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Update from the Executive Director:
Early Learning, the Arts, & Cultural Education
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Dear colleagues,
Being involved in the arts at a young age has opened pathways for me that I still travel. You never know how the arts will affect each individual, but those possibilities cannot happen without a dedication to providing arts and cultural experiences to all New Yorkers at the earliest ages. The Office of Early Learning and Office of Cultural Education are excited to release new Prekindergarten to Grade 3 guidance developed in collaboration across both offices, to promote programs and learning experiences rooted in the arts and humanities. Cultural Connections: A Framework and Resource Kit for P-3 Learning includes guidance on how to plan and offer cultural education experiences to students, in the classroom, or on a trip to a local museum, nature preserve, or to see a musical performance. This guidance provides examples for how to find one of New York’s 4,600 cultural institutions, partner with a museum, or learn about how to plan an in-classroom arts experience. All guidance is aligned to the New York State Learning Standards and includes links to helpful online resources.
Stay tuned in the coming months for additional resources to support Cultural Connections, such as a statewide webinar and session at the upcoming Navigating PreK Day in May. Join us to work together and bring our youngest learners the best possible artistic and cultural experiences our great state has to offer!
Erik Sweet
Executive Director-Office of Early Learning
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NYC Early Childhood Strings Pathways
The Offices of Early Learning and Standards and Instruction recently had the opportunity to visit the 3K Early Childhood Strings Pathways pilot program at PS 32 in Bronx, NY. The primary goal of this program is to increase equity and access by providing free, classroom embedded violin instruction comparable to opportunities offered by tuition-based, private institutions.
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Through this program, students begin playing violin at age three and receive both group and individual lessons. Violin instruction is offered during the school day and embedded directly into the students' classroom experience throughout the school year. We're excited to see how this pilot program continues to grow and inspire even more students in the years ahead!
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P-3 Literacy Instructional Best Practices Guidance
The NYSED P-3 Literacy Instructional Best Practices are now available on the Office of Early Learning website. The P-3 Literacy Best Practices were released in a statewide webinar event on January 7, 2025.
A recording of the webinar, a Frequently Asked Questions document, as well as information about the attestation process, will be made available in the coming weeks.
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Free K-5 Platform for Educators and Learners from PBS
The Skills Enrichment website is a fun, personalized learning experience with trusted resources from PBS. The games and videos included are packaged into a single, easy-to-use platform to support teacher instruction and allow students to close learning gaps.
This free website emphasizes Math, English, and Social and Emotional Well-Being lessons for K-5 that align with New York State learning standards.
Skills Enrichment was developed in partnership by PBS stations WCNY and WPBS to present existing learning resources in an easy-to-use platform for educators.
Educators can access these resources by signing up at PBS Skills.
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P-3 Instructional Toolkit Webinar Release
The Office of Early Learning is excited to release a series of recorded webinars on the P-3 Instructional Approach. P-3 alignment aims to enhance coordination from PreK through 3rd Grade and beyond by ensuring horizontal and vertical consistency across grades and systems.
The P-3 Instructional Approach Webinar Series focuses on the implementation of a P-3 instructional approach. In this series, participants will hear first-hand examples from school districts throughout New York State on how they have used the P-3 Instructional Guidance Toolkit to achieve better alignment across early grade levels and strengthen student outcomes.
Recorded webinars in this series include:
· P-3 Instructional Guidance Toolkit Overview
· Effective P-3 Instruction
· Supporting & Strengthening P-3 Instructional Practices
· How to Begin a P-3 Approach
The P-3 Instructional Guidance Toolkit and all recorded webinars are available on the Office of Early Learning’s PreK-3rd Grade Learning Continuum webpage.
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The Office of Early Learning Presents to the Field: Fall 2024
The Office of Early Learning (OEL) was busy this fall presenting to the field at several conferences. OEL was invited to present at the New York State Kindergarten Transition Summit on October 30, 2024. Sponsored by the New York State Council on Children and Families, OEL was able to share information regarding best practices in regard to helping students and families make the transition between prekindergarten and kindergarten.
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On November 12th, OEL had the opportunity to host a table at the 40th annual Religious and Independent Schools Educator (RISE) Conference in Albany, NY. Staff from the office were available to answer attendees' questions regarding early learning, prekindergarten collaboration, and more!
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Also on November 12th, the Office of Early Learning presented at the 2024 New York State Reading Association (NYRA) Annual Conference. The office presented on the Literacy Briefs produced by Dr. Nonie K. Lesaux, and how the literacy briefs can be used to strengthen knowledge of evidence-based literacy practices in P-12 education.
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The STEM Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education (STEMIE) Center aims to:
- Expand the body of knowledge of implementing evidence-informed practices for early STEM learning.
- Provide a continuum of technical assistance to improve knowledge awareness, acquisition, and implementation of inclusive STEM practices.
- Engage partners and stakeholders from diverse disciplines and industry in work to increase the inclusion of young children with disabilities in early high-quality STEM learning experiences.
STEMIE staff has curated a list of 100 engaging books that embrace everyday STEM ideas accurately based on STEMIE learning trajectories.
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Classroom Spotlight: Carle Place UFSD | |
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At Cherry Lane School in Carle Place UFSD, project-based learning (PBL) initiatives are happening in grades K-2, where students are immersed in activities that inspire critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration throughout the school year. These engaging experiences nurture curiosity, spark inquiry, and foster a love of learning that extends far beyond the classroom. At Cherry Lane, project-based learning is transforming education by connecting students to the world around them, encouraging exploration, and making every moment in the classroom an opportunity for discovery.
Kindergarten: Weather Wonders
Kindergarten students explored the fascinating world of weather through hands-on projects. They designed and built structures using recycled materials like paper towel rolls and egg cartons to reduce the warming effects of the sun. From creating sun-resistant buildings to crafting umbrellas, their creativity shined as they applied scientific concepts to solve real-world challenges.
In addition, kindergartners became meteorologists by animating weather-related green screen videos using the Do Ink app. They recorded and edited their own weather reports, sharing their discoveries with peers and parents, demonstrating both their technical and presentation skills.
First Grade: Mapping and Citizenship
First graders embarked on an exciting journey through mapping and citizenship, focusing on key landmarks in the Cherry Lane School. Tasked with identifying three landmarks that a new Cherry Lane student should know, they created maps and programmed robots using directional codes on iPads. Students learned how to give directions to tour the building if a new student were to come to school, using the robot as a representation of a new student. This interactive project helped students develop map-reading skills, understand cardinal directions, and learn about the significance of local landmarks, all while integrating technology into their learning.
Second Grade: Election Excitement
Second graders dove into the world of government and civil ethics. The highlight of their project was a mock election: each class nominated a presidential candidate, such as Derek Jeter, Dav Pilkey, or Alex Morgan, and campaigned by writing and presenting speeches and posters to persuade their peers. Some classes also made campaign commercials. Working in smaller campaign teams, students visited other classrooms to advocate for their nominee, culminating in a grade-wide election where they experienced the democratic process firsthand. This project not only deepened their understanding of government but also enhanced their collaboration, public speaking, and persuasive writing skills.
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Science Everywhere Webinar Recording Released
The Science Everywhere Webinar recording is now available on our website. You can view the recorded webinar here. Future webinars from the Office of Early Learning will also be recorded and available at this link.
Science Everywhere is an early learning initiative, emphasizing the importance of Inquiry-Based Learning. Spearheaded by the New York State Education Department's Office of Early Learning and Office of Cultural Education, the initiative seeks to foster a love for science and nature in young children through hands-on learning experiences.
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Office of Early Learning
2024-2025 Webinar Series
The Office of Early Learning is pleased to announce a series of webinars designed to support and enhance our early education initiatives. These sessions will cover a range of topics, including science, inclusion, supporting Emergent Multilingual Learners (EMLs), and fostering positive behavior. We believe these webinars will provide valuable insight and resources to help you and your schools foster exceptional learning environments for our youngest learners.
Make sure to mark your calendars and register for this year's remaining webinars below. See the flyer below and the Office of Early Learning website for more information, as well as all past webinar recordings.
Supporting EMLs in PreK – March 5th, 2025 (3:00-4:00pm)
Inclusion in PreK: Why it Matters – May 14th, 2025 (3:00-4:00pm)
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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.
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Erik Sweet, Executive Director, Office of Early Learning
Lori Smart, Director
Tanya Amodio-Kovacs, Supervisor
Paulette Coppin, Supervisor
Grace Bombard, James Bordis, Samantha Chobot,
Lauren Cosamano, Carly Feldman,
Eric Feml-Nelsen, Jason Gish,
Tiffany Koo, Noelle Lake, Christine Lyons,
Terry Onofrio, Brandon Orszulak, Madison Ramnes,
Tina Rose-Turriglio, Christina Ryan,
Rachel Schlude, Michelle Sidoti,
Zak Snyder, Megan Tobiasen, Vicky Woods
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