Region 10 Early Childhood
WINTER EDITION
Early Childhood Updates
Snuggled Up Together In Spirit
Reflecting This Holiday Season: In Support of Our Youngest Learners, Caregivers, and Educators
As a well-deserved break is drawing near, we want to wish you a very happy holiday season. Although it will likely be a bit different this year, we hope it is a season filled with your favorite activities. We also hope you rest, relax and rejuvenate. We continue to extend our commitment to provide service and solutions to our students, families, caregivers, and educators. We have provided some resources below that might provide support through these ever-changing times. We thank you for your dedicated service to our youngest learners as we hold on to the hope of a new year and look forward to seeing you in 2021.
Early Childhood Wakelet: Social Emotional Learning Resources
With warmest regards from the Teaching & Learning/Early Childhood Team
Be sure to sign up for our listserv: bit.ly/r10pkcontacts to stay connected.
A Few Reminders for Spring Planning
High-Quality Pre-K Teacher Requirements
This is a reminder that House Bill 3 put forth some additional requirements for Pre-K teachers. Districts serving eligible four-year-old students must employ prekindergarten teachers who are appropriately certified to teach early childhood (as per TEC Subchapter B, Chapter 21) and meet one of the following additional qualification options:
- Certified + Has a Child Development Associate Credential (CDA)
- Certified + Has a Montessori certification
- Certified + Has taught for at least 8 years in a nationally accredited childcare program
- Certified + Has a degree in ECE, Special Education-ECE or a non-ECE degree with 15 units of ECE-specific coursework
- Certified + Completion of TSR-Comprehensive Program
- Certified + Has completed 150 hours of professional development in ECE-specific topics, 75 of the 150 hours being in a mentoring/coaching relationship
- Certified + Completes 30 hours of ECE-specific professional development annually with 15 of the 30 hours being in a mentoring/coaching relationship until 150 hours are documented
Many of our Pre-K teachers are utilizing the professional development hours to satisfy this high-quality requirement. In these challenging times, we understand that finding time for professional development is more challenging this year than ever before. With that in mind, we are developing a robust slate of offerings (see our list of spring professional development opportunities). Additionally, we want YOUR continued input to help guide our offerings. We hope you will take a moment to complete this short survey to help us round out our spring planning.
(ECE Professional Learning Needs Assessment Survey Link)
For your reference, here is a link to the High-Quality Pre-K FAQ which included the teacher qualifications noted above: https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/HQPK_FAQs.pdf
NEWS/IMPORTANT DATES
Spring 2021 EC Professional Development
The asynchronous courses vary from three to six hours in professional development credit and span two to six weeks, depending on the course. Our other offerings are approximately 1 to 1.5 hours of synchronous delivery (live with consultants via Zoom), followed by 1.5 to 2 hours of asynchronous, self-paced work to be completed on your own. Any participant enrolled in a course with asynchronous work is responsible for submitting all self-paced work requirements by the specified due date(s).
Please see below for our January dates and follow this link to our full spring Early Childhood/Pre-K schedule. Stay up-to-date and check the link often as we add sessions to meet the moment.
Jan 11-Jan 25
Pre-K Engagement with Play Dough: Math (Asynchronous)
Session ID# 2637309
Jan 14
Pre-K Academy Cohort: Overview/SEL session #1 / 1 hr (Synchronous + 2 hr Asynch)
Session ID# 2637315
Jan 19
Spring Language & Communication1 hr (Synchronous) + 2 hr Asynch
Session ID# 2637275
Jan 28
PK Administrator Lunch & Learn (Synchronous)
Proclamation 2021: Instructional Materials Showcase - CURRICULUM MATERIALS ADOPTED/SBOE UPDATES
The State Board of Education met in November and finalized the list of for the adopted Prekindergarten Instructional materials for Proclamation 2021. Follow this link to the final list of State Board of Education adopted PK instructional materials.
Region 10 ESC was thrilled to host vendors with materials up for adoption during its live via Zoom Proclamation 2021: Instructional Materials Showcase.
Didn’t get a chance to join us live? You can still catch up on all of the action and information! All vendor presentations were recorded and are available to registered participants until January 31, 2021.
Need to register? Click here. (Session ID # 2636440).
The Showcase was filled with robust, exciting, and informative vendor presentations from those with Pre-K materials up for adoption. We are grateful for the work from all involved, and for the commitment to our youngest learners that was clear from presenters and educators alike.
Registered participants will receive communication with a link to recordings.
Now4Forever News
Save the Date!!
July 13-14, 2021
2021 Now4Forever Conference Updates
Planning for the 2021 Now4Forever Conference "Developing Dendrites for Diversity" is in full swing. Click the link above, then bookmark the page, for updates around he conference.
This year's conference will be July 13-14, 2021
We hope to see YOU there!
ADMINISTRATORS
Pre-K Administrator Lunch & Learn
The Pre-K Administrator Lunch and Learn sessions are designed for Early Childhood Administrators and will be held via Zoom or via a hybrid opportunity unless otherwise noted as we transition to face-to-face sessions with safety measures top-of-mind.
Upcoming sessions:
Jan 28
PK Administrator Lunch & Learn (Synchronous session)
Session ID# 2635975
The Zoom link to access the session will be sent on the morning of each event to the registered participants. We look forward to seeing you soon!
RESOURCES
Region 10 Early Childhood Wakelet Wave
Need timely and relevant resources for SEL, remote learning, bilingual education, caregiver support, ECSE, hands-on learning, COVID-19 and more? Catch the Region 10 Early Childhood Wakelet wave! Our robust Wakelet collections help support early childhood teachers, administrators, and caregivers with resources, practical solutions, and educational learning activities to enhance your high-quality early childhood programs. Each collection was curated for you, by you, and at the request of thousands of North Texas educators over the last six months. You asked, then we listened and developed our easy-to-access and ever-growing collections to support you where you need it most. Surf through all of the collections or simply a few. Share the resources with anyone who works with young children. Follow our collection and reach out to our team if you need specific resources or have a suggestion for another collection. https://wakelet.com/@R10EarlyChildhood
***Registration and Attendance Certificate Information!***
Pre-K Outcomes Framework: Building Blocks to Kindergarten Readiness
Why the Pre-K Outcomes Framework?
The Pre-K Outcomes Framework facilitates developmentally appropriate planning and high-quality instruction to provide a solid prekindergarten program which will prepare all children for success in kindergarten and beyond.
Re-Frame Learning
In this ever-changing times, we need to ensure those who educate our youngest learners have the tools they need to ensure success. The availability of an online platform in our evolving classroom is paramount as we consider our changing landscape and ability to meet instructional needs.
Have questions? Want to learn more?