Early Childhood Development, Teaching and Learning

Review key features of early childhood curricula, including scope, sequence, and implementation. Find tips and checklists to ensure alignment with the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework.

Making It Work is a resource that can help American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) early education staff meet school readiness goals. Learn how to use it while teaching traditional cultural skills, values, beliefs, and lifeways.

School readiness and school success for children who are dual language learners are tied directly to mastery of their home language. This series of handouts is designed to provide staff and families with basic information on topics related to children learning two or more languages. They emphasize the benefits of being bilingual, the importance of maintaining home language, and the value of becoming fully bilingual. These easy-to-read resources highlight important information that every adult living or working with young dual language learners should know.

Explore these resources about indigenous immigrant families and their culture.

The Crosswalk of the 15-Minute In-service Suites with the CLASS^® connects teaching practices and learning activities found in these in-service suites with the domains and dimensions of the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS)^®. Head Start grantees may find this tool useful in planning professional development.

Learn about some of the health benefits and get ideas for fun outdoor activities!

Daily separations and reunions are part of the fabric of relationships. In center-based and family child care programs, they provide opportunities to develop a young child's skill at making positive transitions. 

Preschool children transition into kindergarten more successfully when their schools and families take part in the preparation, and when their preschool and kindergarten teachers connect.

In order for children to close any achievement gap they may have experienced when they entered Head Start or Early Head Start, programs must have clear systems in place that support high-quality instruction. These resources are designed specifically for program leaders.