In a provocative video, Economist Films explores the role conversational turns may play in what they call “breaking the class ceiling.” The video features:

• Lindsay Paris, Mesquite ISD’s LENA Grow program coordinator.
• Shadarra James, a mother who participated in LENA Start through Mesquite ISD.
• Dr. Rachel Romeo, Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology at the University of Maryland, College Park, who uses LENA technology is her studies about brain function and conversational turns.

For more on Dr. Romeo’s research, see the following blog posts and webinars:

• New research sheds light on the important of conversational turns.
• New study links conversational turns with increases in children’s verbal and nonverbal abilities using brain imaging and LENA technology.
• First paper published linking conversational turns with brain structure.
• Webinar — Beyond the 30 Million Word Gap: A Conversation with Dr. Rachel Romeo.
• Webinar — The Power of Conversational Turns.