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PRE-K UPDATE
OCTOBER 23, 2019
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Here's the latest news from The Long Island Pre-K Initiative, your source for
expert training and useful resources:
www.nassauboces.org/pre-k
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Kids love to talk, but they might not know how to talk about what they're learning. Three discussion tips for young students
Writing for edutopia, Kindergarten teacher Ruth Calkins shares discussion strategies she's adapted for 5-year-olds. "A Kindergarten teacher must work with students on counting, reading and writing, but just as important is teaching them how to talk with--and listen to--others about what they're learning." Her approaches:
Turn and Talk. This strategy doesn't need much modification to use with young children instead of older ones, says Calkins, but it is important to model how it works. Specifically, children are paired off and asked to start talking about what they're learning. The example Calikins offers: reading aloud a book about kindness and then asking students to talk about ways they can show kindness.
Think-Pair-Share. This twist offers children a chance to develop ideas on their own first, "ideal for introverts and students who take more time to process their thinking." A 4- or 5-year-old might make a drawing about their thoughts, for example. Then children are paired off. "I give each pair of students two popsicle sticks--one has clip art of a mouth, the other has an ear...It's essential that children understand that when they are holding the ear, they are actively listening to their partner." Then, children are asked to share with the larger group, reporting on what they heard their partner say. (Calkins also recommends modeling this technique for children before they start.)
Gallery Walks. Small groups are asked to collaborate on a problem and then explain their work to the class--with the teacher standing by to offer help as needed.
"Teaching these strategies to Kindergarteners can take time," says Calkins, "but the benefits of giving them opportunities to talk about their thinking make the time investment well worth it." Read more.
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Parents or others questioning why blocks are important in your classroom? Here's a study on their role in spatial skills
Sometimes parents think "math" equals writing numbers or doing worksheets. But scholars at Vanderbilt University have looked at the role that blocks play in laying a foundation for solving complex math problems later. Specifically, they studied patterning activities, such as lining up blocks red-green-red-green, and spatial skills, such as figuring out how to balance blocks on top of one another to create a doorway.
"Patterning skils involve deducing underlying rules in the sequence of objects and may also promote some counting skills," says one of the researchers. "Because repeating patterning tasks do not require prior number knowledge, even preschool children can deduce underlying rules in the patterns."
As for spatial skills? "Solving math problems often involves thinking about moving through space, so spatial skills may support problem solving." Read more
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Here's a new twist on "opt-out:" refusing homework
"Just opt out," is what parenting writer Rebecca Swanson tells other Moms when they complain about their Kindergartener's worksheets or their third grader's math assignments.
Writing for the Washington Post, she asks, "...[Why] do grown-ups feel the need to push our smallest ones, who still find joy in pretend kitchens and climbing trees, into an adult world where homework is purportedly required to survive--or to succeed?" Especially since there's research indicating that homework isn't helpful in the early grades.
So last year when her Kindergartener was given a calendar with daily assignments, she emailed the teacher--just as she had done for her older child--and politely informed her that "our family does not support homework for children in elementary school....Please don't bother to send the worksheets home." Want to know what happened? Read more.
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Teachers' top 10 tips for taking preschoolers outdoors
It's getting cooler on Long Island--and it's probably even chillier in Minnesota where Laura Duffy asked other teachers for their advice when it comes to getting young
children outside, in their schoolyard or nearby. Their tips include:
- Ask someone who is familiar with nature to help identify all the plants and/or animals. (Duffy reassures readers that "I've never found a dangerous plant or animal on school property" but it's still important to make sure there's no poison ivy, for example.)
- Maintain a supplementary clothing box--not just for kids. She suggests including adult-sized hats, mittens, etc. for parent volunteers who also may forget appropriate clothing.
- If your school has "only a mowed lawn and a tree," like one where Duffy once taught, you can add surprises yourself, such as pine cones, stones and other natural items.
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This week's job listings for early ed on Long Island
Full-Time Early Childhood Career Development Coordinator--Long Island
The New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute at CUNY is replicating two programs that have been highly successful in New York City: The Career Development Center and the Leadership Initiative. The Early Childhood Development Coordinator will implement both projects, and will work closely with local partner agencies. The Coordinator will be based in Nassau County, but will serve all of Long Island. Job responsibilities will include carrying out a needs assessment, providing career development supports, and developing professional development programming for current and future early childhood leaders. A master's degree in early childhood education or a relevant field is required.
Click here for detailed job description and qualifications--and to apply online.
For the Long Island Head Start positions listed below
Full-Time Teacher
Full-Time Teacher I (Infant/Toddler)
Full-Time Teacher II (Infant/Toddler)
Full-Time Teacher Assistant
Full-Time Teacher Aide
Full-Time Family Visitor--Bilingual
Full-Time Family Advocate
Full-Time Cook Assistant
Full-Time Food Transporter
Long Island Head Start, various Suffolk County locations
Speech Consultant
EHS-CCP RN/Health Consultant
EHS-CCP Disabilities Services Consultant (Birth to 2)
Long Island Head Start, central administration, Patchogue
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Here's how to add your school's staffing needs to this list:
In the body of the e-mail, include the following information:
For our records:
- Your name
- Your position
- Your e-mail and phone number
For the listing in our e-newsletter
- 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")
It's important to understand that:
We will not include information about salary. We will not include any descriptions of your school or program, although we can include a link to your school's web site.
We will publish your information a single time. If you still have openings, you can e-mail us again with the details and we will run the information again.
Our e-newsletter is typically sent out on Wednesday mornings. However, it may be mailed on a different day, depending on content or technical considerations.
The Long Island Pre-K Initiative reserves the right to edit information; space in the e-newsletter is very limited.
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About Us
The Long Island Pre-K Initiative is a grant-funded project that seeks to strengthen partnerships between school districts and community-based organizations and to share information about research, policy and best practices for early learning. Administered by Nassau BOCES, it is supported with expertise from The Early Years Institute and funds from the Rauch and Hagedorn Foundations. Our partners: Eastern Suffolk BOCES, Western Suffolk BOCES, and the Child Care Councils of Nassau and Suffolk.
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NASSAU BOCES
71 Clinton Road, Garden City, NY 11530-9195
Phone: (516) 396-2220 Fax: (516)-396-2355
www.nassauboces.org
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