How GROW Helped One Teacher Turn Concern into Support
Teachers are often the first to notice when a child may need a little extra support. When they have the right tools and partners, those early observations can make a real difference for children and families. Carol, a teacher at Winton Nursery in Rochester, NY, saw this firsthand with Jill, a four‑year‑old in her classroom. Jill was articulate, followed rules, and showed strong early academic skills. But Carol noticed Jill often played alone, was sensitive to noise, and struggled to join group conversations. Although Jill’s parents were not initially concerned, Carol trusted her professional instincts and with the family’s consent, reached out to Get Ready to GROW (GROW) for a developmental screening.
The GROW screening confirmed Jill’s strengths while also identifying challenges that were harder to spot day to day. Jill had difficulty understanding longer directions and participating in back‑and‑forth conversations. Based on these findings, the screener recommended a full speech and language evaluation. Equally important, the GROW screener met with Carol to review the results. She helped Carol better understand Jill’s needs and made conversations with the family easier. GROW also provided simple, practical strategies Carol could use right away, such as modeling longer responses and creating low‑pressure opportunities for peer interaction.
With GROW’s support, Carol felt confident guiding Jill’s family toward next steps and adjusting her own teaching approaches. GROW helped her transform uncertainty into informed action, strengthening her ability to support her students.
Get Ready to GROW (GROW) offers comprehensive developmental screenings with support for referral and follow-up services for children ages 1-5. GROW is a community initiative managed by the Children's Institute in collaboration with education, health, and service partners.
