close

K-3 CLASS

CHILDDERSECERS-3ECERS-RFCCERS-3FCCERS-RICPInfant CLASSInternal AssessmentITERS-3ITERS-RK-3 CLASSNews and UpdatesPre-K CLASSROSIESACERS-USEL PQASPQAToddler CLASSTPITOSTPOT

Let’s Talk Quality! On-site Assessments

update concept

The Program Quality Assessment (PQA) Team is available to support you in the Internal Assessment Process (IAP) by completing an on-site assessment in your program. In addition to the Environment Rating Scales® (ERS) and Classroom Observation Scoring System® (CLASS®) this opportunity is available for all Program Observation Instruments (POIs) listed in the Keystone STARS Standards.

Read More
ECERS-3ECERS-RInfant CLASSInternal AssessmentITERS-RK-3 CLASSPre-K CLASSSACERS-UToddler CLASS

Finding Time for Classroom Observations

Preschool,Age,Boy,Yelling,About,What,Time,It,Is,,While

Natalie Grebe

A key component of a program’s sustained quality that may not receive consistent attention is the director’s observations of classrooms. It is best practice for directors to observe classrooms and review their findings with teachers. Most directors will say the biggest reason for not being able to do this as well as they would like is time. While room observations may be scheduled, the constant interruptions of staff shortages, ill children, broken equipment, and parents’ needs make this difficult to complete. Some teachers may feel uncomfortable with their director in the classroom for an extended period of time or get more nervous at the thought of being “watched.” By implementing a few ideas and staying consistent, both directors and teachers can benefit from these observations.

Read More
DERSECERS-3ECERS-RFCCERS-RInfant CLASSITERS-RK-3 CLASSPre-K CLASSROSIESACERS-UToddler CLASS

Fun times on a budget

hopscotch

By Regina Wright

I may be confessing my age, but let’s let our imaginations wander. Think about the time in your life when you were a child. What made your free time fun time? When I imagine, I think about long summer days and how I spent endless hours jumping rope. I had so much fun. Just one simple object, and of course friends, made my summers the best summers ever.

Read More
Infant CLASSInternal AssessmentK-3 CLASSPre-K CLASSToddler CLASS

Q-T Corner Installment #11

Background,Of,Abstract,Fintech,Financial,Technology,Transformation,Innovation,Like,Butterfly

The assessment team in PA is often asked if they have any tips to make meeting quality standards easier. Since they have experience visiting many programs in their professional careers, they have seen many programs employ strategies to make things easier, more efficient, and more effective. Implementing quality can be stressful or time consuming, but always worth it. So, this Q-T Corner moment aims at helping you along the way.

Read More
ECERS-3ECERS-RFCCERS-RK-3 CLASSPre-K CLASSSACERS-UToddler CLASSUncategorized

Finding Joy in the Cold

Happy,Funny,Marshmallow,Snowman,Are,Having,Fun,In,Snow

Leah Zabari

During the spring and summer months, I enjoy hiking, camping, and paddling on the lake. Last summer, I decided I was going to start visiting as many of the state parks in Pennsylvania as I could, explore hidden gems of our state, and start enjoying the outdoors even more than before. Each weekend I dedicated myself to finding new places to hike and if I wasn’t hiking, I was sitting under a tree with a book (yes, an actual book) or at the lake daydreaming while watching sail boats go by. I always feel better in my soul when I am outside breathing in the fresh air, feeling the warm sun on my face, and wandering through the woods. However, when the weather turns cold, my feelings of doing anything outdoors changes. I find myself feeling envious of hibernating bears during this time of year! This year, though, I made it a goal to brave the cold weather and continue my outdoor adventures.

Read More
K-3 CLASSSACERS-U

How Was School Today? Engaging School Aged Children in Richer Conversations

Elementary,School,Kids,And,Teacher,Sit,Cross,Legged,On,Floor

Aimee Currier

I kept falling into the same trap day after day. I would ask my children, “How was school today?” Their answer was always “fine.” At that point I’d pretty much lost them because in their mind, the question had been asked and answered and no further discussion was necessary. I decided to “get tricky” and ask them something more specific: “What did you learn (or do) at school today?” I imagine you can guess the answer to this question. Say it with me: “Nothing.”

Read More
ECERS-3ECERS-RFCCERS-RK-3 CLASSPre-K CLASS

Let’s Take a Walk!

Group,Of,Diverse,Kids,Playing,At,The,Field,Together

By Aimee Currier 

Are you looking for something different to do with the children in your care? Maybe you need a new way to reinforce or teach math concepts, language arts or nature/science. You might be hoping to find a fun way to get children involved in creating art. Believe it or not, a walk outside can help you to accomplish all these things. 

Read More
ECERS-3ECERS-RK-3 CLASSPre-K CLASSSACERS-U

Encouraging Learning by Asking Questions (a/k/a My Trivia League)

shutterstock_157594730 copy

By Amy Hoffman

I love trivia. I love learning random facts and attending trivia events, and I even developed a love of hosting a virtual trivia league last year; I’ll share more about that league later. Maybe my love of trivia is part of what made me enjoy teaching 3-year-olds. Not only did my students love to ask questions (and believe me, they REALLY loved asking), but they also loved hearing answers and finding out answers on their own.

Read More
1 2 3 4
Page 1 of 4