Preparing our earliest learners for life-long success
Research has proven that developing language and literacy skills at an early age plays a significant role in preparing young learners for later academic success. Yet districts and schools across the nation continue to encounter a high percentage of kindergarten and first-grade students who lack the early precursor skills that provide a foundation for later literacy learning.
Our early learning courses are grounded in scientific research and provide educators with the skills and strategies they need to meet the needs of a wide-range of learners, while fostering the skills all early learners need for success in the future.
Early Childhood Managing Centers, Pre-K–K
Early Childhood Managing Centers is a one-day professional development course that focuses on the effective use of learning centers to reinforce and extend the learning that is taking place within an early childhood setting. Teachers will also explore how centers can support math, science, and social studies, and learn how to manage, plan and build centers. Participants will also learn the importance of allowing children to engage in learning through center investigations.
Length:
One day
Objectives:
After completing the Early Childhood Managing Centers Institute, participants will:
- Understand how to effectively use centers to reinforce and extend children’s learning
- Understand how centers can support a comprehensive curriculum that includes social and emotional development, science, social studies, and math
- Learn how to manage, plan, and create effective centers
- Begin to plan and develop classroom centers
College Credit Pending
Early Childhood Family Involvement, Pre-K–K
Early Childhood Family Involvement is a one-day professional development course that focuses on helping families learn how to support their child in school and at home. The emphasis is on getting families actively involved in their child’s learning and helping them to see the important role they play in their child’s development. During this course, participants explore both Epstein’s Framework of Six Types of Involvement and the many ways to involve families in the learning process. Participants also examine the importance of establishing a strong partnership between the school, community, and home.
Length:
One day
Objectives:
- Identify the characteristics of family involvement
- Understand the purpose and importance of family involvement
- Recognize key components for implementing family involvement
- Understand the educator’s role in supporting family involvement
- Know different types of family involvement
- Begin planning activities for family involvement
College Credit Pending
Transitional Kindergarten
Transitional Kindergarten is a one-day professional development course that focuses on the instructional needs of young learners enrolled in the first year of a two-year kindergarten program. During this interactive training, teachers explore how to use a modified curriculum that is age and developmentally appropriate in a Transitional Kindergarten classroom. Teachers learn how to meet necessary key learning goals including phonological awareness, alphabet knowledge, oral language and vocabulary skills, and print awareness.
The Transitional Kindergarten course allows teachers to explore thematic connections to writing, math, science, and social studies. Teachers examine the topic of assessment and how to use observational data to inform instruction. Tips for setting up and managing the classroom are shared. Teachers leave the institute with many ideas they can incorporate into the classroom the very next day.
Length:
One day
Objectives:
- Understand the educational needs and best teaching practices for Transitional Kindergarten students.
- Utilize age-appropriate, thematic instruction with a balance of exploration and group instruction.
- Be able to integrate oral language, vocabulary, phonological awareness, math, writing, and assessment into daily instruction.
- Incorporate appropriate classroom management techniques for transitional kindergarten.
College Credit Pending