Transition to Kindergarten: Why It Matters and How to Promote Success
Take a look at this overview of the “what, why, and how” of successful kindergarten transitions.
Early Childhood Development, Teaching and Learning
Higher Education Learning Modules
These learning modules are highlights of higher education courses from the EarlyEdU Alliance®. They go a bit deeper since they combine theory and the latest early childhood education research with students’ field-based learning.
Hearing Language Is Learning
Babies are born “citizens of the world.” Children can tell the difference between all the sounds in all the world’s languages at birth.
Growing Up as a Dual Language Learner
For an adult, trying to learn a second language can be a difficult task. Young children have a much easier time learning languages than adults. They learn language by having ample opportunities to hear speech from adults and peers.
Developmental Screening Tips, Tools, and Resources
Screening for potential developmental delays in children allows for early treatment and supportive services. On the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, Head Start educators and families will find a number of resources on developmental screening tools.
Sample provider letter
The Office of Head Start NCH oral health forms are important records of a pregnant woman’s or child’s dental visit.
Learning from Assessment (LFA) Toolkit
The LFA Toolkit is a collection of presentations, handouts, guided practice exercises, and descriptions of additional resources designed to support program staff in enhancing, conducting, and interpreting child assessments. It builds upon the assessment knowledge and expertise programs already possess, and the materials can be used selectively to design trainings that will meet programs' particular needs.
Home Language Support
Children who speak home languages other than English make up at least one third of Head Start enrollment. They speak more than 140 languages and are enrolled in 87 percent of all Head Start programs. All Head Start staff, and policy makers will want to understand what these young dual language learners (DLLs) need in order to thrive in Head Start and beyond. They will also want to know how to support DLL’s development and school readiness skills.
Supporting Transitions: Resources for Building Collaboration
Supporting transitions can have positive effects on children and families, and collaboration is key to effective transition. Each brief in this series focuses on a different partnership level: the child and family, early educators, early care and education (ECE) programs, and ECE partners.
Ongoing Child Assessment
These 15-minute In-service Suites are a professional development resource for staff in busy, active early childhood centers and programs. They are organized around one topic or big idea and address effective teaching and assessment practices.