OEL P-3 Newsletter

From the New York State Education Department Office of Early Learning

Spring 2023

Welcome to the OEL Quarterly Newsletter
2023 P-3 Summer Institute
Classroom Spotlight
News from the Office of Cultural Education
Best Practices
Helpful Resources/Professional Development

Welcome to the Office of Early Learning's Quarterly Newsletter

This newsletter will focus on Prekindergarten through 3rd Grade initiatives from the New York State Education Department's Office of Early Learning.

We will highlight best practices, exciting news from the field, and resources to help districts support their students.

Our office would love to hear from you! What would you like to see here in the future? Please click here to complete a quick survey and let us know how we can help.

2023 P-3 Summer Institute

The New York State Education Department is pleased to announce the 2023 P-3 Summer Institute on August 17 at the NYS Cultural Education Center in Albany. The Institute is planned in partnership with the NYS Council on Children and Families. This one-day session will be open to teachers, specialists, and administrators responsible for designing programs for students along the P-3 Continuum. Session topics will support educators in creating a learning environment that reflects developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate practices and instruction. Space will be limited at this free event and registration information, including the agenda, will be available in May.

Save the Date image for P-3 Summer Institute August 17 2023

Classroom Spotlight

The Office of Early Learning is looking for best practices from districts or classrooms to spotlight throughout the year. If you are interested in sharing a success story in any of the following areas, please submit your story via email to the Office of Early Learning at oel@nysed.gov.

Building classroom community
Differentiated instruction
P-3 curriculum continuum
Diversity, equity and inclusion in the early elementary classroom
Anything you are excited to share as a district!

You will need to include the following information in your submission:

Subject: Classroom Spotlight Submission
District Name
Teacher Name/Grade Level
Photo of the best practice in action
1-2 paragraphs discussing the best practice

We look forward to hearing from you!

NYS Talking Book and Braille Library

The Talking Book and Braille Library (TBBL) is part of a network of libraries that provides accessible materials to students who have low vision, no vision, or a physical or print disability that can be temporary or permanent. TBBL is an invaluable resource which offers materials in a variety of formats and helps to create a sense of community for its patrons. It serves nearly all of New York State with the exception of New York City and Long Island. Service to these areas is provided by the Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library.

Free digital talking and print braille books and equipment, designed for younger readers, are loaned from the library. They can be mailed to the school or home, through the United States Postal Service at no cost. A free downloading service that can be used with a PC, Android, Apple iOS device, or a recent version of the Kindle fire is also available. For additional information regarding how to apply for this service or to learn about other related resources, please visit the Talking Book and Braille Library by clicking here.

The new State Library Youth Services site went live in early January. This site provides resources and guidance to librarians who serve children and young adults all across New York State and provides information on a wide variety of Youth Services and Early Literacy initiatives.

Resources available on the site include the Family Literacy Calendar which features One More Story with two new e-books and activities each day. Please take some time to look over the various resources available on the Youth Services site.

apple on books with text that says let's learn

Let’s Learn, The WNET Group’s daily instructional learning series for children ages 3 to 8, launches new episodes beginning Saturday, April 1 on public television stations nationwide (check local listings) and letslearn.org.

Let’s Learn serves as a supplemental resource to support children’s learning at home and in the classroom. Taped by a dynamic and diverse group of educators, episodes offer age-appropriate content focusing on foundational reading and writing skills, literacy, math, science, social studies, arts and social-emotional learning.

Questions about any NY State Library Youth Services initiatives, projects, or resources? Contact Sharon Phillips, Youth Services Program Manager, at nyslyouth@nysed.gov.

PBS Kids City Island

City Island is a living city where the objects are people. The show centers around civics. In addition to civics, the series touches on other related aspects of the Social Studies framework, such as geography and economics.

City Island videos and activities can be viewed on the PBS Learning Media website here .

WMHT and PBS have curated even more FREE, standards-aligned videos, interactives, lesson plans, and more just for New York teachers on the PBS Learning Media Website.

Visit our Data Website

NEW Office of Early Learning Data Website and Fast Facts

The Office of Early Learning has created this resource in an effort to provide timely access to prekindergarten data. Typical data requests include counts of prekindergarten children served and counts and types of prekindergarten programs providing such services. This resource may be useful to school districts’ Boards of Education, advocacy groups, researchers, educators, students, and their families. Users are also encouraged to access provided resources and research which share the long-term effects and benefits of an early start for children in prekindergarten.

Office of Early Learning Video Series

This video series is designed to support educators in creating quality learning environments for young children in Prekindergarten through 2nd Grade classrooms. They illustrate how effective teachers can plan and implement a classroom design that supports children of all abilities and language backgrounds in their early learning stages of development.

elementary students doing a STEM activity

Access the Video Series by Clicking Here

News and Updates

Community Based Organization Staffing Qualifications Memo
Prekindergarten Fast Facts and Data Website
Register here for the UPK Fiscal Webinar Series - May 3, 2023 @ 3:30PM

Questions?

The Office of Early Learning provides technical assistance to districts regarding Prekindergarten - Grade 3 instruction and best practices. Our office also answers questions regarding UPK funding and program implementation. You can contact us at oel@nysed.gov or (518) 474-5807.

Erik Sweet

Executive Director, Office of Early Learning

Lori Smart, Supervisor

Tanya Amodio-Kovacs, Samantha Chobot,

Lauren Cosamano, Paulette Coppin,

Carly Feldman, Noelle Lake, Sean Murphy,

Eric Feml-Nelsen, Jason Gish, Christine Lyons,

Terry Onofrio, Brandon Orszulak, Christina Ryan,

Tina Rose-Turriglio, Michelle Sidoti,

Zachary Snyder, Vicky Woods