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Adding Additional Resources to your Plans in the Teach Area

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Adding Additional Resources to your Plans in the Teach Area

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Have you ever wanted to add a specific Mighty Minutes® card to support the transitions in your large group or a second option for small groups? In the video above you can learn how the "Add Resource" option can support you to customize your teaching plans and give you more options to individualize instruction and support all the learners in your classroom.

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Teaching Strategies is a member of Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

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When supporting teachers, children, and families, it is important to know our "why." Nothing is more inspirational than when we can articulate our why as leaders and coaches and project a vision of positivity and purpose!

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This family-facing brochure supports your families with information about GOLD's content and its use in your program.

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Strong Beginnings and Preschool Classrooms--Transitioning into the Balls Study

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Strong Beginnings and Preschool Classrooms--Transitioning into the Balls Study

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For the first time, with the release of The Creative Curriculum, Guided Edition, we have a recommended first investigation after the First Six Weeks Teaching Guide.--The Balls Study (Guided Edition). Check to see if your teachers have added the study after the end of the First Six Weeks into their planning calendar. Preparing for the study is essential. Allow time for teachers to connect and plan together. Some essential questions to consider:

What materials do we need for this investigation?

How will we involve families?

What resources do we have that can add to this study? (ex. a family member that plays a sport, a coach from the youth program, etc.)

This guide is a helpful resource to guide teachers through the process of implementing a teaching guide: https://teachingstrategies.sharefile.com/d-s2d8dc534da514c07a258e4bc270d385d

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As we start the third month of your implementation, your PS and Strong Beginnings classrooms have completed the First Six Weeks and the Balls Study. We encourage teachers in the first year of implementation to utilize our "core" studies. We have just begun to recommend a scope and sequence for this first year with our Guided Edition teaching guides:
*First Six Weeks
*Balls
*Trees
*Clothes
*Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
*Buildings
*Wheels
*Exercise
*Water

Because this is a "mid-year" adoption (and classrooms will begin again with The First Six Weeks in the fall at the beginning of the new school year), teachers can choose one of these options for their classrooms after they have completed the Balls Study. Some questions to considerate: what is connected to the children's current interest or event occurring in your community?
Are the trees changing for spring?
Does your community have a focus on Earth Day?
Are children beginning to wear a new "season" of clothes?
Your answers to these questions could best support you in choosing an engaging next study topic.

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As your team prepares for a new school year and a new group of children entering your program, we want to support you in creating an amazing classroom community and start your year with intentionality! For the coming month, each week has clear and concise expectations for teachers to work to prepare for the First Six Weeks of the new year. There are weekly recommendations for teachers to complete to help scaffold them as they implement. Remember to inspect what expect! Check in with teachers and support them as work to prepare and create an amazing community in each classroom.

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Spread the love! Tell the early childhood community about this helpful toolkit.

Disclaimer The publisher and the authors cannot be held responsible for injury, mishap, or damages incurred during the use of or because of the information presented in this toolkit. The authors recommend appropriate and reasonable supervision at all times based on the age and capability of each child. It is advisable teachers do not distribute photos of children or post them online without written consent from parents or guardians. Photos and videos should be kept internally to the program absent written consent from parents or guardians.

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Thank you teachers! We invite you to take advantage of this free toolkit of resources specially selected to help preschool teachers like you feel confident and prepared as you welcome the new school year.

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Allocating The Creative Curriculum Cloud®

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Allocating The Creative Curriculum Cloud®

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The first step in your journey with The Creative Curriculum® Cloud is allocating your licenses to the sites and/or classrooms. This allows teachers to have access to all of the AMAZING resources.

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In order to be supportive of teachers and to be able to plan and meet your implementation goals, you need to learn as much about the platform as possible. This webinar introduces you to The Creative Curriculum® Cloud

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Share the excitement with your teachers!

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Share the excitement with your teachers!

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Utilize this letter to let the teachers know about the powerful resources in the Library, Teach, and Family Areas of the MyTeachingStrategies platform that are now available with This letter can be customized for your program.

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Encourage teachers in your program to attend a Teacher Engagement Session.

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Encourage teachers in your program to attend a Teacher Engagement Session.

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Our Teacher Engagement sessions are designed to help teachers discover how The Creative Curriculum Cloud can support them and "automagically" connect their curriculum and assessment processes! (Note: Much of this content was covered in our Kick Off Calls. This will be helpful for teachers that missed this opportunity.)

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MyTeachingStrategies® - Getting Started Video Collection for Administrators

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MyTeachingStrategies® - Getting Started Video Collection for Administrators

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This collection of videos will guide you in navigating and understanding the administrative functionality associated with The Creative Curriculum® Cloud and the MyTeachingStrategies platform.

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Diving Deeper- Support teachers in learning more about the powerful resources within the Cloud. 

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Diving Deeper- Support teachers in learning more about the powerful resources within the Cloud. 

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This webinar discusses ways you can support your teachers with discovering and utilizing the powerful tools within the MyTeachingStrategies® platform and The Creative Curriculum® Cloud.

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Recorded: Thursday, September 2, 2021

As your staff continues to use The Creative Curriculum Cloud, you will want to be prepared to guide and coach them to ensure they are getting the most out of this solution. Join us to learn tips on supporting teachers as they explore their digital content library, create weekly plans, and engage with families.

Note: This support webinar is designed for administrators and coaches who are subscribed to The Creative Curriculum Cloud. We recommend attending or watching the on-demand recording of the " The Creative Curriculum Cloud Getting Started Support for Administrators" webinar beforehand.

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Supporting Your Staff Using The Creative Curriculum Cloud - Teaching Strategies

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Recorded: Thursday, September 2, 2021 As your staff continues to use The Creative Curriculum Cloud, you will want to be prepared to guide and coach them to ensure they are getting the most out of this solution. Join us to learn tips on supporting teachers as they explore their digital content library, create weekly plans, and engage with families.

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Supporting teachers with the concept of project-based learning and studies is vital as you adopt the The Creative Curriculum® Cloud.  This often requires a pedagogical change for teachers who have planned using themes or theme-like focuses prior to adopting The Creative Curriculum® Cloud.

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Twentieth-century science fiction author Ray Bradbury is credited with saying, "Life is trying things to see if they work." It's a compelling insight into so many aspects of human existence, and it certainly relates to learning.

I came across Bradbury's comment recently, written on the message board in front of a school near my home. My first thought was how inspiring it is to see this literal sign of schools embracing the idea of this being the business of schools-to function as a place where children are supported in exploring and investigating and trying things to see if they work.

My next thought was "Studies! This is what studies do!"

Studies are long-term, project-based investigations of materials that children find interesting and can explore firsthand in a variety of ways.

What Is the Difference Between a Study and a Theme?

Because studies are based on specific topics, they are sometimes confused with units or themes. However, this is both the beginning and the end of their similarities. In fact, one of the major differences between studies and themes is how and why particular topics are selected.

Topics for themes and units in early childhood education classrooms are often calendar-dependent, relying on seasons and holidays to determine what children will do and when. They are typically introduced year after year without regard for the unique nature of each year's class members or their families, such as whether the children are interested in an annual unit on space exploration or dinosaurs. Some common themes are also incredibly difficult to facilitate with authentic materials that teachers can easily add to the classroom and children can readily explore: most teachers cannot bring animals from the zoo or the South Pole to school! They may also be abstract concepts-such as the five senses or rhyming-that are better explored throughout the year, regardless of the theme of the week or the unit.

Study topics, by contrast, are intentionally chosen for their relevance to a class's current interests and their potential for hands-on learning experiences in the classroom. Several criteria determine a good study topic, one that will encourage children to "try things to see if they work."

1. The first is that studies are long-term.
Studies typically last several weeks-often a month or more. However, study work never takes over that entire time. In fact, while there are special times each day during which we recommend that the teacher engage in discussions and experiences related to the study (such as the morning meeting), the study also leaves plenty of time to talk and learn about other knowledge, skills, and abilities unrelated to the study topic.

2. Studies are project-based. In project-based learning, children gain a deeper understanding of a real-world topic by actively exploring it. The knowledge learned and skills developed during project-based learning are almost always applicable to other topics and situations, not just those directly related to the current topic.

3. Studies include multiple investigations, during which children work to find answers to questions related to the study topic.
Teaching Guides for studies are built around helping children discover answers to relevant questions that we know they typically find interesting. You and the children in your class are always free to investigate questions other than the ones already described in the Teaching Guide; this responsive flexibility is another distinguishing characteristic of a study.

4. Studies relate to topics that children find interesting.
While children are often curious about a wide variety of events and materials, those that are suitable for studies are both rich and robust enough to hold children's interest over an extended period of time and also age-appropriate and relevant to young children's lives.

5. Studies include materials that children can explore firsthand in a variety of ways.
Children learn by doing. In fact, people of all ages learn by doing. And "doing" is the way to "figure things out." Having multiple opportunities to explore multiple relevant materials for themselves means that children are free to leverage their natural curiosity and need for active engagement. They are also empowered to see themselves as capable learners who need not rely solely on adults to gain information. It's also important to note that the study-based approach honors children's need to both learn and to demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and abilities in a variety of ways.

Other important characteristics of a study topic are that they are respectful of cultural differences, offer opportunities for children to practice skills (literacy, mathematics, science and technology, social studies, and the arts) in meaningful contexts, and provide opportunities for families to become involved. When implemented with fidelity, the study approach will not only offer content learning but also empower children to think deeply, investigate rigorously, and question thoughtfully.

Ultimately, the test for what makes a good study topic is that it is worth learning about.

But What About the Dinosaurs?

I want to assure you that there is indeed a place to talk about, work with, and even decorate your classroom with "themes." If children in your class love dinosaurs, trains, or princesses and unicorns, include some relevant books in your Library area and plastic toys in your Sand and Water area. Children often enjoy celebrations and holidays, so learn about the ones that are important to the children in your class and ask families for their ideas of ways to incorporate them into your classroom. Children are often fascinated by weather, the sun and moon and stars, and the changing seasons, so, again, make good use of the fact that studies don't take over your whole school day and include opportunities for children to explore their other interests.

But these themes (dinosaurs, trains, princesses, unicorns, weather, outer space, seasons) aren't study topics because they don't meet the very important criterion that distinguishes a good study topic: that children can explore them hands-on. While you may well want to lean into these interests from time to time, make sure that the topics chosen for studies lend themselves to experiences designed to drive deeper learning-or as Mr. Bradbury would say, to help children figure out what works.

A core element of The Creative Curriculum is its project-based studies where children actively investigate topics that are meaningful and relevant to their lives, so they investigate further. Because each topic is tangible, it drives deeper learning-all while the children are busy working and playing and finding out that they are confident, capable learners.

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Studies vs. Themes: 5 Ways They Differ - Teaching Strategies

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Twentieth-century science fiction author Ray Bradbury is credited with saying, "Life is trying things to see if they work." It's a compelling insight into so many aspects of human existence, and it certainly relates to learning. I came across Bradbury's comment recently, written on the message board in front of a school near my home.

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Planning in Strong Beginnings and Preschool Classrooms

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Planning in Strong Beginnings and Preschool Classrooms

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Your teachers should have added the First Six Weeks teaching guide to their plans in the Teach Area of the MyTeachingStrategies platform. Check lesson plans for each classroom in Strong Beginnings and Preschool classrooms that they have added this teaching guide. Check that teachers have customized the content for their classroom. This includes setting up their class template to match the daily schedule in the room.

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Planning in Infant Toddler and Twos Classrooms

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Planning in Infant Toddler and Twos Classrooms

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In your older toddlers/twos classrooms, they have access to The Expanded Daily Resources for Twos. These investigations are specially designed to support two year olds with their emerging inquiry skill development. Check to see if teachers have added a study to their calendars for the month of March. In younger classrooms, are teacher utilizing the resources with The Creative Curriculum Cloud? Have they added in Intentional Teaching Experiences or Mighty Minutes? Are they utilizing the Routines planning section? Teachers cannot submit the routines plans, so may want to ask them to send you a PDF or screenshot of these plans to you. This webinar is a great resources if you would like to learn more about planning in IT2 classrooms.

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Recorded: Thursday, January 5, 2023

This 60-minute support webinar walks infants, toddlers, and twos teachers and caregivers through the Teach area of the Teaching Strategies platform.

We will begin by showing how teachers can set up their Weekly Template to ensure their classroom schedule populates each week in the planning calendar.

Next, we will cover the Month View calendar, demonstrating how all teachers can block off holidays and school closures, while Twos teachers using The Creative Curriculum Cloud can pre-populate their planning calendar with investigations from Teaching Guides.

Then, we will walk through planning for each week using the Weekly Experiences calendar, including adding custom activities, Intentional Teaching Experiences, and Mighty Minutes activities.

Finally, we will highlight the Weekly Routines calendar.

Note: This webinar is for any Infants, Toddlers & Twos teacher using The Creative Curriculum Cloud and/or GOLD.

While we are not able to provide training certificates for attending, you will receive a proof of attendance email 24 hours after the session if you attend live.

We are recording this session and will email all registrants the on-demand recording the day after the session.

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Support Spotlight: Teach Area (Infants, Toddlers & Twos) - Teaching Strategies

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Recorded: Thursday, January 5, 2023 This 60-minute support webinar walks infants, toddlers, and twos teachers and caregivers through the Teach area of the Teaching Strategies platform. We will begin by showing how teachers can set up their Weekly Template to ensure their classroom schedule populates each week in the planning calendar.

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At the core of The First Six Weeks is the creation of a classroom community. The 6 Positive Messages are essential in supporting this environment. This free e-book discusses these messages and how to support them in your classrooms. You can discuss these in 1:1's with teachers, at a faculty meeting, or during visits to the classroom. How are these messages being demonstrated in your classrooms? Where are opportunities for these messages to be supported in your classrooms?

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Creating Documentation with an Intentional Teaching Experience

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Creating Documentation with an Intentional Teaching Experience

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Everyday in the planned content of the studies, teacher have suggested ITEs in the scope and sequence. These are also an integral part of the Infant, Toddler, and Twos planning.  This video show how you can use an ITE to create documentation in GOLD. This creates a connection between planning, teaching, and assessment. Encourage teachers to review the Questions to Guide Your Observation prior to using it within the classroom.
Additionally review completed plans (the rainbow box will have a check mark if an experience is used for creating documentation) or documentation in the View Documentation area to check in on the ways teachers are using this tool to add to their child portfolios.

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This helpful guide breaks down the assessment process into manageable steps and support the Assessment Cycle:

https://teachingstrategies.sharefile.com/d-s13f099c1080f48379b4bfb8e325073e3s13f099c1080f48379b4bfb8e325073e3

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Connecting with Families through the MyTeaching Strategies Family App

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Connecting with Families through the MyTeaching Strategies Family App

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Did you know that you can "automatically" 🪄send a playlist for each week of your investigations/teaching guide with The Creative Curriculum Cloud? 

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Did you know that you can "automatically" 🪄send a playlist for each week of your investigations/teaching guide with The Creative Curriculum Cloud? 

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Check out this amazing feature that provides families insight and connection to your classroom when you add a study into the your planning calendar and families have downloaded the MyTeachingStrategies Family App!

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Ready-Set-Go! Video: Sharing Investigation Playlists with Families (Pre-K)

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In this video, you can learn more about all that is offered in the Family Area. This 60-minute support webinar walks teachers through the Family area of the Teaching Strategies platform.

We will begin by showing how teachers can add and invite families to Teaching Strategies Family.

Next, we will demonstrate how families can use the Teaching Strategies Family app once they have accepted their invitation.

Then, we will show how teachers can use the Manage Family Communications features to engage in two-way communication, send announcements, and convert family observations to documentation.

Finally, we will highlight how teachers can use the family Resources Library to share additional resources with families.

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Recorded: Wednesday, January 11, 2023

This 60-minute support webinar walks teachers through the Family area of the Teaching Strategies platform.

We will begin by showing how teachers can add and invite families to Teaching Strategies Family.

Next, we will demonstrate how families can use the Teaching Strategies Family app once they have accepted their invitation.

Then, we will show how teachers can use the Manage Family Communications features to engage in two-way communication, send announcements, and convert family observations to documentation.

Finally, we will highlight how teachers can use the family Resources Library to share additional resources with families.

Note: This webinar is for teachers using The Creative Curriculum Cloud and/or GOLD.

While we are not able to provide training certificates for attending, you will receive a proof of attendance email 24 hours after the session if you attend live.

We are recording this session and will email all registrants the on-demand recording the day after the session.

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Support Spotlight: Family Area - Teaching Strategies

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Recorded: Wednesday, January 11, 2023 This 60-minute support webinar walks teachers through the Family area of the Teaching Strategies platform. We will begin by showing how teachers can add and invite families to Teaching Strategies Family. Next, we will demonstrate how families can use the Teaching Strategies Family app once they have accepted their invitation.

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New (or Returning) Alphabet, Numbers, and Shapes Form 

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New (or Returning) Alphabet, Numbers, and Shapes Form 

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These are great way to collect information on what children know and understand about these concepts.

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Ready-Set-Go! Video: Using the Alphabet, Numbers, and Shapes Forms (GOLD)

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Ten New Intentional Teaching Cards Added with The Creative Curriculum Cloud

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Ten New Intentional Teaching Cards Added with The Creative Curriculum Cloud

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We have added the musical accompaniment to some of the Mighty Minutes so that teacher can play the music and help them find the tune with lyrics provided.

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Innovation and Evolution of The Creative Curriculum Cloud

We believe that all children deserve a nurturing, engaging, and high-quality learning environment designed to support their unique needs throughout the critical, formative years.

To deliver on this commitment, we launched The Creative Curriculum Cloud in 2020 to help early childhood education programs navigate to the unique challenges of distance learning necessitated by the pandemic.

Since that initial launch, we've been hard at work, innovating The Creative Curriculum Cloud to ensure your continued success today and into the future. For the past two years, we've been listening carefully to your feedback and working to further address your needs.

In addressing your needs, we have evolved The Creative Curriculum Cloud from a solution for distance learning to a powerful productivity tool that can enable teachers at all experience levels-from novice to expert-to provide inspired, developmentally appropriate, whole-child learning experiences with everything they need at their fingertips. The Creative Curriculum Cloud is designed as an aid for teachers, facilitating everyday engagement and communication and streamlining admin tasks, so that teachers can have more meaningful interactions with every child.

Here are some highlights of the innovations we've delivered over the past two years to realize the true potential of The Creative Curriculum Cloud.

Preschool teachers will find embedded support when they need it, including micro-learning videos on Intentional Teaching Experiences, audio for Mighty Minutes activities that feature melodies, and Ready-Set-Go! videos on how to use planning calendars in the Teach area.

In the middle of a busy day, preschool teachers can use the new "Add Resource" feature to quickly find and insert Intentional Teaching Experiences, Mighty Minutes activities, and their own custom resources into a time of day from both the Week View and Day View. Teachers can search for resources by filtering by objective or dimension, using the Class Profile report, or for the first time, searching by activity name.

An enhanced custom activity library for preschool teachers includes the ability to search by title, displays tagged objectives and dimensions, and offers pagination and display options for a more organized experience.

Curated, customizable, multimedia playlists for each preschool investigation, available in English and Spanish, that directly support classroom instruction to reinforce and extend learning at home and include ReadyRosie video activities, digital children's books, and family Mighty Minutes. An investigation playlist is automatically sent to families via the mobile app on the first day of each planned investigation so teachers don't have to take any extra steps!

A new Day View for preschool teachers provides access to everything needed to teach for the day, eliminating the need to track down Mighty Minutes cards, Intentional Teaching Experiences, or even studies simplifying planning and teaching for teachers. The Day View provides access to everything preschool teachers need to plan and teach at their fingertips, anytime, anywhere.

Improved interactivity and engagement for families in Teaching Strategies Family app, including the ability to favorite activities they love so they can easily find them later in Memories, mark activities complete by tapping "We did this," and share videos or images of their children participating in these activities that teachers can easily use for documentation

The ability to search for Intentional Teaching Experiences and Mighty Minutes activities at the same time, simplifying planning for teachers by saving time and steps while planning their week

Monthly, curated, multimedia social-emotional development playlists that support classroom instruction, including ReadyRosie video activities, digital children's books, Al's Pals songs, and Mighty Minutes for families in the Teaching Strategies Family app

An enhanced Teaching Strategies Family app experience that improves communication, engagement, and ease-of-use with a modern user interface, a clear and meaningful stream of two-way communication, an improved family invitation process and choice, bilingual invitations and instructions, bulk email invites, and status indicators for teachers

An interactive Digital Children's Library with an interactive e-reader for preschool and kindergarten teachers and families that includes over 200 titles, including English and Spanish

New digital curricular content, including three new preschool Teaching Guides (Cameras, Light, and Building a Bridge to Kindergarten) and three new, one-week preschool investigations on the topics of rain, jobs at home and school, and thanking people in the community

While we are proud of the progress we have made, we will continue to innovate on The Creative Curriculum Cloud. To learn more, explore The Creative Curriculum Cloud.

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Taking the Cloud to the Next Level - Teaching Strategies

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Innovation and Evolution of The Creative Curriculum Cloud We believe that all children deserve a nurturing, engaging, and high-quality learning environment designed to support their unique needs throughout the critical, formative years. To deliver on this commitment, we launched The Creative Curriculum Cloud in 2020 to help early childhood education programs navigate to the unique [...]

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Reflecting- How did your first study go? 

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Reflecting- How did your first study go? 

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Is important to help teachers reflect on their first study. In your 1:1 conversations ask teachers some of the following questions:
*What went well?
*What parts were challenging?
*What part of the study engaged the children?
*What are you going to do differently in this second study experience?
As you coach and support teachers in the use of studies, think about what you saw in the classrooms:
*Did the teacher post the web of investigation in her classroom?
*Did it evolve throughout the study?
*Could you see "the study on the walls and in the room?"

Coaching teachers and supporting them as they reflect on their teaching practices and refine new skills is foundational to success in this implementation.

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Army standards- Teaching Strategies ODL 2-2023

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Would you like more support on coaching teachers? 

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Would you like more support on coaching teachers? 

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In this webinar, Donna Fowler leads a powerful discussion on the coaching cycle and supporting teachers with dynamic, powerful interactions.

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Recorded: Tuesday, October 26, 2021

School leaders and instructional coaches are dedicated to supporting their faculty and staff, and well-facilitated coaching conversations can have a positive and significant impact on teacher success. Through intentionally planned coaching cycles, practitioners can strengthen their craft, bolster morale, and realize positive child outcomes. Navigating the coaching process, however, can be daunting.

"How can I support educators through coaching?"

"What does an effective debrief meeting look like?"

"How can I support teachers with varying levels of experience?"

"What can I do if I encounter resistance?"

If you find yourself pondering the answers to these questions, join us for a one-hour webinar to explore the components of dynamic and impactful coaching cycles. Leaders who attend this webinar will

identify the four phases of a coaching cycle,

analyze the components of an effective debrief meeting, and

explore strategies for supporting educators with a range of experience and expertise.

Watch More from this Series

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Leading Dynamic and Impactful Coaching Cycles - Teaching Strategies

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Recorded: Tuesday, October 26, 2021 School leaders and instructional coaches are dedicated to supporting their faculty and staff, and well-facilitated coaching conversations can have a positive and significant impact on teacher success. Through intentionally planned coaching cycles, practitioners can strengthen their craft, bolster morale, and realize positive child outcomes.

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The Blog above shares strategies to support you and your teachers in ways to de-stress. Remember, self-care needs to modeled and valued by leaders to support teacher in avoiding burnout. Below is a simple tea recipe that may you relax and unwind as well:

Cup of tea: Stress in the body shows up as inflammation. This tea, with the power duo of turmeric and ginger, can be both sensory calming and anti-inflammatory. Turmeric and ginger have both been shown in studies to reduce inflammation.

1 lemon, peeled and juiced, reserving peels

1 2-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and grated

1/4 tsp ground turmeric

2 tsp honey

In a small saucepan over high heat, cook the lemon peel, ginger, turmeric, and 1 cup of water until the water begins to boil. Remove from heat.
Stir in lemon juice and honey. Strain into a mug.
Drink slowly while reminding yourself that you are enough.

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Being a teacher is a rewarding job that is also often stressful. The many demands on your time and attention mean that you, dear teacher, often get to the end of the day feeling tired and anxious and perhaps even not quite remembering the last time you had a few minutes to eat or even go to the bathroom!

It may not help much to hear that you are not alone in those thoughts and feelings. But it can indeed help to share ideas for ways you have found to let go of stress, both during the school day and once it's over.

A recent discussion in The Hub -our online community of early childhood educators-brought up so many terrific ideas that we wanted to share some of them again. Many thanks to our Hub members who contributed their ideas. You may notice some common threads in these suggestions. Nature walks, deep breathing, and listening to music seem to share widespread appeal.

Here are 12 ideas shared from early childhood educators around the country.

1. "At home, some of my favorite destressors are a good book or working on whatever my most current crafting project may be. ...[On] the other hand [during the school day], if children are awake, sometimes it may just be time to encourage a cuddle for a minute. Nothing beats a baby hug."
-Theresa S., Rhode Island

2. "Try to disconnect from all things work related once you get home. Take a walk to clear your mind if you can."
-Jamelia B., Alabama

3. "Try breathing with the students and use calm classroom strategies."
-Elizabeth A., Michigan

4. "I do a lot of breathing exercises with my students throughout the day, so when I need to take a breath, they do as well, and it brings the whole class back for a mindful moment."
-Amanda F., New Jersey

5. "This year I am making more of an effort to leave work at work and have set quiet hours that I keep at home."
-Carrie C., North Carolina

6. "I destress by being still and enjoying quietness in a room all alone. Or by spending time with family or friends."
-Alisha G.

7. "At home a good walk or just being away from all devices for a little bit is a nice break. Being in a room alone with some good music also helps to de-stress a little."
-Kristen B., North Carolina

8. "Outside of the classroom I use music and nature to destress."
-Stephanie B., Pennsylvania

9. "In the classroom I take a huge, long drink of my water. On my drive home I listen to music a little louder, have the windows open if the weather is appropriate."
-Sam K., Minnesota

10. "In my classroom, to get the day started, I use calming music and/or a morning yoga routine. I feel this helps the students and I get the day started smoothly."
-Nicole M., Louisiana

11. "Take a walk out in nature! Always helps!"
-Kimberlee W., Indiana

12. "In class I put on hip hop violin."
-Shannon M., Louisiana (You've convinced me, Shannon. You've convinced me.)

Whether you use these during the school day, after work, or on breaks to help you unwind, finding the timing and technique that works for you is what matters most. And by the way, if anyone wants to put on some hip hop violin, I am here for it.

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Teacher to Teacher: A Dozen Ways to Destress - Teaching Strategies

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Being a teacher is a rewarding job that is also often stressful. The many demands on your time and attention mean that you, dear teacher, often get to the end of the day feeling tired and anxious and perhaps even not quite remembering the last time you had a few minutes to eat or even [...]

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In this video from Donna Fowler, Director of Learning & Solutions Implementation discusses the power of the 3rd Teacher in the room--your learning environment:
https://teachingstrategies.sharefile.com/d-s9fcf39783d42441c94fefc8cd0544eac
Reflect with your teachers on the environment. using the Coaching to Fidelity checklist, think about one interest area in each classroom that they can enhance and support fidelity with The Creative Curriculum® for Preschool.

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Week of July 17-21: Setting Your Environment Up for Success

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Week of July 17-21: Setting Your Environment Up for Success

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Remember the power of the Third Teacher in EACH classroom- the learning environment. As  children have grown and developed, the classroom environment should have changed and grown with them. However, as you start a new year, it is important to remember to go to the basics. This week support teachers with some time both in classrooms (2 hours) and outside of their  classroom (1 hour) to review Setting Up a Classroom for 20 Children.  Encourage them to think about the following:

What do you need to add?

What do you take away?

Do you ask to order replacements for missing or broken items?

Be sure to honor and respect this effort by reviewing it with teacher to help problem solve about needed materials and support them with setting up the classroom. You can also refer to recorded webinars, blogs, and the Foundation Volumes for additional supports.

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Week of July 24-28- Getting to Know The First Six Weeks Study

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Week of July 24-28- Getting to Know The First Six Weeks Study

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This week is about supporting teacher to get to know their teaching guide. The more they read through each of the six weeks of plans, review each At-a-Glance, and dive deeper into the INTENT of each week, the more successful they will be increasing a positive, welcoming space for the children in their classroom.  Discuss with teacher their responses to the following questions from the Teaching Guide :

What is the focus for each week?
How do you believe this will support the children in your class?
In what ways can you customize the content to reflect the children and families in your class and community?
What experiences or materials do you need to begin planning?

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Free eBook: Six Positive Messages to Guide a Year of Teaching and Learning

As educators, you know it's difficult for children to learn when they're worried, hungry, sleepy, sick, confused, anxious, lonely, or scared. While you can't control the external factors in a child's life, you can create a classroom environment that surrounds children with consistent positive messages.

In Six Positive Messages to Guide a Year of Teaching and Learning, you'll discover simple yet powerful messages you can send throughout the year to foster relationships and encourage children to see themselves as empowered participants in a community of learners.
Learn how to

Model six positive messages for children

Turn your best intentions into purposeful instruction

Reflect on and revisit positive messages throughout the school year

The strategies outlined in this eBook will help build critical social-emotional and cognitive skills that are essential for lifelong learning.
Get your free copy today!

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Your favorite Teaching Strategies® webinars are now available in one place for you to watch and reference when it's most convenient for you. Even more Teaching Strategies® webinars Click here to find many of our past webinar presentations.

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Six Positive Messages to Guide a Year of Teaching and Learning

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Free eBook: Six Positive Messages to Guide a Year of Teaching and Learning As educators, you know it's difficult for children to learn when they're worried, hungry, sleepy, sick, confused, anxious, lonely, or scared. While you can't control the external factors in a child's life, you can create a classroom environment that surrounds children with consistent positive messages.

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July 31- August 4: Utilizing the Daily Resources

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July 31- August 4: Utilizing the Daily Resources

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One of the amazing features with The Creative Curriculum for Preschool is that it contains so many ways to support children in learning throughout the day. Yet, many teachers fail to understand all that they have available or are fearful of change/the new. Encourage teachers to prepare the needed resources to support the following resources from the curriculum:

Shared Writing Experiences and Question of the Day-  Preparation is the greatest predictor of success.  Prepare the materials needed for these for your classroom.

Intentional Teaching Experiences-  These are spread through these first six weeks. Review each experience and consider how this will look in your classroom. These are also helpful to support you in gathering critical data about what the children know, understand and can do as they enter your classroom.  The video above walks you through using an Intentional Teaching Card as part of your assessment process.