PreK Tips By Instructional Steps
Relationships As The Active Ingredient
- Toothpaste theory [link]
- FB live broadcast [link]
- 10 strategies [pdf]
- Relationships Wheel [png/PPT size]
"What's At Your Core?" [blog] and core values activity [pdf]
How do I change the mindset of my staff [blog]
We have two jobs...offering lifelines to help children "get on board" [blog] [png]
Why children struggle [table 3.2]
Red Train Has Left the Station [blog]
Reframing challenging behaviors in Kinder [Stuart S. blog]: A blog post by Stuart Shanker explaining "challenging behaviors" in Kindergarten classrooms. He describes children transitioning from infants into responsible young children as teachers and parents are questioning how we can help children meet school expectations.
Golden Rule Resources
What children really need [podcast] download [pdf]: For this podcast, Kristie Pretti-Frontczak, Ph.D. discusses the differences between a need and a want to support you child's development. The three main themes are on what we think a child wants/needs, recognizing the differences between a want and a need, and younger children exposed to early childhood stressors (Length: 17 minutes, 22 seconds).
Practice Point about stressors [pdf]: Based upon the work of Stewart Shanker and the Mehrit Center: Five Primary Domains of Stress from Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child; and The National Child Traumatic Stress Network, this handout describes common stressors for young children, as well as an alphabetical summary of stressors teachers may be able to address through classroom design and instruction.
5 Domains - 3 resources:
- [pdf 1]: The Self-Regulation Strategies in the 5 Domains provide strategies for you to use with your child to improve self-regulation. This checklist consist of these domains: Biological, Emotion, Cognitive, Social, and Prosocial (6 pages).
- [pdf 2]: Dr. Stuart Shanker highlights on The Shanker Self-Reg Framework on improving self-regulation. This article provides key points describing each of the 5 domains of self-regulation. (5 pages)
- [pdf 3]: The 5 Domains of Self-Regulation provides examples of stressors for each domain (4 pages).
- Infographics [link]
- Examples of how to reduce when it comes to transitions [blog]
- Tantrums vs. meltdowns [link]
Reducing stressors [pdf]: A "Brain Architects" Guide For Reducing ECE Stressors is an informational guide for you to communicate with your children to reduce signs of stress (1 page).
10 strategies for helping children with autism to self-regulate [pdf]: Barbara Avila from the Synergy Autism Center presents 10 way to reduce stressors for curiosity to thrive in children with autism with examples such as forming partnerships and allowing processing time for your child.
Wait for green before you go - Podcast 37; Downloadable infographic [pdf]
Seeing the child behind the behavior [podcast; pdf]: In this Pre-K Teach and Play podcast episode, Laura Fish and Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak share how early educators can broaden their perspective around the “causes” for challenging behavior. You will learn how to discover the “why” behind a child’s behavior and how to align teaching practices with children’s basic needs and drives (Length: 59 minutes, 39 seconds).
- Hug the monkey [pdf]: "Hug the Monkey" is an exercise derived from Dr. Rick Hanson for children to feel recognition, inclusion, respect and love and talking through their feelings (1 page).
- Pet the lizard [pdf]: "Pet the Lizard" is an exercise derived from Dr. Rick Hanson for children to feel safe when they feel scared. This includes a calm and happy lizard coloring page for your child (2 pages).
Planned Ignoring
Understanding the red, green, & blue zones w/Dr. Dan Siegel [article]: From Dr. Dan Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson's book "Yes Brain", you will learn how saying "yes" encourages children to explore and build resiliency. and children shut down as they are told "no". The article also includes an interview with Dr. Dan Siegel explaining his book and his approach to effective parenting (Length: 35 minutes, 6 seconds).
Intro video for TBP [YouTube]: Young children are learning how to self-regulate and be in touch with their emotions during early education. Join Kristie Pretti-Frontczak, Ph.D. to discuss "teaching before the peak", the optimal time for learning for children leading to academic success (Length: 3 minutes, 55 seconds).
Longer video (all three parts) of TBP [YouTube]: Join Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak to hear an overview on "teaching before the peak", "weathering the storm", and "reconnecing afterwards" (Length: 15 minutes, 29 seconds).
TBP handout (shareable) [pdf] - This is a diagram on "teaching before the peak" showing the optimal time for teaching and learning and when not to teach children.
Weathering the storm: Join Kristie Pretti-Frontczak, Ph.D. and Barbara Avila as they discuss "Weathering the Storm" and how to de-escalate the troubling behaviors in early childhood. (Length: 5 minutes, 14 seconds)
- Audio excerpt & transcript
- Full length conversation [audio]: Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak, Ph.D. join with Synergy Autism Podcast to discuss how to encourage a child to join guide directed activities (Length: 31 minutes, 22 seconds).
- Weathering the storm tips (starts with step 4 because 1-3 are before the storm): The continuation of "Weathering the Storm" Step 4 "Going Silent" and Step 5 "Making the Bid to Engage". Both topics explain what happens when a child is having trouble self-regulating and how you can de-escalate the behavior and regain calm with the child.
- Biting Brophy tip sheet: Barbara Avila and Kristie Pretti-Frontczak, Ph.D. provides tips on how biting is a way of communication for children who want to express their emotions instead of be perceived as a negative behavior. This tips sheet can help you gauge their actions and decrease biting (2 pages).
- Drop to the floor Daniel tip sheet: Barbara Avila and Kristie Pretti-Frontczak, Ph.D. provides tips on how to communicate with children who use "drop to the floor" as a way of communicating their feelings. This tips sheet can guide your observations with how to understand your child and step on improving their self-regulation skills (2 pages).
This video is part of a series titled, "Every child is a triangle." And in this video, Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak explores why we start instruction with knowing "what's your what." Length: 19 minutes, 49 seconds
Three types of outcomes (aka three types of "what"): Common, Targeted, and Individualized. Read Chapter 3 from our Blended Practices text to unpack each.
- Sorting outcomes handout [pdf]
- Starting with “what”: Samples of sorted outcomes [pdf]
- What vs. how and sorting needs [audio]
For those wanting to go deeper, check out this podcast on what comes before counting.
Scope vs. Sequence
- Video where Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak describes the differences between scope and sequences in early childhood education. You will learn about scope and sequences and how those shape educators on what, when, and how they teach [video] (Length: 14 minutes, 33 seconds).
- Podcast 26: Three Sequences for Designing and Delivering Meaningful Experiences [link]: For this podcast, Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak explores how you can understand children go from point A to point B in regards to scope and sequence element of curriculum framework. She discusses three sequences: developmental, pedagogical, and logical sequencing (Length: 23 minutes, 44 seconds).
- Podcast 31: 6 Reasons Why Pacing Guides (and other ploys to undermine teachers) Won’t Improve Student Outcomes [link]: For this podcast, Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak provides 6 reasons on why pacing guides and means to standardized curriculum does not young children succeed (Length: 20 minutes, 44 seconds).
Scope Resources
- Go to scope resource [crystal ball blog]
- Go to resources for scope [video]
- "Tier 1" or Common outcomes: Sample Big Ideas for Early Learning Glossary™ [pdf]
Rubrics and Trajectories
- Play skill rubric [pdf]
- Interaction with objects [pdf]
- Self-Regulation rubric [pdf]
- Directions for Using Self-Reg Rubric [pdf] dynamic version [google DRIVE]
- Writing rubric [pdf]
- Recall progression [pdf]
- Math learning trajectories [login]
- 1st time? Register using just an email account
- Follow the prompts, creating an account is free and you don't have to enter child data
- Once you are logged in, you'll need to create a "class" by age group to see the associated trajectories. I've created two classes so I can see PREK and K trajectories
- You'll also need to put a start and stop date. These dates don't matter because you aren't entering real child data. I used September through May.
- Again, even though you say, "Save class & Add students" you don't have to add any child or student data.
- Click learning trajectories to see the skills and Resources to see alignment with TS GOLD.
Struggling to stay in the green zone?
- Go back to Step 4.
In the green zone but still struggling?
- ZIG ZAG Resources
Struggling but do you think it is an IEP goal/individualized outcome?
Observation Guide (3 tenets of the ECE {R}evolution) [pdf]
Play
- Links to tons of resources on the power of play [blog]
- Articles
Kristie's blog
Kristie's podcast
Kristie's press kit
Healthy Mind Platter
- Healthy Mind Platter image and description by Dr. Dan Siegel [link]
- Poelmans, Steven & Rock, David & Siegel, Daniel & Payne, Jessica. (2012). The Healthy Mind Platter. Neuroleadership Journal. 4. 1-23.
- Healthy Mind Platter (twist on learning centers)[podcast]; download [pdf]; Version for families [pdf]
P-3 Divide Resources