June 30, 2025
In June, a partnership between Labedu and the Harvard Office in Brazil brought Professor Paola Uccelli, from Harvard University, to the country to teach the mini-course “Language Development, Comprehension, Communication and School Performance: Promoting Reading for Learning Throughout Development.”
Between the 24th and 27th, we brought together researchers and leaders from the third sector, government, and the press to deepen our knowledge in the area of language development, focusing on the potential for interactions in both school and family contexts.
A leading researcher in the field, Paola Uccelli collaborates with Labedu on the theoretical conceptualization of methodologies and the production and dissemination of evidence at the forefront of knowledge about language development. He is also part of the research group currently investigating the implementation of the Aprender Linguagem project, and has supported the monitoring strategies of the Aprender a Estudar Textos project.
Throughout the meetings, the fundamentals of reading as a tool for learning throughout development were addressed. Drawing on recent research, each session discussed the challenges, beliefs that often guide school practices, and the support needed for children and adolescents to truly learn through reading.
Among the topics discussed were the role of classroom dialogue, mediation, and the importance of developing resources that foster the construction of meaning from texts. Furthermore, in the closing session, participants were invited to discuss the implications of the reflections developed throughout the course for assessment and pedagogical practices.
Participants were also introduced to the projects Learning to Study Texts and Learning: Inside and Outside School , currently being implemented by Labedu. This is because they share the same theoretical foundations used by the visiting professor and respond to the language development challenges investigated in the research.
Researchers and leaders from the third sector, government, and the press met with Professor Paola Uccelli and the Labedu team for a mini-course on language development.
The course was featured in journalist Renata Cafardo's weekly column in Estadão. A participant in the course, Cafardo highlighted the research that followed 42 families over ten years and demonstrated the importance of adults encouraging and listening to young children's ideas. Read the full text here .
Did this topic pique your curiosity? Learn more on the Aprender Linguagem platform , a comprehensive guide for families and educators on the language acquisition process for children between the ages of 0 and 5.