eNotes
May 10, 2018In this Issue:
- Culture of Continuous Learning (CCL): The Breakthrough Series Collaborative (BSC) Method Source: Office of Planning, Research & Evaluation (OPRE) & Child Trends
- Extracting Success in Pre-K Teaching Source: New America
- Childhood Poisoning Safeguarding Young Children from Addictive Substances Source: National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA)
- Social-Emotional Development in the First Three Years Source: Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center, Pennsylvania State University
- Ten Tips for Early Childhood Leaders Engaging in Technical Assistance (TA) Opportunities Source: BUILD Initiative
1. Culture of Continuous Learning (CCL): The Breakthrough Series Collaborative (BSC) Method
This OPRE report released in January 2018 examines the evidence base of the BSC, a method originally designed for the health care field to improve organizational capacity, data-informed decisions and leadership for improving quality, outcomes, and efficiency. The CCL project intends to use the findings from this report to study the implementation of the BSC in both Head Start and child care settings. Results will also be used for future research related to quality improvement in early childhood education.
Child Trends has created a brief video that explains how the BSC method can be used to improve social-emotional learning in young children, a study currently being conducted in Boston at the University of Massachusetts.
2. Extracting Success in Pre-K Teaching
According to a recent report from New America (April 2018), many pre-K teachers who are not affiliated with public school systems require few, if any, formal qualifications. For these teachers, "ongoing professional learning may be the most formal training an educator receives." In addition, many pre-K teachers affiliated with public school systems often receive a one-time professional development session that is not based on the latest research or is not related to early childhood education. This report profiles five different state programs that each integrate multiple elements that experts agree to be high-quality professional learning for pre-K educators.
3. Childhood Poisoning Safeguarding Young Children from Addictive Substances
In response to the opioid crisis, CASA has issued a report (April 2018) to assist care-givers, health care professionals, and policymakers in early child care to identify risks and symptoms of childhood poisoning from exposure to addictive substances. A review of poisonous chemicals in toys, caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, illicit and prescription drugs is included, along with recommendations and references.
4. Social-Emotional Development in the First Three Years
This brief from Pennsylvania State University (April 2018) offers multiple strategies to improve care-giving and the social-emotional development of young children. Some examples of the strategies are 1) home visitation programs that offer support and information to parents just before the baby's birth; 2) skill training aimed to strengthen parental responsiveness to improve the child's sense of security and social-emotional skills; and 3) mental health consultation to support caregivers in early care.
5. Ten Tips for Early Childhood Leaders Engaging in Technical Assistance (TA) Opportunities
After interviewing state leaders and TA providers in 2017, BUILD Initiative released this compilation of 10 questions (April 2018) for states, partners and technical assistance providers to consider when working together to improve early childhood systems. A team approach to address priorities and needs, as well as, honest evaluation of the process and accomplishments are necessary to meet goals, sustain progress, and make well-planned decisions for improvement.