Curriculum Learning Communities
Our goals
To build on previous quality improvement initiatives. To empower programs and teachers by building
onsite capacity through innovative strategies, systematic training and support
To develop curriculum specialists and a pool of curriculum trainers in Miami-Dade
To improve fidelity and accountability for curriculum implementation through job embedded professional development
To assist centers in making progress in their quality rating/star level
Challenges
Many curriculum trainings teach content and participants can pass a test, but their teaching BEHAVIOR and SKILLS in classroom do not change significantly
For curriculum training to be most effective it must take place over time, provide opportunities to try out the information, and forums to come back and share successes with peers
No one in the field has figured out how to consistently, on a large scale, significantly improve the teaching skills of the workforce
Our Strategy
Combine: Best practices from the comprehensive,
research-proven early childhood curricula High/Scope Creative Curriculum
Best practices and lessons learned from the successful Ready Schools work and job-embedded master’s program
Best practices and lessons learned from other curriculum implementation trainings
Create a cost-effective, efficient, and scalable model for curriculum training
Learning Communities
Learning Communities
How?Through the creation of
curriculum learning communities early childhood program staff can: learn a new curriculum focus on teacher
practice share experiences create relationships
and gather adequate
support for implementation
Onsite Learning Communities - OLC
Participating early childhood programs will create their onsite learning communities of existing staff to support curriculum implementation
Trained peer facilitators (one Infant/Toddler, one Preschool) will guide the process as teachers learn and implement the curriculum
Onsite meetings and peer observations will be used to support implementation in the classroom
Curriculum Learning Community - CLC
Curriculum Learning Community - CLC
A group of 8-10 early childhood programs close to each other that are implementing the same curriculum be grouped into a Curriculum Learning Community to facilitate exchange and modeling of best practices
Curriculum Learning Coordinator: early childhood program that meets curriculum standards and will serve as host, coordinator and guide to other early childhood programs
Implementation will start with 4 CLCs - 2 North, 2 South, 2 High/Scope, 2 Creative Curriculum.
Peer Facilitators Learning Community - PFLC
Peer Facilitators Learning Community - PFLC
Peer facilitators will develop skills to facilitate curriculum implementation in their early childhood programs
Training up front and over time on: implementing learning
communities the particular curriculum used
Peer facilitators will form a PFLC and meet to share/give feedback on their experiences implementing the curriculum
Training
Training
Training and work between trainings to strengthen the different roles: orientation session for early childhood program directors Facilitating Learning Communities training for peer facilitators up front; 2-day
training deepening facilitation skills around month 6 curriculum overview for all teachers specialized curriculum training sessions for peer facilitators over 10-12 months on-site Learning Community and homework for staff to complete between
trainings PFLC will work together to assess what worked/didn’t and provide feedback to
trainer Peer facilitators will work with peers on-site on curriculum implementation
Roles and Responsibilities
All participating programs will: Embrace curriculum philosophy Understand requirements and expectations for
implementation Know that there will be challenges
Curriculum Learning Community (CLC) Coordinator
Participates in required trainings Hosts/facilitates Peer Facilitator Learning
Community (PFLC) meetings Models facilitation of learning communities Showcases learning experiences in own
center
Peer Facilitators
Participate in required trainings and in PFLC Engage in reflective practice, serve as role
model and provide curriculum support to peers
Lead the On-site Learning Community (OLC) as collaborative effort, provide constructive feedback, and support inquiry process of peers
Devote 5-10 hours per week with peers onsite
Roles and Responsibilities (cont.)
Center Director Participates in required trainings Nurtures and supports OLC by providing
time away from classroom and guidance/support to staff
Participates and motivates staff to participate in planned learning community activities
Teachers and Assistants
Participate in trainings Engage in reflective practice, seek and
provide support and feedback among peers; Participate in OLC with enthusiasm and
open mind and share new knowledge and experience;
Participate and contribute to planned learning community activities such as Learning Showcases.
Learning Showcases
All staff of all early childhood programs in a Curriculum Learning Community come together twice a year to showcase their learning/curriculum implementation and problem solve together
Learning Showcase
Learning Communities
The ELC and its partners will provide:
All training and orientation sessions; Curriculum materials; Learning materials to improve implementation; Incentives to participating centers to cover staff
time; Support of all learning communities to ensure
successful implementation and adjust strategies as needed;
Ongoing coordination and follow up.
Potential Participants
Quality Counts programs 4 and 5 star programs may serve as “coordinator” sites
Other Quality Counts programs United Way Director Institute participants ELC Curriculum recipients and participants in
training initiatives Programs in the existing Ready Schools feeder
pattern VPK providers
Implementation Timeframe
February Selection Process
March Overview Orientation Pre-test data collection for evaluation
April Initial Peer Facilitator Training Creative Curriculum and High/Scope Curriculum
training begins at four locations (2 North, 2 South)
Population served in first round
32-40 early childhood programs
160-200 teachers 64-80 Peer facilitators 3200-4000 estimated
children
Evaluation
Pre-post assessments using: ARNETT (infant classrooms) CLASS (preschool classrooms) PQA (High/Scope programs) Creative Curriculum Implementation Checklist
(Creative Curriculum programs) Program culture survey (all staff) Focus groups (directors, teachers and trainers)
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS