Educational Leadership Institute Inc

EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE BEGAN WORKING WITH CHILDCARE CENTERS STRUGGLING TO HIRE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS THAT WERE EXPERIENCED IN THEIR EARLY CHILDHOOD FIELD. AFTER A CHILDCARE CENTER DID NOT PASS THEIR INITIAL CLASS ASSESSMENT FOR THEIR EARLY HEAD START CLASSROOMS, WE VOLUNTEERED TO WORK WITH THE TEACHERS TO ASSIST IN UNDERSTANDING THE TOOL BEING OBSERVED, OBSERVE THE CLASSROOMS TO SEE WHAT AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT WERE NECESSARY, COACH, MENTOR, AND MODEL FOR THE TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM. AFTER MONTHS OF WORKING TOGETHER, TEACHERS REPORTED FEELING MORE COMPETENT AND IMPROVEMENTS WERE OBSERVED IN HOW THEY IMPLEMENTED DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE PRACTICES IN THEIR CLASSROOMS. WE WORKED TOGETHER TO CREATE A PLAN OF ACTION WHERE THE OVERALL OUTCOME WAS IMPROVING HOW WE ARE ENGAGING YOUNG CHILDREN, FACILITATING CONTINUED GROWTH, AND CONTINUE A POSITIVE LEARNING PATH FOR THEIR CHILDREN. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS FROM THE INITIAL ASSESSMENT, THIS CENTER WAS RE-EVALUATED BY THEIR FUNDER WITH THE SAME CLASS ASSESSMENT TOOL RESULTING IN A PASSING SCORE FOR THOSE CLASSROOMS. MORE IMPORTANTLY, THIS VERY SMALL CHILDCARE CENTER IS NOW ABLE TO CONTINUE THE FUNDING TO KEEP THEIR DOORS OPEN FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. WHILE CHANGE IS HAPPENING IN THESE CLASSROOMS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE ENGAGING TEACHERS AND THEIR CHILDREN TO ELEVATE THE BEST POSSIBLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL. EQUALLY IMPORTANT, FAMILIES ARE A HUGE PART OF THE LEARNING PROCESS IN EXTENDING THEIR CHILD'S LEARNING TO THE HOME ENVIRONMENT.OUR ORGANIZATION PROMOTES GIVING BACK PROMOTING ACTS OF KINDNESS IN A CLASSROOM OF 3-4 YR. OLDS WHERE WE IMPLEMENTED A LITERACY ACTIVITY AND CREATED INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGES FOR CHILDREN STRUGGLING IN HOSPITALS WITH LONG-TERM ILLNESS. NOT ONLY DOES THIS ACTIVITY PROMOTE CHILDREN GIVING CHILDREN MESSAGES, BUT IT PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE EXPLORING WHAT IT MEANS TO HELP OTHERS. WITH IMPLEMENTING A LITERACY COMPONENT TO THIS PROGRAM, WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE INTEREST IN HELPING OTHERS AS REPORTED BY THE TEACHERS. CHILDREN HAVE BECOME MORE ENGAGED IN FINDING WAYS TO HELP EACH OTHER IN THE CLASSROOM WITHOUT NEEDED TEACHER PROMPTS. WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT IS HOW WE CAN INCORPORATE LITERACY WITH SPECIFIC TOPIC AREAS, INTO A CLASSROOM AND ENCOURAGE CHILDREN'S ACTS OF KINDNESS WITH EACH OTHER AND STRANGERS IN THE COMMUNITY.