The new Kindergarten Learning Standards are a companion to the recently released Prekindergarten Learning Standards, providing "a uniform format to make them easier for teachers, specialists, administrators and parents to read and understand."

According to the State's Office for Early Learning, it's important to understand that the standards are NOT meant to mandate specific teaching practices or materials or to stifle educators' creativity. And there's a section on why Kindergarten is such a unique grade (which includes a link to NAEYC's helpful guide " What Does a High-Quality Kindergarten Look Like?")

The guiding principles behind the standards include that children are active learners, and that a primary approach to learning is through purposeful play; and that early development and learning are multi-dimensional--that is, that learning occurs simultaneously across all domains.

Click here to download the 43-page Kindergarten Learning Standards.  Click here for the Prekindergarten Learning Standards.

Want to hear about the new standards in person? Meg McNiff from the New York State Education Department's Office of Early Learning will be explaining the new Pre-K standards at our Nov. 5 "Best Practices" conference (see below). Her presentation will include a screening of new videos that show high-quality classrooms.

Nonprofit "think tank" New America has just published two research briefs focused on strengthening Pre-K to K transitions and alignment. 

Moving into Kindergarten: How Schools and Districts are Connecting the Steps for Children and Families highlights innovative efforts that schools across the U.S. are taking to ease the transition for families and students--including for children with no access to Pre-K. One case study covers a community-wide approach in a Chicago neighborhood. In this school district, Pre-K and Kindergarten teachers meet monthly. "The goal of the meetings is to reduce differences in teaching methods and philosophies between grades and schools," says the report.

Using Local, State and Federal Dollars to Improve Pre-K to K Transitions takes a totally different tack--it seeks to explain various resources that can be used to support and fund state and local transition efforts. For example, it outlines how local education agencies (often called LEA's) can use Title I and Title II dollars to support smoother transitions, including joint professional training programs for Pre-K and early elementary, including for Head Start programs. "Using the funding streams available in a strategic way to support better transitions and alignment will be a big help in creating the seamless educational experience that young students need, one which will also support families."

Here on Long Island, we are supporting smoother Pre-K to K transitions by hosting two free Kindergarten Transition Summits in October. These events are filling up fast; please register now to reserve a seat.

One way to improve student outcomes in Pre-K is to provide professional development and coaching to teachers. That's the conclusion of a Harvard study that examined a program that ran in 35 Chicago Head Start Centers in 2004 and 2005--and then fast-forwarded to see how the students performed in high school. They found these teenagers had higher grades and an improvement in executive functioning skills.

Says Harvard professor Dana McCoy: "In disadvantaged contexts, efforts to improve the well-being of preschool teachers and classroom management appear here to result in long-term benefits for children's academic outcomes, even in the absence of additional supports for instruction." Read more.

Full-Time Preschool Teacher

Stony Brook Child Care, SUNY Stony Brook

Apply online --use Req. #1903440 or enter "childcare" in the keyword search bar

For the Long Island Head Start positions listed below

Email resumes to humanresources@liheadstart.org or fax 631-758-2953

Full-Time Teacher Assistant

Full-Time Teacher/Certified Teacher

Full-Time Teacher I (Infant/Toddler)

Full-Time Teacher II (Infant/Toddler)

Full-Time Family Educator/Home Visitor--Bilingual

Full-Time Family Advocate

Full-Time Cook Assistant

Long Island Head Start, various locations

Full-Time Teacher Aide

Long Island Head Start, various locations and Huntington Early Head Start

EHS-CCP RN/Health Consultant

EHS-CCP Disabilities Services Consultant

Long Island Head Start, Central Administration, Patchogue

• Your name
• Your position
• Your e-mail and phone number

• The name of your school and the town it's located in. You can include your web address, if you have one.
• A very brief description of the position or positions you want to fill. (For example: "Part-time Teacher Assistant" or "Full-time Pre-K Teacher."
• Information about how potential applicants should contact your for details or to apply. (For example: "Call Jane Smith at 631-xxx-xxxx" or "Send e-mail to jane.smith@schoolname.org")