New guidance helps preschool teachers build stronger bonds
Early childhood education can be a powerful tool to improve a child’s future and prospects in life. From reading earlier to more complex thought processes, research has shown that the earlier a child starts learning, the better.
At F.A.C.T. Inc, a non-profit headquartered in El Dorado, the importance of early childhood education is imparted on students, parents and teachers alike through their preschool childhood development programs, which include Head Start for low-income children ages 3 to 5, Early Head Start (EHS) for infants, toddlers and pregnant women and teenagers, EHS Home Based Services for those who choose to have their children learn at home and Arkansas Better Chance (ABC) and Arkansas Better Chance for School Success for low-income children ages 3 to 5.
“Infancy until school age is important,” Trena White and Shiree Daniels, executive and assistant directors at F.A.C.T. respectively, said in response to emailed questions. “The earlier children have access to high quality early education, the more promising their future is.”
New advancements in assessing teacher-child relationships are making it easier now to target learning strategies for students, both while they are in pre-school and as they move forward in their education.
The Quality of Caregiver-Child Interactions for Infants and Toddlers (Q-CCIIT) is a new measurement tool employed at F.A.C.T. facilities to ensure that even the youngest children are attended to in the way that works best for them. It joins the CLASS (Classroom Assessment Scoring System), which measures teacher interactions with children aged 3 to 5.
“F.A.C.T. has trained CLASS-reliable observers that assess classrooms to provide individualized professional development to teaching staff,” the directors said. “F.A.C.T. also has Education Coordinators that monitor, train and provide coaching to ensure that the curriculum is implemented with fidelity in all classrooms.”
At F.A.C.T, children from infancy to five years old learn everything from social skill and emotional development to language and literacy and cognitive development, including reasoning, memory and problem-solving skills. The education imparted on the children leads to higher functioning earlier, including skills at solving complex math problems, curious exploration of the world around them and more.
“A child’s early years are the foundation for his or her future development, providing a strong base for lifelong learning and learning abilities, including social and cognitive development,” the directors said. “Well-established research continues to emphasize the importance of early childhood education as an essential building block of a child’s future success.”
According to the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, a department within the United States Dept. of Health, the long-term effects of early childhood education include a smaller likelihood of future arrest and substance abuse and a larger likelihood of high school graduation.
“Positive effects of early childhood education have been substantiated through research,” the directors said. “They are more likely to be employed and less likely to depend on government assistance.”
F.A.C.T. is currently closed due to the coronavirus pandemic in accordance with Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s order that all Arkansas schools shut their doors until April 17. To learn more about the organization, visit fact-inc.com or facebook. com/facepreschools.