Exploring How the PQA & Creative Curriculum Work Together

PQA- Program Quality Assessment What do you find meaningful about the PQA? How does it improve the quality of your relationships and instruction? Write by yourself Set the tone Share with an elbow partner Share with small table groups

PQA & Creative Curriculum What new information are you hoping to gain today? Write on a notecard – review at the end

PQA - Program Quality Assessment Goal of the PQA is to make Quality Changes in the classroom, center, program or child care home. Many programs use PQA as a marker for ongoing progress and improvements. Use it as a tool to mark improvements on a valid and reliable tool. Continue to use the indicators to support and mark growth.

PQA The assessment tool is based on the five key objectives of Head Start, which are: enhancing children's growth and development; strengthening families as the primary nurturers of their children; providing children with educational, health, and nutritional services; linking children and families to needed community services; and ensuring well-managed programs that involve parents in decision making. -M. Bunch, 2004 Works the same for GSRP – all have similar quality indicators

PQA Developed by: High Scope Educational Research Foundation PQA Describes what a high quality early care and education program looks like. PQA provides us with the knowledge and common vocabulary to make quality improvements with research based supports. Based on Sound Principles of a High Quality Preschool Classroom and 40 years of research in the Perry Preschool Project -Ypsilanti, MI

What Is Program Quality? Program quality, like child development, has many dimensions.  It includes: Structural components — the classroom, center, program or home. How the learning environment is set up and what happens during the program day. Process — how adults interact with children and plan and carry out meaningful learning experiences. Ways in which staff relate to parents, one another, and the community can affect children and are part of the quality process.  Finally, agency-wide factors influence what happens in the classroom and can directly or indirectly impact children.

Uses for the PQA Research and Evaluation Self Assessment Supervision , Observation & Feedback “Our PQA feedback is grounded in two strong convictions: that all teachers want to do the best for the children in their care and that there is always room for growth, no matter how good the teacher.” -S. Christensen and A. Rosen, 2010

What is the PQA? Comprehensive tool Research – based and field-tested Appropriate for use in all early care and education settings Administered by independent evaluators or used as a self- assessment tool Defines quality along a continuum

- High Scope ReSource Spring 2010 Structure Each item begins with a statement followed by a series of indicators defining the lower, middle and upper ends of the 5-point quality continuum or rubric. “When teachers are on a quest for high quality, the Program Quality Assessment is an integral component of their journey.” - High Scope ReSource Spring 2010

Potential Uses of the PQA Improving the Quality of Early Care and Education Programs with: Self Assessment Training/ Coaching Program Monitoring Observation and Feedback Research and Evaluation The goal of assessment is to acknowledge strengths and identify areas for improvement. We travel side by side with teachers and directors as we all strive to make quality better. -A. Rosen & S. Christensen, 2010

Michigan’s Roadmap to Quality Great Start 2 Quality Resource Center, NW Quality Improvement Consultants & Specialists help support us on our journey. Michigan’s T.Q.R.I.S. Tiered Quality Rating Improvement System Self Assessment Survey (SAS) PQA

Creative Curriculum The Curriculum grows and changes along with the early childhood field as we learn from current research and gain new insights about what teachers need to know in order to teach effectively. The CC now has a long history – each new edition reflects our commitment to respond to the needs of early childhood educators. John Dewey, Lev Vygotsky, Erik Erikson, Jean Piaget, brain research and literacy/math research between 2003 and 2009

First edition launched in 1978 Introduced teachers how to set up their classrooms into interest areas and to use them effectively Blocks, House Corner, Art and Table Toys 2nd edition in 1988 Added the Library, Sand and Water, and Outdoors sections

1992 was the 3rd edition Explained the theories and philosophy behind the Creative Curriculum Goals and objectives for children’s learning assessment Families Cooking, Music and Movement, and Computers

Fourth edition in 2002 New brain research guided the development of the fourth edition providing more guidance about appropriate teaching strategies Defined the vital role of the teacher in connecting content, teaching and learning for preschool children Explained the teacher’s role in addressing content in literacy, math, science, social studies, the arts and technology New interest area added – Discovery

Fifth and most current edition created in 2010 Includes 5 volumes that help teachers build their professional knowledge of best practices The Foundation Interest Areas Literacy Math Objectives for Development and Learning The Creative Curriculum volumes are designed to support teachers at all levels of experience in planning and implementing a high quality developmentally appropriate program To make the curriculum work for you, incorporate your own interests and teaching style as well as information about the children you teach and their families

The Creative Curriculum is based off of 5 fundamental principles: Positive interactions and relationships with adults provide a critical foundation for successful learning Social-emotional competence is a significant factor in school success Constructive, purposeful play supports essential learning The physical environment affects the type and quality of learning interactions Teacher-family partnerships promote development and learning   How do these 5 areas tie to the PQA?

Moving from Good to Great! Together we can! Developing High Quality Learning Environments for all children!

PQA & Creative Curriculum What new information were you hoping to gain today? Please take a moment to review your question… Did we answer it? Q & A Review your note card at the end. Did we answer your questions? What questions do you still have?

Facilitated by: Angela Norvell, Traverse Bay Area ISD Liz Walker, Wexford, Missaukee and Manistee ISDs Dru O’Connor, Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency