Happy Holidays from BAEYC: Is your membership current?

Just a reminder, since many of you are members. Have you encouraged your providers to join? QRIS is a NAEYC priority. See you soon, Andrea (Membership Chair and President-Elect)

Kidvision

Can certificates obtained from Kidvison be used as part of the requirement for the 6 hour curriculum training?

Tip Sheets on a variety of subject.

http://www.wccip.org/tips.html

Thanks to Mary Jean Woika from NSU for sharing this link.

"Top Ten" Ideas for "How to Develop Lesson Plans"

From the brainstorming session, during our QRIS joint meeting today, the group came up with this list of what needs to be considered during the lesson planning process. Keep in mind, each facility/provider is welcome to develop their own lesson planning process to be included in the QRIS Portfolio. Since we are hopefully moving toward a statewide QRIS program, and since we are already working closely with the other southern counties, it would help if everyone was on a "similar page" when thinking about lesson plans.

Here is what we came up with so far: When developing lesson plans, consider:
1) FL State Standards/Objectives: "color" coded or "down the side"
2) An Activity Title w/ brief description
3) Writing plans for the "subsitute teacher"
4) Individualized to meet the needs of each child
5) Group Sizes (smaller the better)
6) Age groups
7) Time Frame for an activity (briefer the better)
8) Procedures / Materials
9) User Friendly Format
10) Around Themes
11) Adapt at least ONE Interest Center to match the Theme
12) Stay Flexible during the activity
13) Participation is VOLUNTARY

Feel free to add your own ideas if I missed anything!

Form to submit for Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum approval

Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum Review Guidelines with Request Process

Florida gives parents, schools, and providers the right to choose which appropriate, scientific-based, and researched early learning curricula approach they use to meet state early education performance standards. This document is designed to offer assistance in making that choice.

The Early Learning Coalition of Broward County has identified the following curriculum components as important factors in determining whether or not an early education curriculum is developmentally appropriate. Any curriculum approved by the Coalition incorporates these components.

Definition : Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum
Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum, for the purposes of a review and /or approval, is defined as a set of written materials that:
 Is replicable
 May address the use of materials, scheduling, arranging the environment, and interaction between children and adults separately or in combination
 Includes more than activity suggestions and more than theory and pedagogy
 Is aligned with the Florida Early Learning Standards Birth – Five
 Is aligned with scientifically-based research
Guidelines
1. The curriculum is developmentally appropriate. It has realistic and attainable expectations in line with the most recent research on early learning and child development.
2. The curriculum has a Character Development component.
3. The curriculum…A. Promotes interactive learning among staff and children.
B. Helps children achieve social, emotional, linguistic, physical and cognitive goals.
C. Permits flexibility for children and teachers.
D. Encourages active learning through play and frequently allows children to make meaningful choices.
E. Fosters children’s exploration and inquiry, rather than focusing on "right" answers or "right" ways to complete a task.
F. Facilitates concept learning and skills development in an integrated and natural way. (Integrated thematic instruction)
G. Shows evidence from research of being based on sound child development principles of how children grow and learn.
H. Shows respect for cultural and linguistic diversity and allows and appreciates individual differences.

4. The curriculum meets all of the State of Florida School Readiness Performance Standards, including the following Domains:

A. Physical Health
B. Approaches to Learning
C. Social and Emotional Development
D. Language Development and Communication
E. Cognitive Development and General Knowledge
F. Motor Development
G. Emergent Literacy

5. The program has age appropriate activities and materials that promote the following experiences:
A. Construction (wood blocks, waffle blocks, bristle blocks, Lincoln Logs, etc.)
B. Dramatic Play
C. Manipulatives
D. Creative Expression (Art)
E. Language (Talking, listening, reading and writing)
F. Discovery/Sensory
G. Fluid Play
H. Music and Movement
I. Outdoors/Gross Motor
J. Computers (optional)

6. Assessment evidence (from multiple sources) is used to understand and improve learning by improving curriculum implementation and teaching practices.

7. Parent Involvement:
A. Parents are recognized as the child’s first teacher.
B. Parents are given letters about thematic units of study and each of the interest areas available in the program detailing the benefit to the child.
C. Parents are welcomed visitors to the program or classroom and opportunities are available for parent participation.
D. Conferences are scheduled to discuss the parent’s expectations for their children and answer any questions they may have about the curriculum.
E. Parents are knowledgeable about goals and assessment.

Definitions and Approved Curricula
Ages Birth to 5
(not to be confused with Florida DOE VPK approved curriculum)
Standards:
Florida has adopted performance standards for all children birth to 5 years old. The PERFORMANCE STANDARDS can be accessed on line.
Birth to Three Year Olds
http//www.floridajobs.org/earlylearning/downloads/pdf/birth_to_3book.pdf

Three, Four and Five Year Olds
http//www.floridajobs.org/earlylearning/downloads/zip/3-5_perf_stands.zip

Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Standards http://www.firn.edu/doe/earlylearning/perform.htm

Approved Curricula
A framework is a philosophical structure which can be used to facilitate the alliance of practices with performance standards. The coalition recognizes adherence to an educational framework as an indicator of high-quality early education programming. The research-based developmentally appropriate curriculum frameworks currently recognized by this coalition are:
Creative Curriculum®;
Beyond Centers and Circle Time Series;
High/Scope®;
La Petite Academy – Journey
Montessori*
Approved curriculum (ELC reviewed Pre-K only)
High Reach® Passports for Pre-K
Houghton Mifflin Pre-K
InvestiGator Club®,
Let's Begin with the Letter People® for Pre-K
* The name Montessori is not legally protected, and can be used by anyone, for any purpose; it is vital that anyone searching for authentic Montessori practices be aware of this. Check www.montessori.edu for more information.

Materials and resources Curriculum:
Within an appropriate framework, there are materials and resources that can enhance and augment developmentally appropriate practices. The materials and resources currently recognized by this coalition are approved as curriculum:
Building Language for Literacy®, DLM Early Childhood Express®, Doors to Discovery®, Funshine Express™ Opening the World of Learning™ WEE Learn® 4

Curriculum Review Request Process :
If assistance is required in determining if a curriculum meets State recommended curriculum criteria to add that curricula to this list, the Coalition invites providers of school readiness services, and VPK and curriculum publishers to enter into the curriculum review process.
Process to Apply for a Curriculum Review:
If you feel a curriculum can effectively demonstrate that it meets the curriculum criteria, as described in the Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum Guidelines, please submit a response addressing specifically how each guideline (1-7e) is supported by your curriculum. Submit it to:
Early Learning Coalition of Broward County
6301 NW 5th Way, Suite 3400
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309
The Coalition’s Curriculum Review Team will convene annually to review curriculum review requests. They will notify the requesting party, in writing, of the status of their application and any additional steps required to complete the process.

Curriculum Review Team Members:
Early Learning Coalition of Broward County System Partners Committee members which may include representatives from Broward County Child Care Licensing, Broward Community College, Broward County Public Schools, Family Central, Inc., Children’s Services Council of Broward, community early care and education providers, Nova Southeastern University and the Agency for Workforce Innovation.

Process to Have Curriculum approved by ELC

To enter into the Early Learning Coalition of Broward (ELC) curriculum review process you must:

1. Submit a response to the attached Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum Guidelines addressing each category and subcategory specifically with information about how the curriculum addresses each. For example, do not say: It is research based, but direct us to the research your company used to develop the product.
2. Submit response to guidelines to: Lisa Feeney, Senior Early Care and Education Program Specialist, Early Learning Coalition of Broward County, Inc., 6301 NW 5th Way, Suite 3400, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309
Upon receipt, I will review the submission and distribute it to the Curriculum Review Team to review. (The team meets annually to make decisions on whether or not to include submissions on the ELC list of approved curriculum.

You will be notified, in writing, of the committee’s decision.