Much Progress: 60 Years in the making
With the emergence of The Council for Exceptional Children’s Division on Early Childhood(CEC-DEC) and Federal Laws and investmenn’s in services for young children like Head Start, Early Head Start, Early Childhood Special Education for children with disabilities birth to eight years of age collaborative efforts on behalf of young children arose. At the national level the National Association for Young Children (NAEYC) and CEC/DEC merged energies to improve teacher preparation and perofrmance through identification of and adoption of teacher competencies. These efforts have resulted in national recognition of the importance of teachers and more clearly focused presrvice teacher education and professional development. This collaboration is currently informing research, development, certification/licensure, and training initiatives.
Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction (WDPI). the state’s CEC-DEC, and the University of Wisconsin campuses at Madison and Whitewater pioneered similar efforts bbeginning in the 1970’s. They brought people together to determine needs, identify competencies, develop competency based preservice and professional development activities, materials, and licensure practices. Readers are encourage to see ECSE History pages.
Standards have been adopted, strategies to implement procedures to recognize teacher performance are being designed, and competency based training programs are being implemented.
Standards*
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Examples of training option
In December of 2023 National Head Start training initiatives such as the following virtual programs were offered teachers and administrators. The topics of these programs reveal progress over the last half century.
Thursday, Jan. 18
3–4 p.m. ET
Online
How Social Interactions Build Brains for Language Learning
Did you know that back-and-forth interactions can change the brain? In this BabyTalks webinar, learn about what this means for infant and toddler language development. Join Beth Zack, PhD, and Becky Sughrim, MEd, from the National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching, and Learning (NCECDTL) to explore the latest research on the brain-building power of social interactions for language development. Discover strategies based on brain science for fostering infant and toddler language development. This webinar is offered with English and Spanish captioning.
Thursday, Feb. 1
3–4 p.m. ET
Online
Noticing and Nurturing Curiosity and Joyful Learning with Infants and Toddlers
Infant and toddler educators are researchers, watching closely and listening carefully to predict what will engage young children as learners. We then tinker with the learning environment and our interactions to deepen their learning. In this webinar, explore your role as teacher, researcher, and tinkerer. We discuss strategies that draw from the curiosity of children fostering joyful teaching and learning. This webinar is offered with English and Spanish captioning.
Tuesday, Feb. 13
3–4 p.m. ET
Online
Teach, Assess, Adjust to Support Highly Individualized Instruction
A key goal of inclusive programs is to be aware of areas where each child has individual learning needs and match the type and amount of instruction we provide. This takes careful planning and happens through an ongoing process of providing individualized instruction, collecting data on how a child responds, and making data-informed decisions about how to adjust the level of support so the child can keep learning. Head Start programs call this ongoing cycle Teach-Assess-Adjust. Join us to explore how disabilities services coordinators can help education staff to use the Teach-Assess-Adjust process to use highly individualized instruction. Discover resources, including a new mobile app, that can support ongoing use of the cycle. This webinar is offered with English and Spanish captioning.
Tuesday, Feb. 20
3–4 p.m. ET
Online
2024 Dual Language Learner Celebration Week
Join the Office of Head Start, NCECDTL, and the National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement virtually for Dual Language Learner (DLL) Celebration Week! Typically scheduled in the third week of February, this annual celebration is all about children who are DLLs and their families.
Wednesday, March 6
3–4 p.m. ET
Online
Promoting Language Development for Children Who Are DLLs [in Spanish]
Early learning programs serve children and families from more diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds every day. To meet each child’s unique needs, it is important to have the knowledge, apply the research, and use responsive practices that support the individual needs of all children. In this Conexiones webinar, explore the brain's role in supporting children who are dual language learners and the cognitive benefits of bilingualism. Explore strategies and resources for children who are learning and speaking more than one language. This webinar is presented in Spanish and offered with English and Spanish captioning.
Thursday, March 7
3–4 p.m. ET
Online
Noticing and Nurturing Curiosity and Joy in Preschool
Preschool educators are researchers, watching closely and listening carefully to predict what will engage children as learners. We then tinker with the learning environment and our interactions to deepen their learning. In this webinar, explore your role as teacher, researcher, and tinkerer. We discuss strategies that draw from the curiosity of children fostering joyful teaching and learning. This webinar is offered with English and Spanish captioning.
Wednesday, March 20
3–4 p.m. ET
Online
Responding in the Moment to Behaviors That Challenge Adults
Even when education staff do their best to prevent challenging behavior, child behaviors that challenge adults will likely still occur. Join this webinar to learn about strategies a coachee can use to respond to behavior in the moment that can lessen the likelihood the behavior will escalate. Practice using coaching strategies through a case study based on responding to behavior in the moment. This webinar is offered with English and Spanish captioning.
Thursday, March 21
3–4 p.m. ET
Online
Supporting Preschool Learning with American Sign Language
American Sign Language (ASL) is an expressive, visual language with a rich cultural history and ongoing vibrant community. Learning and using ASL not only benefits preschoolers who are deaf or hard of hearing but children with typical hearing as well. This webinar explores the magic of ASL, its components and culture, and application in educational environments to support all preschoolers. This webinar is offered with English and Spanish captioning.