1.2 Applies the process of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation to support children's growth through developmentally appropriate practices
1.2 a. Understands developmental sequences and milestones
3.1 Uses observation and assessment to support children’s development and learning
3.1 b. Assesses children’s progress across all developmental domains
3.2 Practices appropriate child assessment
3.2 d. Considers children’s strengths and needs across all developmental domains
4.2 Creates an environment that is predictable, promotes interaction and learning, and is responsive to the needs of all children
4.2 a. Plans, implements, and adapts a supportive learning environment that promotes children’s safety, positive interactions, and behaviors
4.2 d. Makes sure expectations for routines and tasks are clear and purposeful for all children
Learning Outcome 1: Identify the purpose of the WV ELSFs for IT and Pre-K Standards.
CKC 1.2, 3.1, and 3.2
Rational: The WV ELSFs is a tool that specifies developmentally appropriate expectations for each age group (birth-5 years). Attendees will be given a copy of the booklets to show them how they can complete an informal assessment to gain insight on where a child is at developmentally and plan activities to support that child's growth and development.
Learning Outcome 2: Examine School “Readiness” in West Virginia.
CKC 1.2, 3.1, 3.2, and 4.2
Rational: WV School Readiness is the initiative to prepare children for when they enter into elementary school. The initiative by the WV Department of Education is to support children to become lifelong learners and be developmentally ready for school. This learning outcome meets all the CKCs because early education professionals need to be informed of the developmental milestones for each age group, which the WV ELSFs provides. Once they are familiar with the WV ELSFs, they can then use it to assess where the child is developmentally at to provide activities and structure the environment in a way that will support the learning domains that are expected for a child to master prior to entering school. The ongoing assessments could also identify if a child needs additional support from either an IFSP, an IEP, or outside therapies.
Learning Outcome3: Discuss “The Guiding Principles for the WV Pre-K Standards”.
CKC 1.2 and 4.2
Rational: The Guiding Principles for the WV Pre-K Standards is a page within the document that discusses the areas that inspired the standards.
It lists the following foundations:
-Representation and symbolic thinking are critical.
-Children are active learners.
-Development and learning are interrelated.
-Each child is an individual learner.
-Children with special needs are typically best served in inclusive settings.
-English Language Learners are best served in inclusive settings.
-Family engagement is critical to the success of young children.
Under each of those foundations, it provides a description as to how those influenced the development of the standards. This sets the bases for how children should be learning (child lead and play based), developmentally appropriate practices in assessing, lesson planning, and setting up the environment that supports exploration and family involvement.
Learning Outcome 4: Review the components of the WV ELSFs for IT and Pre-K Standards.
CKC 1.2, 3.2, and 4.2
Rational: We are going to break down each component of the WV ELSF and Pre-K standards to help participants identify what is a content area, domain, cluster, and standards. The standards are going to be further examined to identify appropriate assessment tools (anecdotal notes vs. formal assessment tools like the ASQ), as well as develop an appropriate lesson plan and room arrangement.
Learning Outcome 5: Connect WV ELSFs for IT and Pre-K Standards to our lesson plans.
CKC 1.2 and 4.2
Rational: The final activity in this training will have participants develop a lesson plan using the WV ELSF for IT or the Pre-K Standards (depending on which age group the educator works with). They are going to connect those content areas and standards to a lesson planning template that meets all learning domains.
