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CODiE Award Finalist - Best PreK / Early Childhood Program - Istation

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CODiE Award Finalist - Best PreK / Early Childhood Program - Istation

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CODiE Award Finalist - Best PreK / Early Childhood Program - Istation

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Detective Dan Irregular Spelling - Cycle 5 

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Detective Dan Irregular Spelling - Cycle 5 

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Phonics - Cycle 5 - Detective Dan Irregual Spelling

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PK - Rhymin Ralph - Distinguish When Two Words Rhyme

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PK - Rhymin Ralph - Distinguish When Two Words Rhyme

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Phonological Phonemic Awareness - PK - Rhymin Ralph Distinguish When Two Words Rhyme

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PK -Magical Miss Mousely - Initial Phoneme Recognition 

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PK -Magical Miss Mousely - Initial Phoneme Recognition 

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Phonological Phonemic Awareness - PK - Magical Miss Mousely Initial Phoneme Recognition

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Best PreK/Early Childhood Learning Solution

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Best PreK/Early Childhood Learning Solution

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This was used for Victoria ISD.

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This is a wonderful website to look for structures and protocols to help participants process new learning.  There are a lot, but there is a filter to help narrow down.

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Since 1994, the National School Reform Faculty has created and refined more than 200 protocols and activities to use in Critical Friends Group ® communities, classrooms, meetings, and beyond. Each one is designed to help you arrive at a specific desired outcome, efficiently and effectively. Our oldest, "original" protocols* are available to you as downloadable PDF files through the open-access list provided below. If you know the name of the protocol or activity you wish to use, scroll down the list to find it by its title.

If you have an active regular membership or coaches' membership, you have access to the extended Protocol Libraries which provide updated and refined protocols, activities, and additional resources with focused search options and distinct categories, as well as protocol/activity overviews and definers.

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I pulled a few sections from the Texas Pre-K Guidelines that might help us make developmental connections to Istation.  These are just a few key sections.  Of course there is vocabulary, comprehension and more.

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Two issues educators have are how to plan and rate of instruction.  Happy reading.

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Children's knowledge of letter names and shapes is a strong predictor of their success in learning to read. Knowing letter names is strongly related to children's ability to remember the forms of written words and their ability to treat words as sequences of letters.

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Highlights from What Does It Take To Read A Letter

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Highlights from What Does It Take To Read A Letter

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Known for individually paced learning and fostering independence, the Montessori Method encourages empathy, a passion for social justice, and a joy in lifelong learning.

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27 best images for preschool workshops on Pinterest

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27 best images for preschool workshops on Pinterest

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Good training ppts and handouts to browse by topic

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Good training ppts and handouts to browse by topic

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Early Childhood Education and Family Engagement Workshops

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Governor Phil Murphy * Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver

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Find What Works from Systematic Reviews Educator's Practice Guides Reviews of Individual Studies Data from Individual Studies

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Developmentally Appropriate Literacy Instruction for Young Children

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Educating Teachers for Developmentally Appropriate Practice

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Understand How Children Think

Before watching this video, read the text below. When instructed, watch the video from the beginning to end.

Developmentally appropriate practices are defined as teaching and learning experiences grounded in what we know about how children learn at different ages and stages of development. Based on understanding the characteristics of a "typically-developing" child and recognizing that children vary within that norm, these practices require careful and deliberate planning. You should find every opportunity to reach out to children in specific ways for each child.

Young children tend to be concrete thinkers. They cannot think in abstract ways. They need active, participatory learning that uses their senses. They need to touch, feel, and participate in experiences.

Young children are often egocentric thinkers. They tend to see the world strictly from their own perspective. Educators can help children move beyond their own perspective to understand, appreciate, and respond to others' perspectives.

Young children generally have centered thinking. They process one variable at a time. For example, they may see an object by its color, or by its shape, but usually not both at the same time. A good rule of thumb is "one step at a time." Rather than introducing two variables in a pattern (color and shape), the educator asks children to consider color first. In a later step, children can focus on a second variable.

Young children tend to confuse appearances (the way things look) with reality (the way things are). They might think their thumb is bigger than the moon, because the thumb can cover the moon.

In this video you'll see educators providing instruction based on what they know about how young children think. Their knowledge of what is typical development informs their planning, activities, conversation, and the pace of instruction. As you watch, look for effective strategies used by the educators in the video and jot down answers to these viewing questions in your Learning Log.

How do the educators help children learn about abstract ideas in concrete ways?

How do the educators respond to children's centered thinking as they introduce new ideas?

Review Why is it important to provide developmentally appropriate learning?

Children learn best when adults recognize their individual needs and interests.

Children are encouraged to explore what excites their curiosity. Like adults, children participate actively in activities that are interesting to them and inviting. Unlocking that curiosity is key to learning.

Young children learn best through a combination of explanation and experience.

What strategies can you use to teach to children's concrete way of thinking?

Encourage children to use their senses to feel, taste, see, and experience new things and concepts. Children learn best when they can feel a snakeskin to understand what the word scaly means, walk the distance to see the length of a dinosaur, or hold a turtle shell to measure its circumference.

Provide hands-on experiences to help children explore the world directly. Then extend the experience. For example:

Display real-life objects for children to explore using all their senses. (Hold the snakeskin. What does it feel like? What does it sound like when you move it? What does it smell like?)

Introduce sensory vocabulary. For instance, during a turtle shell exploration, introduce the words rough, smooth, light, dark, heavy, full, and empty. Then read and display picture books about turtles.

Encourage conversations and help inquisitive minds to test theories and hypotheses. (How can we tell how long the turtle is? How can we measure how round it is on top? What words can you think of that describe the snakeskin?)

How can you respond to children's centered thinking-their tendency to pay attention to one task at a time?

Give children simple directions, one step at a time. For example, rather than saying Let's make a snowflake pattern using all of these colors, break down instructions into smaller tasks.

Let's make a pattern. White, blue, white, blue. What comes next?

Yes, white. Then what comes after that?

Now let's say the pattern. White, blue, white, blue, white.

Reflect
Think about your own program as you answer these reflection questions in your Learning Log.

How do you assess the developmental needs of the individual children with whom you work?

What did you learn that you will put into practice in your learning environment?

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This site provides exciting, engaging media-rich learning opportunities for parents and educators of children ages 0-5. From detailed lesson plans to simple, everyday activities, you will find everything you need to help your children succeed.

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The DAP framework is grounded both in the research on child development and learning and in knowledge about educational effectiveness and promotes young children's optimal learning and development.

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Early childhood education teachers: Do they practice what they preach? - ScienceDirect

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Early childhood education teachers: Do they practice what they preach? - ScienceDirect

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Early childhood education teachers: Do they practice what they preach? - ScienceDirect

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The study explored relationships, for 60 preschool, kindergarten, and first grade teachers, among teachers' beliefs about how children learn, their views on the goals of early childhood education, their positions on policies related to school entry, testing, and retention, their satisfaction with current practices and pressures for change, and their actual practices.

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When you love kids, it's tough to choose between a group of adorable, wide-eyed toddlers and more independent, clever (and equally adorable) elementary students. Choosing a degree that leads to the career of your dreams is a big decision. It's not something anyone should take lightly.

If you know you enjoy working with children and have a passion for improving the future of our society, education is a field that will allow you to do both. But how can you narrow down options?

Early childhood education (ECE) focuses on the academic, social and cognitive skills that develop in children from birth through preschool. Elementary education refers to the primary education that comes after preschool but before middle school (typically kindergarten through fifth or sixth grade.)

There are definite distinctions between the two sectors that are important to understand. We're here to help you make an informed decision about early childhood education versus elementary education. We combined government information, real-time job market data and expert insight to provide you a side-by-side comparison below.

Keep reading to see which option is the best fit for you!

ECE vs. elementary education: skills needed

To start, it's helpful to understand what knowledge and proficiencies are needed to succeed in each position. This will help you start to gauge where your skills and interests lie.

Early childhood education

We used real-time job analysis software to examine more than 70,000 preschool jobs posted over the past year. ¹ The data helped us identify the ten most desired skills employers are seeking in prospective preschool teachers:

In addition to the skills above, there are some important personality traits that many successful ECE teachers share. Patience is near the top of the list, as it's difficult wrangling a group of hyper toddlers or trying to decipher a broken sentence when one is trying to relay a message. The ability to think creatively is important as well, to devise fun, unique ways to teach a lesson.

"The primary personal attribute that differentiates a preschool teacher from an elementary school teacher is being extremely high energy," says art and music educator Sabrina Peña Young. Young speaks from experience teaching ECE, elementary and all ages through post-secondary. She emphasizes that being physically expressive in the classroom is particularly important for ECE teachers.

"My ability to dance, sing and sometimes just make a fool of myself as I enjoy the music keeps their attention, engages them and lets them see that even adults can have fun," Young adds.

Elementary education

We conducted a similar search of nearly 70,000 elementary teacher jobs posted over the past year to analyze the ten skills employers were seeking most ²:

Lesson planning

Mathematics

Collaboration

Staff development

Scheduling

Curriculum development

Workshops

First aid

Community relations

Decision making

You'll notice there is some overlap in the skills needed for ECE versus elementary education, which should be expected. When teaching this older group of students, there is more organization and collaboration involved with other teachers. There is also more of an emphasis on the strategy and logic of the curriculum.

"When I teach elementary school students, organization and energy go hand-in-hand," Young says. But because older children have a higher attention span and better verbal communication, Young focuses less on kinetic activities and more on engaging multiple learning styles.

Teaching elementary still demands energy, Young points out, but a different kind of energy. "The focus is more on engaging the students in a variety of activities that include learning key concepts and course objectives."

ECE vs. elementary education: required education

Don't be intimidated if you don't feel comfortable with all of the skills included above. Both teaching specialties have training and education requirements to help equip you in all of these areas.

Early childhood education

The degree requirements for ECE depend on the school and your role in the classroom. You can land a job in a childcare center or as an assistant teacher by earning an ECE certificate. If you hope to become a preschool teacher, the most common requirement is an associate degree.

Elementary education

Earning a bachelor's degree along with state licensure is the most typical route for aspiring elementary educators. But if you're looking to teach at a private school, you don't necessarily need state licensure. If you hold a degree other than education, such as math or science, you can become an elementary teacher after passing an alternative teacher certification exam. You will also likely need references.

ECE vs. elementary education: job outlook

Now you're familiar with what you need to know and the credentials you'll need to be qualified. You're probably curious now about the job growth and earning potential for each secter. ³

Early childhood education

Employment for preschool teachers is expected to increase seven percent through 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This is about as fast as the average for all occupations. While the preschool-age population is expected to increase, their overall share of the population will likely remain constant, which explains the steady growth projection. The BLS adds that acquiring a degree will likely increase your job prospects for these positions.

Elementary education

The BLS projects kindergarten and elementary school jobs to grow at a steady rate of six percent through 2024. Since education is often intertwined with districts and state governance, certain states have better employment opportunities than others. To see where your state falls, see Employment for Elementary School Teachers by State.

The BLS predicts more opportunities for elementary teachers with degrees and certifications. Job prospects also increase in urban and rural school districts compared to suburban school districts.

ECE vs. elementary education: career salary

Early childhood education

The median annual salary for a preschool teacher in 2014 was $28,120, according to the BLS. ³ But a more accurate figure for potential salary comes at the state level. Check this state-by-state salary breakdown from the BLS for a more realistic estimate for your area.

Elementary education

The median salary for an elementary school teacher in 2014 was $54,120, as reported by the BLS. ³ Once again, this figure varies widely by state and should be balanced against other factors (such as cost of living or relocating.)

The difference in salaries between ECE and elementary education career paths is likely due to the additional experience and licensure required to be an elementary teacher, along with the lack of national standardization in preschools. However, if the push for Universal Pre-K becomes a reality, the outlook and salary for preschool teachers could change dramatically.

Which is right for you?

Helping teach and empower the next generation is rewarding at any level. In comparing early childhood education versus elementary education, each has its own unique pros and cons. We laid out the information for you, but we can't make the decision for you.

The best choice for you truly comes down to preference and personality. If you find yourself curious about other career option in the education industry, download a complimentary copy of our Education Career Guide.

¹ Burning-Glass.com (analysis of 73,421 preschool teacher job postings, Apr. 01, 2015 - Mar. 31, 2016)
² Burning-Glass.com (analysis of 69, 655 elementary teacher job postings, Apr. 01, 2015 - Mar. 31, 2016)
³ Salary data represents national, averaged earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries and employment conditions in your area may vary.

*Graduates of Early Childhood Education programs at Rasmussen College are not eligible for licensure as a teacher in an elementary or secondary school. A Bachelor's degree and a state teaching license are typically required to work as a teacher in public and private school settings.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was originally published in June 2013. It has since been updated to reflect information relevant to 2016.

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Early Childhood Education vs. Elementary Education: Which Environment is Right for You?

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When you love kids, it's tough to choose between a group of adorable, wide-eyed toddlers and more independent, clever (and equally adorable) elementary students. Choosing a degree that leads to the career of your dreams is a big decision. It's not something anyone should take lightly.

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Early Childhood Education vs. Elementary Education: Which Environment is Right for You?

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Early Childhood Education vs. Elementary Education: Which Environment is Right for You?

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When you love kids, it's tough to choose between a group of adorable, wide-eyed toddlers and more independent, clever (and equally adorable) elementary students. Choosing a degree that leads to the career of your dreams is a big decision. It's not something anyone should take lightly.

If you know you enjoy working with children and have a passion for improving the future of our society, education is a field that will allow you to do both. But how can you narrow down options?

Early childhood education (ECE) focuses on the academic, social and cognitive skills that develop in children from birth through preschool. Elementary education refers to the primary education that comes after preschool but before middle school (typically kindergarten through fifth or sixth grade.)

There are definite distinctions between the two sectors that are important to understand. We're here to help you make an informed decision about early childhood education versus elementary education. We combined government information, real-time job market data and expert insight to provide you a side-by-side comparison below.

Keep reading to see which option is the best fit for you!

ECE vs. elementary education: skills needed

To start, it's helpful to understand what knowledge and proficiencies are needed to succeed in each position. This will help you start to gauge where your skills and interests lie.

Early childhood education

We used real-time job analysis software to examine more than 70,000 preschool jobs posted over the past year. ¹ The data helped us identify the ten most desired skills employers are seeking in prospective preschool teachers:

In addition to the skills above, there are some important personality traits that many successful ECE teachers share. Patience is near the top of the list, as it's difficult wrangling a group of hyper toddlers or trying to decipher a broken sentence when one is trying to relay a message. The ability to think creatively is important as well, to devise fun, unique ways to teach a lesson.

"The primary personal attribute that differentiates a preschool teacher from an elementary school teacher is being extremely high energy," says art and music educator Sabrina Peña Young. Young speaks from experience teaching ECE, elementary and all ages through post-secondary. She emphasizes that being physically expressive in the classroom is particularly important for ECE teachers.

"My ability to dance, sing and sometimes just make a fool of myself as I enjoy the music keeps their attention, engages them and lets them see that even adults can have fun," Young adds.

Elementary education

We conducted a similar search of nearly 70,000 elementary teacher jobs posted over the past year to analyze the ten skills employers were seeking most ²:

Lesson planning

Mathematics

Collaboration

Staff development

Scheduling

Curriculum development

Workshops

First aid

Community relations

Decision making

You'll notice there is some overlap in the skills needed for ECE versus elementary education, which should be expected. When teaching this older group of students, there is more organization and collaboration involved with other teachers. There is also more of an emphasis on the strategy and logic of the curriculum.

"When I teach elementary school students, organization and energy go hand-in-hand," Young says. But because older children have a higher attention span and better verbal communication, Young focuses less on kinetic activities and more on engaging multiple learning styles.

Teaching elementary still demands energy, Young points out, but a different kind of energy. "The focus is more on engaging the students in a variety of activities that include learning key concepts and course objectives."

ECE vs. elementary education: required education

Don't be intimidated if you don't feel comfortable with all of the skills included above. Both teaching specialties have training and education requirements to help equip you in all of these areas.

Early childhood education

The degree requirements for ECE depend on the school and your role in the classroom. You can land a job in a childcare center or as an assistant teacher by earning an ECE certificate. If you hope to become a preschool teacher, the most common requirement is an associate degree.

Elementary education

Earning a bachelor's degree along with state licensure is the most typical route for aspiring elementary educators. But if you're looking to teach at a private school, you don't necessarily need state licensure. If you hold a degree other than education, such as math or science, you can become an elementary teacher after passing an alternative teacher certification exam. You will also likely need references.

ECE vs. elementary education: job outlook

Now you're familiar with what you need to know and the credentials you'll need to be qualified. You're probably curious now about the job growth and earning potential for each secter. ³

Early childhood education

Employment for preschool teachers is expected to increase seven percent through 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This is about as fast as the average for all occupations. While the preschool-age population is expected to increase, their overall share of the population will likely remain constant, which explains the steady growth projection. The BLS adds that acquiring a degree will likely increase your job prospects for these positions.

Elementary education

The BLS projects kindergarten and elementary school jobs to grow at a steady rate of six percent through 2024. Since education is often intertwined with districts and state governance, certain states have better employment opportunities than others. To see where your state falls, see Employment for Elementary School Teachers by State.

The BLS predicts more opportunities for elementary teachers with degrees and certifications. Job prospects also increase in urban and rural school districts compared to suburban school districts.

ECE vs. elementary education: career salary

Early childhood education

The median annual salary for a preschool teacher in 2014 was $28,120, according to the BLS. ³ But a more accurate figure for potential salary comes at the state level. Check this state-by-state salary breakdown from the BLS for a more realistic estimate for your area.

Elementary education

The median salary for an elementary school teacher in 2014 was $54,120, as reported by the BLS. ³ Once again, this figure varies widely by state and should be balanced against other factors (such as cost of living or relocating.)

The difference in salaries between ECE and elementary education career paths is likely due to the additional experience and licensure required to be an elementary teacher, along with the lack of national standardization in preschools. However, if the push for Universal Pre-K becomes a reality, the outlook and salary for preschool teachers could change dramatically.

Which is right for you?

Helping teach and empower the next generation is rewarding at any level. In comparing early childhood education versus elementary education, each has its own unique pros and cons. We laid out the information for you, but we can't make the decision for you.

The best choice for you truly comes down to preference and personality. If you find yourself curious about other career option in the education industry, download a complimentary copy of our Education Career Guide.

¹ Burning-Glass.com (analysis of 73,421 preschool teacher job postings, Apr. 01, 2015 - Mar. 31, 2016)
² Burning-Glass.com (analysis of 69, 655 elementary teacher job postings, Apr. 01, 2015 - Mar. 31, 2016)
³ Salary data represents national, averaged earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries and employment conditions in your area may vary.

*Graduates of Early Childhood Education programs at Rasmussen College are not eligible for licensure as a teacher in an elementary or secondary school. A Bachelor's degree and a state teaching license are typically required to work as a teacher in public and private school settings.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was originally published in June 2013. It has since been updated to reflect information relevant to 2016.

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Early Childhood Education vs. Elementary Education: Which Environment is Right for You?

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When you love kids, it's tough to choose between a group of adorable, wide-eyed toddlers and more independent, clever (and equally adorable) elementary students. Choosing a degree that leads to the career of your dreams is a big decision. It's not something anyone should take lightly.

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Reggio Emilia Approach | Reggio Children

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Reggio Emilia Approach | Reggio Children

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Reggio Emilia Approach | Reggio Children

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Reggio Emilia Approach | Reggio Children