The Early Achievers Equation

 

When we look at the Early Achievers Quality Standards, the Environment Rating Scale and the CLASS assessments, there is a simple equation for Early Achievers:

 

Free Play + Open Ended Questions and Conversations
= Learning About the Child

 

Free play is highly valued in Early Achievers.  With free play, the child is able to make choices (thinking for themselves) about what and who they play with.  In free play, you have the opportunity to have 1:1 time with children to get to know their needs.

Open ended questions and conversations are the window into the child’s needs.  When you ask meaningful questions and have ongoing conversations, you can learn what the child knows already, what skills they are building, how they think.  This is really a form of informal assessment.  You are gathering data on the child.

Learning about the child is how you move to individualization and intentional planning.  Once you get to know each child, you are able to plan experiences that nurture emerging skills, match the child’s interests and best advance their learning and development.

 

Free Play + Open Ended Questions and Conversations
= Learning About the Child