Early Childhood Task Force Anne Hardiman - Principal MaryKate Fitzpatrick - PreK/Kindergarten Carol Blackwood - Kindergarten Judy Tan - Kindergarten Caroline LaBella - Preschool Lynne Tarr - PreK Kathleen Maney - Community Liaison Karen Arena - Community Provider Elizabeth Kelly - Community Provider Logo for

Introduction Three focus areas: 1. Curriculum and Assessment State guidelines 2. Transition process Kindergarten 3. Accreditation

Mission To revise and refine our ideas about how to promote best practices in every early childhood classroom by promoting appropriate learning expectations and working together to bridge the gap among programs throughout Watertown to create one early childhood learning community. Convened in June of 2008 meet monthly 4 hours a month, summer 2008 summer 2009 focused work on setting priorities. Align curriculum based on revised states revised standards preschool through K Another priority was creating uniform transitions for all students entering the public school

Ensuring Best Practices Professional Development 2008 - 2009 NAEYC CPR/Pediatric First Aid Play Based Learning Reading Task Force Handwriting With Out Tears Creative Curriculum New Learning Outcomes Community Outreach NAEYC Uniform Transition Procedures District Brochure School Based Booklets Early Childhood Website Early Childhood Blog BEST PRACTICES Assessment Creative Curriculum Preschool/PreK Math Assessment Guide Preschool /PreK Kindergarten Fall Baseline Data Collection Overview of our accomplishments Map, Letter ID, Getting Ready to Read, Math Assessments Instruction/ “Tool Box” Alignment of Curriculum Preschool – Kindergarten Early Childhood Website Early Childhood Blog Creative Curriculum Preschool /PreK Think Math Kindergarten Math Assessment Guide Preschool/PreK

Early Childhood Website Curriculum Tool Box Align outcomes for 3 year olds, 4 year olds and Kindergarteners Create Early Childhood Website – linked to district Teaching and Learning Page Early Childhood Website Pilot Creative Curriculum Assessment Tool with online component Preschool / PreK Change bullets and handouts for alignment Alignment is based on new state outcomes. Created website for universal access UPK grant – use one of the state approved assessment tools. Staff Reviewed and choose CC because it most closely aligned with our standards and was the most manageable for staff to utilzie. This grant helps to offset costs for the work of the task foce.

Professional Development Handwriting Without Tears Creative Curriculum – Preschool / PreK Online Assessment / Portfolio System Learning Outcomes Preschool - K Posted on Website Through out the year we provided support to staff around the work the task foce was doing.

Transition to Public School Standard Procedures Coordinate with Guidance Counselors to create uniform Registration Intake Process Update Preschool Inventory – more accurate data on incoming students Uniform Orientation Activities Screening Visit Day Welcome to School Activities We felt it was important to have uniform system in place for families entering the public school system so we created standard procedures for all 3 schools

Transition To Public School Tools for Incoming Families Create brochure describing district programs District Wide Early Childhood Brochure Create building based Welcome to School Books for children to take home School Based Welcome Books

National Association For The Accreditation National Association For The Education Of Young Children In May 2009 all 3 Elementary Schools were awarded accreditation for preschool, prekindergarten and kindergarten classes. One of our major projects last year was attaining NAEYC accreditation. NAEYC is a national organization that sets the standard for quality early childhood programs. Process

Why Is Accreditation Important: High Quality Early Childhood programs Current Best Practices Grant requirement Full Day Kindergarten Universal PreKindergarten Grant Benefits Facilitate staffing Support accreditation process Support Early Childhood Task Force work Define early childhood curriculum and assessment Support professional development and summer projects Enhance classroom materials Affords us the opportunity to reflect on our teaching and ensure that all Watertown children are getting a quality early childhood educational experience.

Accreditation Products Program Portfolio Individual Portfolio for each school Documents 187 Criteria for Program Standards School Safety Procedures Personnel Policies Classroom Portfolio Individual portfolio for each classroom 21 classroom portfolios 105 criteria documented in each portfolio To be come accredited staff spent countless hours reflecting and documenting the best practices that are happening in all early childhood classrooms in the district. As a result of this work extraordinary portfolios were created by all preschool through K classroom teachers. As you can see by the number of items that required documentation… Accreditation product

1.A.04 Teachers are sensitive to family concerns and reassure family members who are concerned about leaving children in non-family care.

2.A.11 The schedule a. provides children learning opportunities, experiences, and projects that extend over the course of several days and incorporates time for b. play c. creative expression d. large-group e. small-group, and f. child-initiated activity.

2G.06 Children are provided varied opportunities and materials that encourage them to think, question, and reason about observed and inferred phenomena.

Next Steps Professional Development Implement best practices in all early childhood classrooms across the district Collaborate with curriculum Task Forces Maintain NAEYC accreditation status Annual Report for Each School 5 Year Cycle for Re-accreditation Stay current in new NAEYC criteria Manage and Update portfolios Identify needs for teachers so they can maintain best practices and providing professional development to assist staff.

Next Steps Tool Box Preschool – K Assessment Guide & Protocol Literacy Math Preschool – Grade 3 Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Alignment Project In the process of identifying consistent assessment standards and protocols for Preschool through K to inform instruction and report progress to families. A new initiative is the alignment grant. We have done a large amount of work in the area of Preschool – k and 1st – 3rd and this grant will allow us to bridge that gap. This grant will also assist us in looking at how to best differentiate for all students preschool through the primary years. Last slide questions – preschool kids.

Questions?