REFRAMING THE CONVERSATION

REFRAMING THE CONVERSATION

REFRAMING THE CONVERSATION

Addressing the Challenges and Promoting Positive Behavior Supports and Interventions in Early Childhood Education

Purpose

The Office of Children and Families is committed to supporting publicly funded preschool programs in being able to meet the needs of the children and families served. Understanding the underlying causes of challenging behaviors is essential for educators to be able to provide appropriate support and interventions to help children develop positive coping skills, social emotional competence which will result in the reduction of challenging behaviors exhibited.

Approach: The Pyramid Model

The Pyramid Model is a framework of evidence -based practices for promoting young children’s healthy and social and emotional development.The Pyramid Model builds upon a tiered approach to providing universal supports to all children to promote wellness, targeted services to those that need more supports and intensive supports which are individualized interventions based on the needs of the specific child.
Image
As illustrated above, building an effective workforce equipped with the essential knowledge and skills needed to promote positive behaviors in the early childhood setting serves as the basis for preventing challenging behaviors.

This project will focus on increasing the knowledge and expertise of publicly funded providers using the Pyramid Model related to Tier 1 or Universal Positive Behavior Supports which includes Nurturing and Responsive Relationships and creating High Quality Supportive Environments, and Tier 2: Targeted Social Emotional Supports.

An Overview of Project Supports

The Summer Reset and Refresh Training Series:

The summer reset training series will offer providers the opportunity to bolster their knowledge and expertise regarding tier one and tier two supports. The series will be delivered via live webinars with multiple session opportunities for participants. Participants will have the opportunity to choose to participate in either a Tier 1 or Tier 2 track. Each track will offer the Trauma Aware Training for ECE providers.

Track 1: Tier 1 - Nurturing and Responsive Relationships and Creating High Quality Supportive Environments

Track 1 focuses on Tier 1 of the Pyramid Model with an emphasis on developing Nurturing and Responsive Relationships and Creating High Quality Supportive Environments. Universal practices and strategies that can be implemented at the classroom level will be highlighted. The Tier 1 track is recommended for teachers and directors new to early childhood education.

Core Trainings in Evidence Based Practices

Trauma Aware Training for ECE Providers
9 hours, Lakeside Global Institute

The Pyramid Model Tier 1: Setting up Children for Success
Half Day, Lakeshore Learning

Keep Calm and Create a Calming Corner!
90 minutes, Lakeshore Learning

SPARK QSC Trainings

Classroom Organization and Daily Routines
2 hours

Developmentally Appropriate Behaviors in Preschool
2 hours

Track 2: Tier 2 - Targeted Emotional Supports

Track 2 focuses on Tier 2 of the Pyramid model with an emphasis on practices that include targeted social emotional supports designed to prevent challenging behaviors. Expressing and understanding emotions, developing social relationships and problem-solving will be highlighted within Track 2. Understanding and navigating the preschool early intervention and behavioral health systems in Philadelphia is an additional component of Track 2. The Tier 1 track is recommended for experienced ECE teachers, directors and administrators of ECE programs.

Core Trainings in Evidence Based Practices

Trauma Aware Training for ECE Providers
9 hours, Lakeside Global Institute

The Pyramid Model Tier 2: Targeted Emotional Supports
Half Day, Lakeshore Learning

Keep Calm and Create a Calming Corner!
90 minutes, Lakeshore Learning

SPARK QSC Trainings

Implementing a Social Emotional Curriculum
"Second Step"

Elwyn Trainings

Introduction to Preschool Early Intervention

How to Make a Preschool Early Intervention Referral

Understanding EI Services in the ECE Classroom

Summer Symposium

The Summer Symposium will serve as a culminating, in person activity for the Summer Reset and Refresh Training Series and may include:

Trainings and activities to promote teacher wellness

Provider Roundtable

Preventing Suspension and Expulsion- Facilitated Conversation

Key Note or Opening Plenary Address

Abbreviated Sessions of Virtual Trainings

Onsite Coaching or Consultation Support - School Year 2024-2025

The SPARK Quality Support Center will offer onsite coaching or consultation support to providers participating in the Summer Training Series to assist providers in implementing the TIer 1 and or Tier 2 strategies. Each participating provider will be eligible to receive a total of 15 hours of consultative support- 10 hours onsite and 5 hours of virtual support. PHLpreK providers will be supported by their current Quality Support Coach. Areas of consultation may include:

How to Create a Calming Corner

Classroom Organization and Establishing Daily Routines

Implementing Second Step Curriculum

Implementing Pyramid Model Practices using the TPOT Assessment

Asynchronous Trainings -
School Year 2024-2025

The SPARK Quality Support Center will develop asynchronous trainings aligned with the topics offered through the Summer training series that will be available to the ECE provider community.

Building an Effective Workforce

SPARK Quality Support Center Staff (coaches and specialists) will increase their capacity to support providers in developing and implementing positive behavior support practices including:

Trauma Aware Training for ECE Providers
9 hours, Lakeside Global Institute

Trauma Responsive Training for ECE Providers
10 hours (not available until September 2024)

The Pyramid Model Tier 1: Setting up Children for Success
Half Day, Lakeshore Learning

The Pyramid Model Tier 2: Targeted Emotional Supports

The Pyramid Model Tier 3: Understanding, Preventing, and Responding to Challenging Behavior

Promoting Positive Behaviors in the Preschool Environment

Keep Calm and Create a Calming Corner!
90 minutes, Lakeshore Learning

Recharging the Workforce

Recognizing that this work is a challenge, this project aims to also highlight the importance of teacher/ director well being. Resources for recharging the workforce include:

Monetary stipends for participants in the Summer Training Series

Trainings on teacher wellness by First Up: Champions for Early Education at the Summer Symposium

Teacher wellness activities made available at the Summer Symposium

Teacher Wellness Kits: Distributed by First Up

Partnerships

Image

Office of Children and Families

The Office of Children and Families (OCF) aligns the City’s policies, resources, and services for children and families. Its priorities are safe children, strong families, and supported schools and communities. OCF administers a number of City-supported programs, including Out-of-School Time, WorkReady, Community Schools, PHLpreK, and Access Centers. The office also oversees the Department of Human Services (DHS), Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, and the Free Library of Philadelphia. Learn more about its mission and priorities.

Image

Shine Early Learning

SPARK QSC gets its spark from Shine! Shine Early Learning develops early learning programs that deliver positive results for children, families, and communities from coast to coast. Shine offers resources and a programmatic approach to help early education programs reach their own ambitious goals. The Shine Early Learning approach is developed, implemented, and continuously refined at Acelero Learning, a high-performing Head Start and Early Head Start program serving more than 5,000 children across the nation. Shine Early Learning has created SPARK Learning Lab to provide integrated training, coaching, and technical assistance to early education and care programs across Indiana.

Image

Erikson Institute

The Erikson Institute is the premier early childhood development organization committed to ensuring that all children have equitable opportunities to realize their potential.

Image

PHMC

In its role as Administrative Intermediary, PHMC supports implementation of the PHLpreK system including managing the provider seat request process, coordinating provider contracting and payment processes, developing compliance monitoring protocols for the system, overseeing the enrollment process, and collecting provider- and child-level data for analysis and reporting. PHMC uses system data and stakeholder feedback to make recommendations for the PHLpreK system.

Image

School District of Philadelphia

The School District of Philadelphia is the eighth largest school district in the nation, located in an historic and culturally rich setting. It is a community of 19,000 caring employees working together with parents, families, volunteers and community members to support the limitless potential of more than 203,000 young scholars. The District is committed to educating and graduating generations of thought leaders, entrepreneurs, artists, government officials and change makers. The School District’s mission is to deliver on the civil right of every child in Philadelphia to an excellent public school education and ensure all children graduate from high school ready to succeed, fully engaged as a citizen of our world.

The District provides technical assistance to a number of PHLpreK providers to ensure success in meeting PHLpreK requirements. The School District also provides instructional coaching to all quality center based PHLpreK Providers under the oversight of OCF, and in coordination with the SPARK QSC.