Yes, we drew flowers

Adult listening to a child

Rather than repeating and highlighting a child’s mistakes back to them, sometimes it’s better to RECAST:

  • Child: It red. Adult: Yes, it’s red.

  • Child: We drawed flowers. Adult: Yes, we drew flowers.

The idea is that young children who are still acquiring language will hear a correct version of what they expressed, whilst maintaining the natural flow of conversation and avoiding confusion.

Here are some more situations when recasting may be appropriate:

  • If a child has additional needs, you may decide to recast for them beyond the Early Years.

  • Recasting is used in teaching a second language at any age, so you could use it with children learning English as an additional language.

  • Recasting may also be helpful for modelling different ‘registers’, for example if pupils are practising speaking in a formal or technical style that they are not used to.

Do you know someone who could use this information? Share with teachers, teaching assistants, or parents as appropriate.