New Content
New Targeted Professional Development on Active Supervision
Active supervision is a critical element for fostering safety and preventing injuries to children and youth. Understanding Your Role in Active Supervision is a new Targeted Professional Development module that examines what active supervision looks like and highlights strategies for implementing it in daily routines and activities. For specific details regarding the new content, see the April 2024 New Targeted PD on Active Supervision Strategies announcement.
"Best Practices for Using the CORT" Webinar Recording Available
Formative observations are critical in supporting and motivating seasoned professionals to strengthen and enhance their practices. The VLS team hosted a Live Leadership Webinar last month to help program leaders reflect on how the Caregiving Observation and Reflection Tool can be used in their programs to support seasoned professionals. In this webinar, we review current research regarding supporting seasoned professionals and how tools like the CORT can be leveraged to motivate and support professional growth. We also highlight recent updates made to the CORT and recommend implementation practices. Watch a recording of the webinar and access the slides and related resources on the VLS webinar page.
Selected Content Updates in Q2 2024
The VLS integrates the latest research and best practices into its professional development system on an ongoing basis. Our content team reviews new research and updates made to national guidelines. Selected content updates over the last three months include:
All Foundational Courses Updated for Program Leaders
Over the past year, our team at the Virtual Lab School has dedicated efforts to refresh and enrich the content and course activities across the foundational courses in both the Training & Curriculum Specialist and Management tracks, aiming to provide optimal support for program leaders. We’re excited to announce that all foundational courses have now been updated and are available for access. For specific details regarding the updates, see the following announcements:
New Quality Observation Checklist for Program Leaders
Quality observations are a critical component in identifying a professional’s strengths and needs and assessing their competency and performance. Observations of staff must be objective and provide detailed information to support goal setting and reflective conversations about their practice. One way to refine your observation skills is to practice observing and reflect on the objectivity of your notes. The Quality Observation Checklist is a tool that can be used to evaluate the quality of your observation notes. This tool has been added to the Apply section in the following Focused Topics courses:
2024 Physical Education and Health Education Standards From SHAPE America
In March 2024, the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) America released their updated National Physical Education and Health Education Standards. These standards offer a comprehensive framework for educators to deliver high-quality instruction and positively impact the health and well-being of children and youth. They are broad, overarching goals articulating what a student should know, understand, and be able to do over time. You can learn more about these standards in our Physical Development and Healthy Environment courses.
The National Physical Education standards are now available resources in the following:
- Preschool, Physical Development, Lesson 2
- School-Age, Physical Development, Lesson 2
- Family Child Care, Physical Development, Lesson 3 and Lesson 4
- Training & Curriculum Specialist, Physical Development, Lesson 3
- Management, Physical Development, Lesson 2
The National Health Education Standards are now referenced in the following:
Highlights from the Field and Recent Research
DoD Celebrates Provider Appreciation Day!
While Provider Appreciation Day has passed, the recognition of provider’s contributions is timeless. Last month, top enlisted leaders from across the Service branches shared special words of thanks for DoD teachers and child care providers. We appreciate all that you and your program staff do and so do our DoD leaders and communities! See the following article on Military One Source to view the special messages of thanks to DoD teachers and child care providers from top enlisted leaders from across the Service branches.
Supporting Working Families: A Blueprint for Action
The Convergence Collaborative on Supports for Working Families has published a blueprint for action to support families and children in the United States. Experts from across the field of early childhood development and care have come together to outline what must be done to support families with parents who work outside the home. This work has garnered bipartisan support and has important findings and recommendations for working families, and the professionals who support them. See the Convergence Collaborative on Supports for Working Families report for more.
How Out-of-School Time Programs Collect and Use Data
Out-of-school time (OST) programs and their funders depend on comprehensive data to inform decisions about everything from professional development, student recruitment, and the selection of activities provided to students. Measuring Youth Development: How Out-of-School Time Programs Collect and Use Data is a recent report from Child Trends that explores the types of data Out-of-school time (OST) programs are interested in measuring, the methodologies they use to measure those outcomes, and the challenges encountered in this process. The report also offers suggestions for OST programs and their funders on how to strengthen the collection and use of data for measuring outcomes. See the Child Trends research brief for more.
New Emergency Preparedness and Responses Resource
ChildCare Aware of America recently shared the Child Care Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery Partnership Toolkit, designed to support child care resource and referral agencies. While this resource is not designed specifically for childcare centers or ECE professionals, it may be a helpful and informative resource to share with colleagues and families. See the March 2024 Child Care Aware blog post for more information.