Angel Avery How can you incorporate language development into your infant room? Diapering/toileting times: Discuss what you are doing as you change a diaper. ‘I am changing your diaper. I going to remove your pants and take off the dirty diaper.” Count the number of snaps on the onesies. Talk about 3-D materials hanging above...Read More

By Lisa Mulliken Look around any infant or toddler classroom, and you will usually see a variety of equipment used to “contain” infants in sitting, standing, or back-lying positions. Containment equipment includes any device that restricts children’s movement in specific areas or situations. This can include a variety of items such as baby seats, exersaucers,...Read More

Erin DelRegno Evans “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.” Fred Rogers  Who doesn’t remember playing when they were young? Coming up with your own games, playing outside almost every day whether sunny, snowy,...Read More

Tracy Walter I have been asked by parents and new teachers I work with “When is the best time to read to children.” My answer is always, “Always and anytime!” There is always a time to read when it comes to children because there are many benefits of reading to and with children, and it...Read More

By Rochelle Deane The way you communicate with children teaches them how to communicate with others because children learn to communicate through everyday interactions and a language rich environment. Surrounding children with a rich language environment is important beginning in infancy. Talking, singing, reading, and offering many opportunities throughout their day, across all activities can...Read More

Leah Zabari Yesterday I was in a toddler classroom when two children slowly walked by me. One of the toddlers went up to the other and gently took hold of his friend’s hand. They proceeded to walk around the room together holding hands and interacting. It was such a sweet moment that was only captured...Read More

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

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...Read More

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...Read More

By Lisa Mulliken E-books are electronic books in digital form that can be read on a phone, tablet, computer or any other hand-held device. As e-books become more popular in classrooms and homes, there are many questions, and opinions, about using e-books instead of print books with children.Read More