ECERS-R & ITERS-ROrange County Quality

Improvement System OC QISBarbara Easton

Environment Rating Scales - ERS

Please download the materials found on the CD onto your office computer.

There is a checklist guide to assist you with printing the materials to be used with the classroom assessment and quality improvement process.

Training Materials

Orange County Quality Improvement System

Project goals include: To begin to align OC QIS with the state’s proposed QRS To support the existing rated centers in improving the

quality of their program Expand the usage of the Environment Rating Scales into

every classroom and program Implement an ongoing quality improvement process with

ERS Provide professional development opportunities Support teachers with acquiring and maintaining their

Child Development Teacher Permit Raise community awareness on the importance of high-

quality early care and education Support families in accessing community resources

3

CAEL QIS July 2010 http://www.cde.ca.gov/index.asp

Use “ERS Family” as the tool (ITERS-R, ECERS-R,

FCCERS-R)

Plus a tool(s) to measure teacher/child interactions

at Tiers 3,4 and 5

ERS ~ Outcomes for this training

Be familiar with the intent of ECERS-R and ITERS-R

Be able to understand the scoring process

Be prepared to complete a classroom self assessment

Understand how to complete a quality improvement plan

After today’s workshop, providers will:

Rating Scale Authors

Dr. Thelma Harms Dr. Debby Cryer Dr. Richard Clifford

Preschoolers43 itemsECERS-R Assessment scaleRecommended – All About ECESRS-R

ECERS-R

Infants and Toddlers39 itemsITERS-R Assessment ScaleRecommended – All About ITERS-R

ITERS-R

ERS Overview

Workshop Agenda: Materials

Rating Scale Book Score Sheet Profile Self- Assessment Process

Resources

Workshop Agenda: Process of the ECERS-R & ITERS-R

Purpose Hints to prep your scale Terms Scoring & practice Quality improvement

process

ERS Overview

What’s the point of all this?

Their future truly is in our

hands every day

Why is quality important?

• During the first five years of life, the majority of the architecture of

a child’s brain is determined (Shore, R. 1997), and early

childhood experiences set the stage for all future learning.

• Positive outcomes from investments in early childhood

education depend on the quality of these experiences.

Quality is paramount if preschool programs are to have an effect on children’s learning and provide the economic and financial benefits we

expect from our investment. High-quality preschool is much

more than custodial care; it provides children with meaningful

learning and play experiences guided by qualified teachers in an enriched educational environment.

Why is quality important?

Children with access to high quality preschool and child care

programs are more likely to acquire the skills they need to enter kindergarten ready to succeed and adapt to new

learning and social environments.

Why is quality important?

Research typically points to two

dimensions of quality:

Structural features Process features

What is quality?

Structural features in early learning settings

refer to the way in which the program is organized

or structured, such as staff-to-child ratio and teacher qualifications.

What is quality?

Process features refer to the

positive interactions

between children and others which

support experiences that

promote children’s learning and

development (Scott-Little, C.

2006).

What is quality?

In early care and education, the highest

features that affect quality focus largely around the teacher

and interactions - 6’s & 7’s

What are teachers?

Effective early childhood professionals have:

Strong background in education and child development and specialized early childhood competencies

Warmth and sensitivity to engage children

Foster positive interactions Work in partnership with

families Recognizing and respecting

cross-cultural differences

What are teachers?

Possess the communication skills to nurture self-confidence and appreciate a child’s holistic growth

Interact well with children, both individually and in small groups

Promote exploration in the classroom

Encourage questions and conversations

What are teachers?

An age-appropriate curriculum recognizing the psychological development of children and building on their instinctive

curiosity is important, but the way a teacher implements that curriculum is more significant.

What is curriculum?

Small group sizes and low

child to teacher ratios that allow for

individual student

attention are also hallmarks

of a high quality

program.

What is curriculum?

Learning environments should stimulate children’s cognitive

development, with environments divided into smaller activity-

based centers

What is curriculum?

Because children and providers deserve to be in quality environments and parents need the

assurance of knowing their children are safe and healthy and learning.

Why Use the Environment Rating Scales?

LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE DEFINITIONS…

WHO ARE THE CHILDREN?

Preschoolers36 months - Kindergarten

School-Agers1st grade & older

InfantsBirth – 11 months

Toddlers12 months – 35 months

WHAT DOES “ACCESSIBLE” MEAN?

Children can reach and are allowed to use age appropriate toys, materials, furnishings and/or equipment.

WHAT DOES “SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE DAY” MEAN?

For ECERS-R At least 1/3 of the time children are in attendanceSubstantial portion of the day is calculated based on what is observed, the posted daily schedule, plus what the teacher says is usually done during the rest of a full day program.

WHAT ARE “SOME” AND “MANY” MATERIALS?

This slide shows the requirements for “some” and “many” for Item 18, Music and Movement in the ECERS/ITERS-R. “Some” means at least two materials for use with each age group enrolled. “Many” means at least ten music materials with no fewer than three for each age group enrolled.

WHAT DOES “HANDWASHING” MEAN?

Everyone needs to wash their hands with running water, including infants.

Wet hands first and then add soap. Rub hands together for 10 seconds, minimum Hands must be dried by individual towels

that are not shared. Using wipes or antiseptic waterless washes

CANNOT be substituted for hand washing in scoring.

Glove use does not preclude handwashing.

Standards in the ERS are from:Caring for Our Children:National Health and SafetyPerformance Standards:Guidelines for Out-of-HomeChild Care, 2nd Edition

Health questions from the field…..

National Resource Center forHealth and Safety in Child Careand Early Education

http://nrckids.org/CFOC

WHAT DOES “WEATHER PERMITTING” MEAN?

Almost

every day,

unless there is

active

precipitation or

unhealthy

air quality.

The Score Sheet HandoutFill out the top of the

score sheet as if all of the children are there who could be there that day.

This way you can reflect on the materials and events for all of the children.

SCORING Read each indicator and check

Y, N, or N/A When there is a * be sure to go

over to the additional notes to get help in knowing how to score that item.

Terms are explained on P. 5 & 6 The All About book clarifies in

greater detail with photos of each item

Turn to the section in your handouts that has the Video Guide and Training Workbook selection.

The DVD has practice video that is used to practice scoring.

There is also a scoring scramble activity

Use the Scoring Practice handout to practice determining the correct score to circle

DVD Scoring Practice

Kodak moment These items and indicators are meant

to be available to all children every day, your assessment is a ‘snap shot’ of the daily experiences

Reminders – read the criteria, additional notes, and look for evidence

Score based only on what is asked and viewed. REALITY TV

Scoring – what you see is what you get

SCORING

Always start at the left under the 1 column

Ask your self this question each time:

“Is this true….. Yes or No”

SCORING

Under the 1 column, Inadequate:

All indicators must be marked NO to continue scoring.

If an item is marked YES, the score for that item will be – 1

Ask yourself, “ Is my classroom inadequate for this item”? Yes or No

SCORINGFor indicators under the 3,5,7 ratings, the goal is to earn and mark YES.

Scoring will stop once you mark a box a NO.

Continue checking all of the indicators through the 7 column so you can see your areas of strength.

Ask yourself, “ Is this indicator true?” yes… or not true, no.

SCORING If all are marked YES, keep going

If ½ or more of the indicators are marked YES, then you score ONE score below, or half way between the columns. Ex: Under the 5 column, you have 3 YES & 2 NO,

the score would be a 4

If less than ½ are marked YES, you score back to the prior column where you had all YES.

Ex: Under 5 - 2 YES & 3 NO, the score would be a 3

SCORING Goals of scoring are to

earn a score of 5 or higher for each item.

When scores are below a 5, you complete a quality improvement plan with ideas on how to score higher.

SCORING

We will practice scoring with the training DVD.

The scoring process is written in detail in your ECERS-R and ITERS-R books

SCORING Every item will need a score of Yes,

No, or N/AOnce all boxes have been scored,

decide on the number or score for that item (see Sample Score Sheet)

Put a circle around the score for that item

Once you have scored all of the items, you can calculate the average of each section or sub scale.

Each score and average will be transferred onto the program profile

Additional materials are included on the CD to help with your assessment

OCDE have a limited quantity of ECERS-R and ITERS-R Kits for loan that include:

All About ECERS-R and All About ITERS-R books – each item in pictures and details on how to score

ECERS-R and ITERS-R Training Videos – classroom environments and interactions to practice scoring

Call or email if you need assistance with your ERS

Materials and Support

Tips – Some develop a tip sheet that may be useful for you to: Make sure to observe key

items Age groups attending during

the observation Document materials for

different age groups Tally hand washing, books,

materials, etc… Capture dialog to meet

specific criteria – directions

ERS – Overview

Self AssessmentFind a system that works for you Some do one section at a time If there are 2 teachers in a

room, one can focus on scoring some items as long as program requirements are met

Be honest and commit to the improvement process

Quality Improvement Planning

Steps Read the ERS Self Study Process

Instructions Become familiar with the QIP

Excel Data materials

Quality Improvement Planning

Steps – Scores Complete Self-Assessment Score

Sheet Transfer scores into the QIP

EXCEL file All scores 5 and above indicate

those items that lead to high quality

Scores less than 5 require a QIP plan to improve

Quality Improvement Planning

Quality Improvement Planning Fill in your scores on the QIP

data excel page Put N/A into the QIP data page

where needed Transfer all scores less than 5

onto the QIP and complete the plan for each item

Instructions are found on the ERS Self Study Process page on how to complete the program profile, your assessment score sheets, and QIP

Training of Trainers Goals

Steps - Strategies Discuss and brainstorm ways to

improve the score for the item Evaluate and document which

items have barriers outside of your control

Write strategies for improvement you are able to complete

Have your director partner with you to document the improvements made

Return completed score sheet & QIP

Quality Improvement Planning

Time Line GoalsTrain your staff within 1 month of

either taking the ERS workshop or 1 month of receiving an ERS lending kit

Complete each classroom ERS assessment and score sheet by the following month

Complete each Quality Improvement Plan within 2 weeks of completing the classroom assessment

Email the QIP Excel file back to OCDE

Training of Trainers Goals

Jannell JonesOCDE

714-327-8195

jjones@ocde.us

Please call or email if we can assist you in any way.

Barbara EastonOCDE

714-327-8185beaston@ocde

.us

Please email your QIP Excel file upon completion.

Early Care and Education Providers are life long learners!

HOORAY FOR YOU!!!!