Professional Growth for Early Childhood Educators

Collaboration with Families, Schools and the Community

• Helping Parents and Families during Times of Stress
• Getting to Know My Child: A Guide for My Child's Kindergarten Teacher
  This guide walks you through the process of sharing what you know about your child with the kindergarten teacher who will be working with your child in the new school year. Also included in the parent section of Transitioning to Kindergarten [Note: update link when content is moved to new site] are 36 engaging, skill-building activities for you to try at home.

In the Classroom

• Right from the Start: Transition strategies for developing a strong preK-3 continuum
  This study, funded through the Pew Charitable Trusts, highlights many field-tested measures to building an effective, collaborative environment between the pre-K and elementary communities. The strategies are based on a presentation made at AFT's 2011 TEACH Conference by P-3 expert Kristi Kauerz and her work at Harvard Graduate School of Education and the University of Washington.

• Transitioning to Kindergarten: A Toolkit for Early Childhood Educators
  This toolkit is a collection of materials to help early childhood educators implement strategies that facilitate the process and enhance children's transition to kindergarten.

• Teaching our Youngest, A Guide for Preschool Teachers and Child Care and Family Providers
  U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Early Childhood-Head Start Task Force, Teaching Our Youngest

Education and Training

• EC E-learning: A National Review of Early Childhood Education Distance Learning Program
  Distance learning, sometimes called e-learning, is the process of delivering instruction using electronic communication, such as video, audio, computer, multimedia communications, or some combination of these. This report attempts to explore distance learning in the early childhood field and provides a snapshot of the current distance learning landscape.

Licensing Requirements

• Individual State's Child Care Licensure Regulations, provided by the National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education.

English Language Learners

• Colorín Colorado

Special Needs Children

• AFT on Special Education
• Early Childhood Intervention