Not More Professional Development - Ugh!

Do you ever feel this way (or get this response from teachers you supervise?) 

As awareness of the importance of early childhood education grows and we understand the need to share more information about how young children learn and what they need to be learning, everyone in early childhood is focusing more on improving the quality of teaching and so we should.

However, as this becomes a "hot topic", it becomes more and more challenging to find QUALITY training that supports teacher growth and results in improved outcomes for children.  Why spend your money and time if it's not helpful?  How do you find the resources that fit?

First, search out training not just based on availability but also on its impact on your bottom line (does it improve your reputation, does it mean real results in school preparedness with real children, and in the overall development of the children in your care, are you or your teachers positive about the training after experiencing it)?  If you hear "this was a waste of time", don't take it as an empty complaint.  Listen and pass it along to the decision-makers.  In fact, give feedback on every training you attend.

A QUALITY TRAINING CHECKLIST

I encourage all of you to find ways to expand your knowledge.  My area of focus is language and literacy development, but here's a checklist to help you select professional development that fits you (and your staff if you are a director) best in any area.  Also remember that effective training is all about adding value to your organization and to teachers as growing, competent professionals:

#1.  Does the professional development address an area that I or my staff need a stronger knowledge base in? (don't choose training simply because it "fits the required numbers" - that's a waste of time) - think the five domains of learning 

#2.  Is the training offered by a qualified trainer/organization and are they willing to work with you on funding your training event? (hint:  there are a number of inappropriate "heavy on the sales pitch" companies and individuals out there who promote their own agenda without a strong, independent research base - BEWARE!)  Also, free doesn't always mean quality so build your community, state and national collaboratives to fund quality training.  Ask for recommendations from others who have used the trainer you are considering and find out what difference the training made.  If the training is coming from a "mandated source" (such as a state voluntary PreK initiative or resource provider), we sure to give your input to improve the quality of what you receive.

#3.  Does the training involve an opportunity for me (or my staff) to try out and explore, rather than simply overwhelm with information?  This is an essential question to ask before you decide who will provide your training.

#4.  Will there be "take back to the classroom tomorrow" ideas and strategies included?

#5.  What kind of follow-up (internal or external) is provided to assure that the training "sticks"?

Now a few specifics for literacy training:

A Caveat:  Emergent literacy is essential but we can focus too much on it to the neglect of other areas.  Make sure that any literacy trainer you hire understands how young children grow and develop on a broader scale and that they incorporate learning in an "up to your eyeballs, rolling around in the experience" approach..  Balance quality training in this area with training in the other domains.

#6.  Does the training provide you with an integrated rather than "isolated skills" approach?

#7.  Can you envision your children having fun with the recommended approach? (see an example of children learning and having fun playing Rhymin' Simon).

#8.  Are all the strategies and activities tied to a specific learning objective that has at least three research-based foundations?  (this will help you avoid the "fly by night", "fix alls" that really don't work).  Do they address the essential foundations of reading and writing readiness?

#9.  Are there opportunities for the participants to ask questions and get additional information or access additional resources?

#10.  Does the trainer offer you an opportunity to extend the training into a comprehensive implementation plan or just offer an "in and out" workshop?



Now that you know what to ask - go for it!

You'll be making much better decisions about your training plan and budgeting plus you raise the likelihood that you will see meaningful changes as a result of the interaction. 

Don't forget that opportunities for families to learn (in conjunction with teachers or as separate events) are also important.

After A Hiatus: We're Back to Literacy and Preschool!

I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN YOU!

It's been a while with the holidays and snow and everything else but I'm committed to posting more frequently here. If you like what you read today, share it with a friend or connect with your fellow preschool teachers at Facebook or Twitter and talk about it!

Tomorrow I'm attending a wonderful north AL institution: the  
NW Alabama Childcare Conference. I am always excited to see all my friends in the early childhood world (teachers and directors) from across the northern part of our state. Angela and Richard and all the other staff of Childcare Education Resources (our north AL quality care enhancement provider for preschools and childcare providers of all sorts) do an incredible, quality job.  And this year, the keynote speaker is truly special: Steven Layne.

Although he's not as commonly known in the world of preschool right now, what I love about Steven is that he combines university and K-12 teaching experience and knowledge with a passion for reading.  He and I share the idea that reading should be powerful, practical and FUN and that we must give children authentic reasons to read.  You're going to enjoy his picture book, Love the Baby! I wish you could all be here to hear him (I understand the book is also available on audio.)

Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

If you haven't attended an early childhood conference (one designed especially for those who work with children ages 0-8), I'd encourage you to do so.  Most states have quality care enhancement providers or resource organizations to help you.  If you don't know of any, check with your local state licensing agency.  Here in my home state of Alabama, our state-funded voluntary preK program  a program rated by NIEER's independent study as meeting all 10 qualifiers for a high-quality early childhood initiative) opens their conference to anyone in early childhood, not just their funded programs.  I applaud them for such a great idea.

In your own state, you can often find a conference locally that is not expensive to attend if you just search at bit.  If you can't afford to go this year, make it a goal to save a little each month toward attending in 2011. Ask your director or sponsor of your preschool to consider sending a representative or two to a nearby conference or training.  It is worth the investment in your future and that of your children, even in such hard economic times.  

New Resources for Preschool Teachers and Programs

I also want to share with you a brand new video that teachers you how to play Rhymin' Simon (notice my two twin friends who help me teach the game).  It's an easy way to practice rhyming with your children in whole group or in smaller groups with those that need more focus on this early phonological awareness skill.  Contact me through my website, and verify you watched the video, and I will also send you a set of modifications for children who don't yet know how to rhyme.  When you contact TLA, you'll need to put "RHYMING MODIFICATIONS" in the subject line to take advantage of this special offer. 

NOTE:  This video is protected by copyright but you can use it for your own education and share the LINK. (please) or this blog with  your friends in the early childhood community (including parents).  For other uses of this video, you'll need to contact TLA, Inc

This game, Rhymin' Simon, is drawn from my new books for early childhood teachers (preschool AND kindergarten) and the partner book for families.   I'm so excited to be able to share the availability of  these resource books with you.

A Chance for Collaboration:

I wrote the educator one (Before They Read) especially for busy preschool and kindergarten teachers. It creates a perfect opportunity for you to create a joint book club with parties from both environments and discuss the needs of children in the transition between preschool and kindergarten.  As I travel the country, I often see kindergarten teachers sharing what they believe children need when they come to school but I believe there needs to be more of a dialogue with both sides sharing their expertise (and preschool teachers often have more to share from their knowledge base about the developmental spectrum of young children than their kindergarten, K-3 or K-5 certified counterparts).

Likewise, the book for parents, Anytime Reading Readiness can give you the opportunities you need to talk with families about key literacy issues, their child's development and "the rush to read". 

 If you are interested in really starting a revolution, purchase the Home/School Literacy Partnership Set which contains two copies of the teacher book and 20 of the parent book.

Rhyming is the doorway into the world of thinking about words for the sounds within them (apart from their meaning).  The ability to recognize and eventually generate  rhymes comes as early as age 2.5 or 3 but it starts with simply playing with the language.  You'll notice that children who have been read to regularly often develop this skill the earliest because their parents and caregivers have been talking about how our language works with them already.  As you talk daily with your children, you have given them many great tools in the language they use; this activity and others like it are the way to effectively build on those experiences as those children move on the road toward getting ready to read.

My last gift to you:

1) Need to find great books to read with young children?  Look no further than
27 of the Literacy Ambassador's Favorite Preschool Books.

You are welcome to share this link to the list with the families you serve.  Set up a display in your classroom that highlights any of these titles you have and share a "shopping list" of great books to enjoy with your child" by listing a few on a postcard for the parents at your center.  Contact your local library and ask them to do the same!  Also encourage moms and dads, grandpas and grandmas to visit my blog for parents.

Til next time . . . share the passion and joy of reading!

Setting Up Your Centers

All of you are working hard getting ready for school(or a few of you may have already started). Think outside the box with a few ideas for incorporating literacy in every one of them.

1) Think incorporation/integration - not "lessons". Blackmasters and worksheets will come soon enough in elementary school. In the blocks center, for instance, enlarge copies of floor plans from real estate magazines, have copies of Architectural Digest or other construction/building magazines and model for your children how to search those for building and construction ideas. Include a hard hat and clip board so they can draw their own designs.

2) Don't forget writing. Instead of having a designated writing center, why not make a portable one that can move with the children. A shower caddy, metal paint bucket or peach basket (for those of us in the South) all work well. Stock it with writing utensils, letter stamps and patterns, plenty of paper (ask your families to contribute note cards they get as samples in the mail or those address labels from charities). Keep it in a prominent place and remind your children that it's available. Deliver it to centers at first to increase usage.

Be sure to join children from time to time in their writing attempts. Allow them to dictate captions for their art work, notes to Mom and Dad or a "I need to talk aloud to solve this problem" notes. All of these solidify in young children's minds the various authentic purposes for writing.

3) Think of the center where the least literacy is present. Ask yourself how you can infuse reading, writing, listening, communicating and viewing into that center. Feel free to share your ideas!

TLA, Inc. has a newly revised workshop on Literacy In Every Center. You can visit us at www.readingisforeveryone.org or email cathypmiller@comcast.net for details.