The Early Childhood Education panel will explore the following questions:
Why is early childhood education important?
High-quality early childhood education services build cognitive, social, and emotional skills necessary for healthy growth and development.
High-quality early childhood education services help ensure that all children arrive at kindergarten ready to learn.
High-quality care and early childhood education services are cost-effective investments over the long term
What does high-quality early childhood look like?
Research-based curriculum and assessment
Low teacher-child ratio
A safe physical environment that promotes all of the domains of development
Age and developmentally appropriate toys and materials
A balance of child-initiated and teacher-initiated activities
Family engagement
What are the systemic components of high-quality early
childhood programs?
Professionalized workforce
Strong professional development system
Formalized processes for family involvement
Child-centered national or provincial early learning guidelines
Focus on research-based practices
Availability of high-quality services for children with special needs and dual-language learners
How do you successfully combine these components in both public and private settings to benefit young children?
Examples of model programs
Brenda Leger
Brenda Leger is the Director of Strategic Initiatives for Teaching Strategies. Ms. Leger has extensive experience in the field of early childhood education and credits her many years of classroom experience as the foundation for her practical view of the field. She has been a child care teaching assistant, PreK teacher, kindergarten teacher, and Special Education teacher, and has also been the Principal Coordinator for an integrated early childhood program. Before joining Teaching Strategies, Ms. Leger was the National Director of Early Childhood for an international publishing company. She holds a Master of Science in Growth and Development, Early Childhood Studies, and a Masters of Science in Early Childhood Special Education.
Audience
Educational councils and authorities in the region, Policy makers,
Parents, Delegates, Teachers, Administrators |
