Learn about the variety of stressors and adverse experiences faced by many of today’s young learners, and how leaders and teachers can buffer these stressors through the design and implementation of early learning environments.
Overview:
Today’s children are facing stress and adversity at higher rates than children just ten years ago. At the same time, research and practice highlights the role of high-quality early learning opportunities in buffering and reducing the impact of stress on children’s development. Given these realities,Buffering Stress and Adversity Through Early Learning is an online professional development program for leaders and teachers in early education centers and programs across the mixed-delivery early education system. Based upon the work of HGSE Professors Nonie Lesaux and Stephanie Jones, this workshop presents the latest research on today’s population of young learners— including their socio-demographics and early childhood stressors— and explores the features of strong early learning environments that can buffer children’s stressors and promote early learning and development.
Offered as a part of the Saul Zaentz Professional Learning Academy, Buffering Stress and Adversity Through Early Learning is squarely aligned with the Academy’s mission to equip leaders with the cutting-edge knowledge, strategic tactics, and collaborative networks needed to design and implement approaches and policies that improve young children's learning environments. Through video lectures, readings, and facilitated online discussions, participants will engage with research and practice to learn how strategic decision-making in early education can buffer the adverse circumstances facing many young learners today.
Program Details:
This two-week online workshop includes a mix of self-paced learning, group discussion, and job-embedded application. Activities include:
- Video lectures from Nonie Lesaux and Stephanie Jones, HGSE Faculty and Directors of the Saul Zaentz Early Education Initiative
- Readings from researchers and thought leaders in the field
- Facilitated online discussions
- Concrete planning tools for use in your current setting
- Job-embedded practice where you will apply the concepts and techniques learned
A core part of the HGSE experience is cohort learning, and this curriculum is designed to create a community of practice for participants to learn with and from each other.
The online workshop will require a total of 5-7 hours of work. Participants who complete all individual assessments and contribute to group discussions will receive a certificate indicating completion of five clock hours of instruction.
Objectives:
- Understand the latest research regarding today’s early learners, the stressors they face, and the links between these stressors and their learning and development
- Recognize what stress and adversity look like in the early learning classroom and related implications for educators and caregivers
- Identify and implement key features of a high-quality early learning environment, such as designing stimulating learning activities and fostering positive adult-child interactions, in order to buffer stress and optimize early learning
- Work with planning tools that support strategic decision-making for responding to childhood stressors and their impact on the learning environment
Who Should Participate:
- Directors of early education centers or programs
- Leaders of early education service organizations across the mixed delivery system
- Directors, administrators, and coaches in public school pre-K programs
- Teachers aspiring to enhanced instructional leadership within their setting
