Early Childhood Initiatives

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Early Childhood Initiatives
REDUCED CLASS SIZE
Parents as Partners in Early Childhood Education
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• Reduced Class Size Overview
• Welcome
• Childrens experiences during early childhood
  not only influence their later development in
  school but also have effects throughout life.
• National Association for the Education of Young
  Children
• Agenda
• PURPOSE To provide an overview of the Department
  of Defense Education Activities (DoDEA) Reduced
  Class Size Initiative
• Welcome and Review of Agenda
• Activator
• Benefits of Reduced Class Size
• Discussion and Q A on Benefits
• Review of Research on Learning
• Discussion and Q A on Research
• Components of a Quality Early Childhood Primary
  Grades Program
• Discussion and Q A on Components
• Closing

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Why reduced class size?

• Research studies show that reduced class size has
  an effect on student achievement.
• President Clinton called for reduced class size
  in the primary grades.
• Reduced class size is being supported by
  national, state, and local policy makers.

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What are the advantages to a reduced class size
in grades 1-3?

• Teachers have more time to individualize
  instruction.
• Teachers have time to target unique needs of
  children.
• Students have the opportunity to participate in a
  wide range of diverse activities and to study
  concepts in depth.
• Teachers have more time to work with parents and
  share information.
• Students have more opportunity to develop their
  social skills.
• Students demonstrate enhanced academic
  performance and a decrease in the achievement gap.

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Teachers Have More Time to Individualize
Instruction

• Teachers will have time to...
• target the needs of children.
• meet with individuals and small groups of
  children to work on specific areas of concern.
• engage children in critical thinking and social
  inquiry.
• assess students progress.
• assure that students are on task.

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Students Have More Opportunities

• Students can participate in a wider range of
  curriculum-based activities.
• Students can study concepts in depth.
• Students can have more opportunities to develop
  their social skills.

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BUILDING BLOCKS TO DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE
PRACTICES
Physical Environment
Integrated, Appropriate Curriculum
Instructional Strategies Interaction
Active Student Engagement
Caring Community
Assessment
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Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) Is
Based Upon ...

• Knowledge about how children develop and learn
• What we know about learners developmental stages
• Understanding the relationship between early
  experience and subsequent development

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What Is An Integrated, Appropriate Curriculum?

• Curriculum based upon DoDEA standards
• Diverse, culturally responsive
• Spontaneous play, discovery learning, projects,
  and daily living situations
• Designed to make connections across subject
  areas
• Incorporates childrens interests ideas
• Instruction geared to developmental expectations

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What Does Assessment Look Like?

• Based on childrens experiences - socially,
  culturally, and linguistically appropriate
• Multiple sources and is continuous/ongoing
• Encourage self-evaluation
• Guides curricular and instructional decisions
• Parent-teacher collaboration
• Progress based upon age-appropriate expectations

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What is Active Student Engagement?

• All students actively engaged in the learning
  process
• Teacher presents information in multisensory ways
• All students manipulating materials and
  responding to peers and to their environment
• Time provided for reflection, interaction, and
  student input
• Flexible groups based on student needs and
  learning experience
• Clear expectations, adequate space, and
  appropriate materials
• Accessibility to learning centers as integral
  part of learning process
• Variety of instructional strategies match
  individual students needs and learning goals

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What Does the Physical Environment Look Like?

• Atmosphere allows children to function
  efficiently and make choices
• Furniture organized for comfortable work areas
  and safe traffic flow
• Also allows for appropriate supervision
• Materials organized, safe, labeled, maintained,
  and accessible.
• Print-rich, culturally diverse environment
  displayed at eye level

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Physical Environment ...

• Student-generated print evident
• Areas encourage and motivate
  independent learning
• Materials reflect differences and similarities
• Teachers provide age-
• appropriate supervision to
• to increase student
• responsibility

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Physical Environment
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Changes Featured in the Classroom Situation

• Smaller classes in the early grades represent a
  preventive , rather than a remedial
  approach.
• There will be fewer students to distract one
  another.
• Each student will get more individual attention
  from the teacher.
• The noise level in the classroom will be reduced.
• Students will be able to develop better
  relationships with their classmates.
• Smaller classes will help students start off on
  the right foot in learning how to adjust to the
  classroom situation.

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School-Home-Community Partnership

• Teachers will have time to work more closely with
  parents.
• Emphasis on learning at school and at home can be
  reinforced.
• A better understanding of teacher and parent
  roles can be developed.
• The cooperation and collaboration of parents,
  educators, and community members in pooling their
  resources will enhance the academic success of
  all students and promote school improvement.

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Summarizer

• First, think back to what you have just heard
  about the advantages of reduced class size.
• Then, turn to the person on your right and
  tell them 2
• advantages. Have them
• tell you 2 different ones.