Making a Difference
10 Essential Steps to Building a PreK-3 System

Foreword by Ruby Takanishi

Other Titles in:
Administration & Leadership | Leadership

November 2012 | 184 pages | Corwin

The national push for early learning is no longer about preschool alone, but rather about strategic planning to increase achievement by working with communities to establish a strong Key Stages 1 and 2 foundation. This book provides the essential steps for carrying out this important work, including how to reach out to community early childhood education providers to establish quality instruction and build bridges to Key Stages 1 and 2.

Drawing on their success in building a PreK–3 system in the Bremerton, WA school district and their work with schools across the USA, the authors provide education professionals with a field-tested, step-by-step road map that can be adapted for your own community and school district. Essential topics include:

- Identifying the needs of families and children

- Aligning resources, curriculum, instruction, and assessment

- Establishing key players

- Training staff

- Developing a plan for implementation

- Instituting professional learning communities

- Anticipating potential challenges

- Celebrating successes

This book shows head teachers and early childhood professionals, as well as county officials, Education Officers, Head Start programmes, and Title I directors, how to provide all children with access to high-quality educational experiences in and before Reception and link early childhood standards and goals to the Key Stages 1 and 2 systems.

Foreword by Ruby Takanishi

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

Introduction

Step 1. Establishing Need and Common Interests

Connecting to Your Preschool Community

Connecting the Early Childhood Community and K-12 Public School

Establishing the Need and Prioritizing Your Efforts PreK-3

Your First Early Childhood and K-3 Meeting

Step 2. Locate and Connect With Your Early Childhood Learning Environments

Locating Your Community Preschool Partners

Identifying and Locating Key People in Your School District

Planning for Your "Kick off" PreK-3d Meeting

Step 3. Develop a Leadership Group

Your Leadership Group

Vision Plus Action

Quality Preschool

Step 4. High Quality Professional Development

How to Provide Professional Development Aligned to Your Goals

Target Professional Development to the Needs of Your Community

Establish Your Professional Development System

Information to Refine Your Work and Strive for Excellence

Step 5. Connect and Align Quality PreK to Kindergarten

Connect Your Community Preschool and Kindergarten Programs

Develop an Assessment and Information Loop

Align Curriculum and Instructional Practices

Step 6. Maximize the Benefits of Full-Day Kindergarten

Advantages

National Trends

How to Design a Full-day Kindergarten

Developing a Planning and Implementation Team

Developing Goals for the Program

Using Research to Drive the Process

Core Curriculum Selection Process for Your Kindergarten (PreK-3rd Grade) System

Low-to-No-Cost Options

Developing Daily Schedule Expectations

Data Sharing

"Friendly Accountability"

Step 7. Align and Connect Full-Day Kindergarten With Grades 1-3

Connect Your FDK to Grades 1-3

Align Your K-3 Standards

Align Your Assessment and Information Loop

Align Curriculum and Instructional Practices That Support Children's Learning and Development K-3 (PreK-3rd)

Tiered Systems

Connect and Align Resources to Focus on Your Goals

Step 8. Conquer the Fade Out

Teach the Conventional Reading Skills That Are Developed Birth to Age 5

Horizontal Alignment

Vertical Alignment

Temporal Alignment

Step 9. Create a Sustainable System of Support

Broad Base Support and Financing Your Goals

Celebrate and Publicize Your Efforts

Continuous Engagement

Step 10. Review, Revise, and Extend

Next Step: Looking Ahead and Planning

Review Your Goals

Are We Making a Significant Difference?

Your Leadership Group (ECCE Group)

Looking Ahead

References

Resource A: Books and Web Sites

Resource B: Steps for Your First Leadership Meeting

Resource C: Leadership Guide

Resource D: Curriculum Adoption Form

Resource E: Glow and Grow Self-Reflection Form

Resource F: Look Fors in Early Childhood Programs

Resource G: Four Key Components to Sustainability Guide

Index

“A great guide pointing in the right direction to start a program for early childhood education. With the high emphasis from the U.S. Department of Education and new monies available from the stimulus plan, this book will be a valuable resource for the changes we will be experiencing in education.”

Cindy Luna, Principal

Northside ISD, San Antonio, TX

“It’s time to build a bridge between all early childhood programs and the K-3 system to ensure continued success for all of our children. This is the ultimate how-to manual for administrators and teachers who wish to maintain and maximize the gains children make in preschool.”

Sally Wingle, Preschool Teacher

Chelsea Community Preschool, MI

"Early learning providers and school districts together can build a strong foundation and offer wonderful learning opportunities for each and every child. This book provides the tools to create enjoyable learning experiences from preschool and beyond."

Jill Brenner, Child Development Manager

Kitsap Community Resources Head Start/ECEAP Programs, Bremerton, WA

Great resource for ideas to establish routines and procedures.

Ms Jill Clayton

Ed Entreprenuer center , Southern Methodist University

June 4, 2012

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Sample Materials & Chapters

Foreword

Introduction: Connecting Early Childhood and K-12 Programs

Linda T. Sullivan-Dudzic

Linda Sullivan-Dudzic has spent the past 30 years connecting early childhood to K-12 to the higher education system. Prior to entering the fields of speech language pathology, curriculum and instruction, special education, and Title I, she learned a great deal from her mother, Lillian Sullivan, who started one of the first quality preschool programs in the 1960’s, Nursery School, that included students with disabilities. Building on this strong early foundation, Sullivan-Dudzic continued her educational training and experience as a speech language pathologist at Kitsap Community Resources Head Start and started one of the first cooperative... More About Author

Donna K. Gearns

Donna Gearns began her teaching career in self-contained preschool, elementary, and middle school classrooms for students with learning disabilities. As an itinerant special education teacher, she discovered the importance of building relationships with staff and directors in community preschool settings, a critical step in the process of developing a Pre-K to 3rd Grade System. Her work in quality preschool classrooms and collaboration with committed teachers and directors allowed her the opportunity to facilitate the use of common curriculum and its implementation in community preschool settings. Donna currently is a Teacher On Special... More About Author

Kelli J. Leavell

Kelli J. Leavell started her career working as a special education teacher in the Bremerton School District. After several years in the classroom, she took her current position as a part time district Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA). As a TOSA, Kelli has had the opportunity to coordinate the district english language learner program. She also provides coaching and training focused on district-wide initiatives like Response to Intervention, Title I services, reading instruction and alignment, and classroom management. Kelli also helps coordinate several grants in partnership with state and private foundations. In addition to her work... More About Author

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