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Foundations Foundations Level I:Level I:An Introduction to An Introduction to

North Carolina’sNorth Carolina’sEarly Learning Early Learning

StandardsStandards

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Workshop participants Workshop participants will…will…

Hear an overview of Hear an overview of FoundationsFoundations Discover how early learning standards Discover how early learning standards

are uncovered in early childhood are uncovered in early childhood settingssettings

Explore ways to incorporate Explore ways to incorporate Foundations Foundations into the planning processinto the planning process

Learn how Learn how FoundationsFoundations supports supports developmentally appropriate practicesdevelopmentally appropriate practices

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Early Learning Standards Early Learning Standards are…are…

““Statements that describe Statements that describe expectations for the learning and expectations for the learning and development of young children development of young children across the domains….”across the domains….”

Council of Chief State School Council of Chief State School OfficersOfficers

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NC Standards Development NC Standards Development Process included…Process included…

Convening task forceConvening task force Review of research, literature, position Review of research, literature, position

statements, and other state standardsstatements, and other state standards Review of North Carolina documentsReview of North Carolina documents Consensus buildingConsensus building Review by practitioners, state & Review by practitioners, state &

national expertsnational experts Wide endorsementWide endorsement

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NC Standards Align NC Standards Align With…With…

Creative CurriculumCreative Curriculum Head Start Child Outcomes FrameworkHead Start Child Outcomes Framework High Scope Key ExperiencesHigh Scope Key Experiences Kindergarten Standard Course of StudyKindergarten Standard Course of Study NC Infant and Toddler StandardsNC Infant and Toddler Standards

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NC Standards were NC Standards were developed to…developed to…

Define a common set of expectationsDefine a common set of expectations Promote shared responsibilityPromote shared responsibility Facilitate communication with Facilitate communication with

familiesfamilies Guide instructional planningGuide instructional planning

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FoundationsFoundations = Guide = Guide BookBook

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Curriculum = MapCurriculum = Map

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IEPS, Goals, Objectives, IEPS, Goals, Objectives, Plans = Street Map & Plans = Street Map &

Specific DirectionsSpecific Directions

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The journey isThe journey ischildren’s development…children’s development…

Use Use FoundationsFoundations as a travel guide to as a travel guide to help you know where you and your help you know where you and your children are going, what you might children are going, what you might see, and what you might do;see, and what you might do;

Use your curriculum as the road Use your curriculum as the road map to help you know how to get map to help you know how to get there;there;

Use your IEP and other goals to Use your IEP and other goals to ensure that each and every child ensure that each and every child reaches their destination!reaches their destination!

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NC Early Learning NC Early Learning Standards SHOULD be Standards SHOULD be

used to…used to… Promote development of whole child Promote development of whole child Provide core set of expectations, while Provide core set of expectations, while

recognizing individual differencesrecognizing individual differences Emphasize importance of play Emphasize importance of play Support safe, caring learning Support safe, caring learning

environmentsenvironments Encourage and value family involvementEncourage and value family involvement Support appropriate teaching practicesSupport appropriate teaching practices Promote shared responsibility for Promote shared responsibility for

children’s care and educationchildren’s care and education

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NC Early Learning NC Early Learning Standards SHOULD NOT Standards SHOULD NOT

be used to…be used to… Stand in isolation from what we know about Stand in isolation from what we know about

childrenchildren Serve as an assessment checklist or evaluationServe as an assessment checklist or evaluation Limit experiences or exclude childrenLimit experiences or exclude children Set up conflicting expectations & requirementsSet up conflicting expectations & requirements Single out or blame anyoneSingle out or blame anyone Decide any child has “failed” in any wayDecide any child has “failed” in any way Emphasize child outcomes above program Emphasize child outcomes above program

requirementsrequirements

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NC Early Learning NC Early Learning Standards were Standards were

developed primarily for…developed primarily for… Early Childhood ClassroomsEarly Childhood Classrooms

• Title ITitle I• Exceptional ChildrenExceptional Children• Even StartEven Start• Head StartHead Start• More at FourMore at Four• Developmental DayDevelopmental Day• Smart StartSmart Start• Local Preschool ProgramsLocal Preschool Programs• Private Child CarePrivate Child Care

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Early Learning Standards Early Learning Standards will also be useful to…will also be useful to…

FamiliesFamilies AdministratorsAdministrators Child Care Resource & ReferralChild Care Resource & Referral College, University, and Community College, University, and Community

College Faculty & StudentsCollege Faculty & Students Licensing ConsultantsLicensing Consultants Kindergarten TeachersKindergarten Teachers Local Community MembersLocal Community Members

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Guiding PrinciplesGuiding Principles

Each child is unique Each child is unique Development occurs Development occurs

in predictable in predictable patterns with patterns with variability in variability in

““how” and “when”how” and “when” Many factors Many factors

influence a child’s influence a child’s developmentdevelopment

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Guiding PrinciplesGuiding Principles

Preschool-age children Preschool-age children are active learnersare active learners

Children with Children with disabilities learn best in disabilities learn best in inclusive settingsinclusive settings

Diversity in language Diversity in language and cultures is a and cultures is a valuable assetvaluable asset

It takes everyone It takes everyone working togetherworking together

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FoundationsFoundations is organized is organized by…by…

Approaches to Learning

Cognitive Development

Language Development& Communication

Health &Physical Development

Emotional &Social Development

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Each domain includes…Each domain includes…

Description & Description & ImportanceImportance

VignetteVignette SubdomainsSubdomains Widely Held Widely Held

ExpectationsExpectations StrategiesStrategies

Early Educators & FamiliesEarly Educators & Families

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Approaches to Learning Approaches to Learning

Pondering, Processing, and Applying Pondering, Processing, and Applying ExperiencesExperiences

Curiosity, Information Seeking, and Curiosity, Information Seeking, and EagernessEagerness

Risk Taking, Problem Solving, and FlexibilityRisk Taking, Problem Solving, and Flexibility Persistence, Attentiveness, and ResponsibilityPersistence, Attentiveness, and Responsibility Imagination, Creativity, & InventionImagination, Creativity, & Invention Aesthetic SensibilityAesthetic Sensibility

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Emotional andEmotional andSocial DevelopmentSocial Development

Developing a Sense of SelfDeveloping a Sense of Self Developing a Sense of Self with Developing a Sense of Self with

OthersOthers

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Health andHealth andPhysical Development Physical Development

Self CareSelf Care Safety AwarenessSafety Awareness Motor SkillsMotor Skills Physical Health Physical Health

and Growthand Growth

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Language DevelopmentLanguage Developmentand Communication and Communication

Receptive LanguageReceptive Language Expressive LanguageExpressive Language Foundations for ReadingFoundations for Reading Foundations for WritingFoundations for Writing

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Cognitive DevelopmentCognitive Development

Mathematical Thinking & Mathematical Thinking & ExpressionExpression

Scientific Thinking & InventionScientific Thinking & Invention Social ConnectionsSocial Connections Creative ExpressionCreative Expression

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Applications in Applications in the Real World…the Real World…

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Planning For QualityPlanning For Quality

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Early Educators might Early Educators might use use

FoundationsFoundations to… to… Create posters that explain goals being Create posters that explain goals being

addressed in learning centers through playaddressed in learning centers through play Identify strategies for use in meeting IEP goalsIdentify strategies for use in meeting IEP goals Share examples during family visitsShare examples during family visits Share examples with supervisors and Share examples with supervisors and

administratorsadministrators Highlight work samples in the portfolios of Highlight work samples in the portfolios of

childrenchildren Support self-assessment Support self-assessment Identify personal professional development Identify personal professional development

needsneeds

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Resources to Support Resources to Support QualityQuality

Copies can be purchased at 1-800-663-1250.Copies can be purchased at 1-800-663-1250.

PDF available on websitePDF available on website http://www.osr.nc.govhttp://www.osr.nc.gov

Click on Educator Resources; click on Click on Educator Resources; click on Foundations; Foundations; click on click on downloads.downloads.

Foundations ToolboxFoundations Toolbox http://http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~scpp/pdfs/DPI_toolbox_prototype.pdfwww.fpg.unc.edu/~scpp/pdfs/DPI_toolbox_prototype.pdf

Office of School Readiness websiteOffice of School Readiness website http://www.osr.nc.govhttp://www.osr.nc.gov