Coach's
Column

Our recent training with Dr. Peg Oliveira from the Gesell Program in Early Childhood Yale Study Center emphasized "Learning to Play, Playing to Learn." Together, we learned how play supports children's cognitive development and explored play as a spectrum. We examined how play fosters learning and peer connection. Finally, we uncovered the benefits of play on executive functioning skills in early childhood education classrooms.

To learn more about the Gesell at Yale Program in Early Childhood and the work Dr. Oliveira is doing, click here:

Gesell at Yale

We are looking forward to hearing the success stories of how you have used our follow up technical assistance and see how your students have responded to those resources. If any of you need additional assistance in implementing the materials we are available for you in enhancing your practice.

To continue our Community of Practice (CoP) series, we will be having a very special Learning to Play, Playing to Learn CoP with our very own early childhood education coach Amanda Gooch. This three part, deeper look at play-based learning, will foster a community of practice for educators' growth through collaboration. We will share and reflect upon personal experiences as both learners and teachers to connect theory and practice. These sessions will encourage educators to explore understandings of what it means to be a learner and a teacher in early childhood classrooms.

Our team of Early Childhood Education Coaches are here to help you concentrate on child engagement and work as a collaborative team to enhance your practice. We continue to work on ways in which to create child led activities, be flexible in our plans within those activities, and make an effort to emphasize children's interest which facilitates learning. We are on hand to help demonstrate and model best practices in early childhood education and support you in your classrooms.

Wishing you all the best,

Amanda, Todd, and Jensen