Reason

Early learning leaders inspire shared commitment by critically thinking about the why of — or the reasons for — practices, knowledge, and policies.

Thinking About the "Why"

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Reason: Thinking About the "Why"

Narrator: Let’s take a closer look at how effective early learning leaders use reason.

Woman: One of the things I like to ask teachers to do is to model it first.

Dr. Gail Joseph: Early learning leaders inspire shared commitment by critically thinking about the “why” — they build on and use their understanding, awareness, and knowledge to support staff in meeting program goals and objectives. They underscore child development, raise issues of educational justice, and address the role of safety and health in early learning. They ask, “Is there another way we can achieve a similar or better outcome for children and families?”

Narrator: Early learning leaders inspire practice through explaining, defining, and providing meaning about how actions impact children and families. Leaders help each staff member connect with their own purpose through engagement in their work and by engaging with the program’s mission and purpose.

Amparo Garcia-Yurchenco: [Speaking Spanish] Seeing a Hispanic director, I think they feel connected. For me, it is very important to be present — to speak their language. My purpose is that every day they see me present, they count on me, they think that there is a safe place to be here — that is Head Start. Head Start is a big family.

Narrator: Early learning leaders center the perspectives of children and families.

Susan Leon: Usually, you’ll have those parents in the beginning where they’re not wanting to open up because they don’t trust you. Going to their homes or even meeting them here and just having them saying, “It’s a safe space. You can talk to me about anything. I’m here to listen, and we are going to get you where you want to be.”

Narrator: Early learning leaders ensure that social, emotional, and trauma care needs inform their work. Leaders focus on a healing approach, offering lessons and training centered on the impacts of trauma and helping staff to meet each child’s individual needs.

To summarize, reason involves inspiring practice by providing the “why;” centering the perspectives of children and families; and ensuring that social, emotional, and trauma care needs inform the work.

Try out these tips. To learn more about the 5Rs of early learning leaders, visit HeadStart.gov.

Practical Strategies

Early learning leaders provide the reason through the following practices:

Inspire commitment to practice by explaining the reasons behind them.

Build trust by clearly defining, explaining, and demonstrating the key aspects of best practices in early childhood education.
Help staff understand how their actions affect children and offer ways for them to apply this understanding in their work.
Ask thoughtful questions that encourage meaningful reasons for those questions to deepen staff engagement.

Center the perspective of the child and family.

Encourage staff to always consider the child’s viewpoint within the context of their family.
Support staff in using their understanding of the child and their family to effectively meet their expressed needs.

Use data to highlight how practices align with both program and family goals.

Use data to show how practices meet program and family goals.
Explain the importance of data to families and staff using simple words and visual aids like charts or graphs.
Use data to support family values and goals. Show how the data matches what families want for their children.

Prioritize social and emotional needs.

Make sure social and emotional needs, and trauma care needs, guide practice.
Encourage staff to focus on each child’s unique needs to provide support that fits their individual situations.
Offer training sessions on social and emotional development and the effects of trauma. This helps staff understand how to support children effectively.

Value Statements for Providing the Reason

Early learning leaders help staff understand the reasons behind policies and practices. This helps everyone see how their work connects to program goals and leads to better outcomes for children and families.

Use the Value Statements for Providing the Reason Worksheet to reflect, rate how well you demonstrate these practices, and think of ideas to improve. The statements remind early learning leaders stay focused on their purpose and lead by example every day.

Employee Engagement and Retention

Organizational Leadership

Thinking About the "Why"

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Practical Strategies

Value Statements for Providing the Reason

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