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Message from Deputy Chancellor Dr. Kara H. Ahmed
Dear Early Childhood Education Community,
During my recent visits to schools and programs, it has been so exciting to continue seeing the intentional integration of literacy and math using The Creative Curriculum while teaching teams conclude the First Six Weeks and launch the Ball study!
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This was highlighted in District 26, led by Superintendent Danielle Giunta, where Principal Paul Didio supports teaching teams at P.S. 159 to help children learn that print has meaning by seeing it in their environment and using it naturally in their play. For example, one teacher used the word “velocity” while talking with a child about the increasing speed of a toy car going down a ramp – an instructional strategy which promotes children’s learning of rich and interesting words, fostering their vocabulary development.
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At Rainbow Child Development Center in Little Neck, owners Christine Ye and Jing Ye ensure children are consistently engaged in authentic and meaningful learning experiences! Education Director Melissa Perlmutter supports teaching teams with building children’s literacy development through shared writing experiences, such as recording children’s verbal responses to the Question of the Day, engaging children in “What Do We Want to Know?” and "What Do We Want to Find Out?" as it relates to the current study, and documenting children’s dictations regarding their own work. Literacy experiences for children are reflected in both English and Mandarin, honoring and valuing the home languages of children and their families.
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In Brooklyn, I had the privilege of visiting Einstein Daycare, led by Education Director Delores Mitchell and Assistant Education Director Nyanna Griffith, where the Ball study was fully underway! Teaching teams introduced children to significant literacy and math concepts by integrating the study into all interest areas, including the transformation of the dramatic play area into a sporting goods store and bowling alley. Children were encouraged to investigate the physical attributes of all types, sizes, and textures of balls at the "bowling alley,” engage in pretend play by selling and purchasing different balls at varying prices at the “store,” and make patterns with pictures of balls through a learning experience created by a teacher and included in the toys and games area.
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 |  | In District 18, led by Superintendent Celeste Douglas, children at P.S. 235 had many invitations to math and literacy learning, such as when they had the opportunity to make predictions about which ball would bounce the highest and roll the farthest, tallying their responses! Principal Nicola Grant supports teaching teams in her school community to facilitate individual and group learning experiences through the implementation of the Balls study. While Principal Grant’s teaching teams also created a “bowling alley,” they decided to turn their dramatic play area into a “concession stand” where taking food orders and selling popcorn to their friends and teachers was not only fun and engaging but full of learning! Children were encouraged to practice their writing skills by taking customer orders and were supported in developing mathematical skills by sharing the cost of each item and managing payment in the dramatic play area. There were no discounts at P.S. 235’s concession stand, as even Superintendent Douglas was charged the full price of $5.00 when she bought popcorn!
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In District 10, Superintendent Maribel Torres-Hulla supported early childhood leaders in facilitating the Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) process, engaging in a problem of practice, and cultivating strategies that develop children’s learning! I had the honor of participating in Principal Jacqueline Baker’s ILT session at the Rose Hill Pre-K Center. The team, comprised of leaders, teachers, and families, conducted brief walkthroughs in each classroom, focusing on the ways teaching teams are increasing children’s peer-to-peer interactions and natural opportunities to learn vocabulary through parallel talk, self-talk, and turn and talk, through the implementation of the Balls study.
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These promising practices and more are included in this resource, which can be shared across your programs and schools as you see fit, to promote and enhance literacy for all children. For additional highlights of our colleagues featured in this issue, watch this video! | |
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Thank you for your leadership, always. Enjoy today and enjoy the work.
In Partnership,
Kara H. Ahmed, Ed.D.
Deputy Chancellor, Early Childhood Education
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