On this page we suggest national and local articles of interest to the early-care field as well as resources for both parents and providers. If there's an article or resource you'd like to see included, please email the link to cferguson@provplan.org.
Good early childhood teachers have a significant impact on adult outcomes
A new study found that students with better teachers learned more in kindergarten -- and earned more as adults.
Cuts to child care subsidy thwart job seekers
State cuts in child care (across the country) are forcing many low-income parents to forgo work, and threaten to undo the progress of welfare changes enacted in 1996. Peter Goodman of The New York Times explored this issue in a story that appeared May 23, 2010.
Play is critical to early learning
In a Boston Globe column, two distinguished authors decry the push toward early rote learning in proposed common core education standards and the effect on kindergartners, especially in poor communities: “Meaningful learning in young children does not come from rote skills . . . It is through play that children develop the foundation for cognitive concepts, problem solving skills, and critical thinking which is essential for later academic learning. Play generates imagination and creativity, planning and self-regulation. It helps children develop a love for learning.”
Study evaluates child care in Rhode Island
On April 19, The Providence Journal ran an article, based on a study published by RI Kids Count, on how the state's child-care programs measure up in terms of quality.
A reason to like New Jersey
Two articles from American Educator put the Garden State in the preschool spotlight. One takes an in-depth look at a successful childcare center in Perth Amboy, and the other, a persuasive argument for expansion of government support for early care, features a brief history of recent changes in New Jersey.
Help the kids – it’s good for the Army
People are beginning to recognize that early learning programs can contribute to a robust economy. But this column from the Houston Chronicle makes the argument that it's also a matter of national security.
Obama seeks historic investment in early education
Under the headline “Administration Reverses a Decade of Indifference,” highlights of President Obama’s budget plans for early education are summarized briefly by CLASP, an organization that develops and advocates for policies aiming to improve the lives of low-income people.
“The largest federal child care and early education programs are the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and Head Start . . . The budget proposes a $1.6 billion permanent increase for CCDBG to provide assistance for 235,000 children . . . the single largest increase . . . in more than 20 years. This important investment could not come at a more urgent time . . ."
Designing a curriculum that teaches what truly matters
"Our current educational approach — and the testing that is driving it — is completely at odds with what scientists understand about how children develop during the elementary school years and has led to a curriculum that is strangling children and teachers alike...The first step to literacy is simply being immersed, through conversation and storytelling, in a reading environment; the second is to read a lot and often."
Susan Engle, director of the teaching program at Williams College, makes this case in an op-ed that appeared Feb. 1, 2010, in The New York Times.
Female teachers' math anxiety affects girl students in the early grades
Women teachers' anxiety about math may undermine girls' confidence in learning the subject and decrease their performance in fields that depend on a grasp of math fundamentals, such as science and engineering, research at the University of Chicago shows. See the full story in the Chicago Tribune.
N.J. governor creates Council for Young Children
Gov. John Corzine of New Jersey started 2010 by signing an executive order creating the New Jersey Council for Young Children, to coordinate early childhood programs in the state and maintain compliance with federal guidelines. A report in newjerseynewsroom.com explains that creation of the council is needed before the state can apply for a federal Early Learning Challenge grant. Among the council’s responsibilities: “Assessing the capacity and effectiveness of two- and four-year public and private institutions of higher education in the state to support the development of early childhood educators.”
A boost for Early Head Start
In Rhode Island, only 4 percent of eligible children younger than 3 are being served by the federal Early Head Start program, which offers health services and parenting support to low-income families. The program targets the development of our youngest children and strives to encourage a nurturing relationship between parent and child. Dozens more children will soon benefit from the program, thanks to federal stimulus funds. See the full Providence Journal report.
States ineffective in targeting obesity
If we don’t promote healthy eating habits in our children, who will? Researchers working at Harvard University compiled a list of state regulations for child-care facilities pertaining to healthy eating and physical activity, with a particular concern for childhood obesity. Each state was graded on how its rules measured up to the model and the results weren’t pretty. Click here for Rhode Island’s grade and a useful list of healthy standards.
Developing empathy
In a recent email blast, Chris Amirault, director of the Brown-Fox Point Early Childhood Education Center, recommended this "brief, powerful article," which lays out the basic research and best practices for developing empathy among the under-three set.
Helping your child become a reader
Teaching methods go in and out of style but some activities are effective year after year. A recent Internet search turned up a page from 2003 with summer literacy activities for pre-K children.
The tips about what to do at the beach might have to wait, but others are useful anytime. Here’s one:
At the grocery store, teach your child a new “secret language” in which the first sound of each item is dropped. Corn becomes “orn” and juice becomes “uice.” You and your child can share the secret as you hunt for items on your list. (If you’re wondering how that helps a child learn to read, there’s also a brief section called “What does it take to become a reader?”)
The page, from the Michigan Department of Education, is called Family Fundamentals for Summer Reading.
What are they thinking?
For parents who might wonder what they can do to help their children in the first few years, the Zero to Three website has a feature called “Nurturing Brain Development.” A chronological series of brief articles, available in English and Spanish, gives an overview of what infants and toddlers are thinking and how to respond to them:
“Sixteen-month-old Carlos wants juice . . . He is sitting in his high chair banging his cup and pushing the cartons of milk away when his mom, Marta, tries to pour some for him . . . Marta takes Carlos out of the high chair and announces lunch is over. Carlos marches to the refrigerator and starts banging on the door. Marta is about to tell him to stop banging, but instead asks, “Do you want to open the refrigerator?” Carlos smiles . . . “Yes!” Marta opens the door and Carlos points to the drinks on the shelf. Marta then points to each carton and asks, “Is this what you want?” Carlos shakes his head no until he gets to the juice. Then he jumps around and says, ‘juju!!’ Marta pours him juice as he happily plops himself on her lap.”
The series is available for reading, copying or free publication but requires a quick registration.
Babies are readers, too
Reading is Fundamental, the nation’s largest children’s literacy organization, has a Web page for parents of babies, toddlers and preschoolers. It includes lots of information about how parents can help develop literacy skills in fun ways with even the youngest children.
Tips for parents
Kidinfo.com is a great resource for Rhode Island parents. Short articles offer ideas for family fun and tips for common parenting dilemmas. Its event calendar is chock-full of affordable, kid-friendly programs taking place around the state.
