As a result of completing this program, participants will:
Know…
- Current learning standards PreK – 3rd Grade
- Current research about brain development in young children
- Current research on learning indicators for children and developmental approaches to assessment
- Best practices for teacher and program evaluation
- Best practices in child development and intentional teaching, including those for dual language learners
- Best inclusion practices for children with learning differences
- Systemic models for building collaborative cultures and continuous improvement
- Advocacy and communication strategies for working with stakeholders, including family engagement
Understand that…
- Alignment of curriculum, instruction, and assessment from PreK – 3rd grade sustains and improves learning outcomes for children through grade 12
- Quality early learning experiences matter to closing opportunity and achievement gaps
- Cultivating a rigorous and regulated (R2)1 learning environment, based on understanding child and brain development, supports the healthy growth of children
- Intentional teaching that fosters play, imagination, communication, self-regulation, and rigorous/relevant learning experiences supports engaged learners
- Educators need job-embedded, meaningful professional learning opportunities with processes that build their capacity to meet the cognitive, emotional, and physical needs of the diverse children and families they serve
- Systems, structures, and cultures can move or impede the change process
- The value of partnerships and effective communication with a broad range of stakeholders to ensure better futures for children
be able to (Do)…
- Approach challenges with a growth mindset and a willingness to reflect, change and tolerate ambiguity
- Use effective adult learning practices to foster a collaborative culture focused on continuous improvement
- Create a strategic action plan that includes all stakeholders, to improve coherence and high quality early learning in a school or district, based on a comprehensive PreK-3rd grade approach
- Observe classroom instruction and environment and identify quality indicators as well as practices that interfere with learning
- Lead for equity and excellence with a focus on dispositions and strategies for socially just classrooms and schools
- Communicate clearly and with credibility on this topic with diverse stakeholders
[1] Lesaux, N., Jones, S., Harris, J., Kane, R. (2014). A New Era for Early Care and Education. Brief 1. Retrieved from http://isites.harvard.edu/lesaux