired outcome

Extended case examples and specific classroom strategies give readers models for their own interactions, vignettes with discussion questions help readers practice what they learn, and tools such as self-assessments and case analysis exercises make it easy to implement Skilled Dialogue in any early childhood setting. The book also includes a handy Skilled Dialogue Quick Sheet that users can keep at their fingertips for a fast, reader-friendly refresher on implementing the model.

A must for every professional who works with young children and families, this book will help readers change the way they think about behavior—and resolve challenges in ways that honor diverse cultures and perspectives.

Isaura Barrera, Ph.D., is a native of South Texas whose interest in cultural diversity was stimulated at an early age, as she realized that the colorful autumn leaves that she cut out in first grade had no correspondence to any leaves she had actually seen. She has worked for more than 25 years in early childhood special education programs in San Antonio, Texas, and western New York State, as well as in New Mexico. Dr. Barrera holds a bachelor's degree in major communication sciences and a master's degree in speech pathology from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas. She holds a doctoral degree in education research and evaluation, with concentrations in early childhood and bilingual special education, from the State University of New York at Buffalo. As an associate professor in the Special Education Department at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, Dr. Barrera coordinates the Early Childhood Special Education concentration within the graduate special education program. She continues to work nationally as a consultant. Her research focus is the Skilled Dialogue approach and its related materials, including a preschool language screening protocol for linguistically diverse preschoolers.

Lucinda Kramer earned her doctoral degree in Special Education with a concentration in Early Childhood Special Education from the University of New Mexico. As an associate professor in Special Education at National University in Costa Mesa, CA, she coordinates the credential and graduate programs in Special Education. She has served as Chair of the Multicultural Committee for the Council of Exceptional Children's Division of Early Childhood and has worked with teachers, families, schools, and agencies in Texas, Arizona and California.