Texas State Board of Education Unanimously Approves the Teaching Strategies® System for Pre-K, Texas Edition

USA - English

• Latin America - español

New System Based on The Creative Curriculum® Provides Comprehensive Resources to Help Early Childhood Educators Build High-Quality Programs in Texas

BETHESDA, Md., Dec. 1, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- After conducting a rigorous review, the Texas State Board of Education voted unanimously on November 19 to include the Teaching Strategies® System for Pre-K, Texas Edition in its list of prekindergarten curricula approved for adoption. This research-based, entirely bilingual system combines knowledge-building volumes with detailed daily practice tools, assessment guidance, professional development support, and family connection resources to fully support every teacher and every child, every day.

"We are proud to have our new System approved in Texas," said Diane Trister Dodge, Founder and President of Teaching Strategies, Inc. and a lead author of the materials. "We are excited to partner with programs throughout the state to ensure that children receive the responsive and intentional teaching that prepares them for success in school and in life."  

The Teaching Strategies® System for Pre-K, Texas Edition is based on The Creative Curriculum® for Preschool, which is now in its fifth edition. For more than 30 years, early childhood educators have relied on The Creative Curriculum® to help them provide developmentally appropriate programs that incorporate best practices. The Creative Curriculum® has a long, rich history and continues to evolve as research reveals new insights about how children learn best. Recognizing the fact that different programs and teachers have individual strengths and needs, the Teaching Strategies® System for Pre-K offers a comprehensive collection of resources to support all educators. It provides the guidance that enables teachers to create rich learning environments, offer meaningful and engaging learning experiences, and confidently prepare children for success in kindergarten and beyond.

Based on 38 new objectives for development and learning that are predictive of school success and fully aligned to the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines, the Teaching Strategies® System for Pre-K, Texas Edition helps teachers focus on what matters most for young children. Two objectives specifically address English- and dual-language acquisition. The system presents innumerable strategies for promoting children's progress in all developmental and content areas, and embedded professional development support helps teachers individualize instruction for diverse learners. Assessment guidance enables teachers to measure each child's developmental levels on a continuum of widely held expectations and to adjust classroom experiences accordingly.

"The Teaching Strategies® System for Pre-K explains the what, why, and how of early childhood education," said Dodge. "What and why are discussed in the five knowledge-building volumes, which provide a comprehensive foundation for every teacher's classroom practice. The system then provides the important how by offering step-by-step guidance in the form of Teaching Guides and additional teaching tools that help educators meet the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines each day."

The first Teaching Guide helps teachers establish a classroom community and build the positive relationships that are critical to children's development and learning. Five additional Teaching Guides feature in-depth studies, which are long-term investigations that build on student interests and promote content learning in science and social studies while encouraging children to apply skills in literacy, mathematics, the arts, and technology. The Teaching Guides provide a flexible plan for what to teach, when to teach it, and how to offer experiences that meet the individual strengths and needs of each child. Innovative daily practice tools help teachers integrate learning in all content areas, throughout interest areas, and during classroom routines. They include Intentional Teaching Cards™, Mighty Minutes™, the Teaching Strategies® Children's Book Collection, and Book Discussion Cards™.

"The System is designed to make it easy for educators to teach intentionally and to present content in a cohesive way," explained Kai-lee Berke, Director of Curriculum and Assessment at Teaching Strategies. "It shows teachers how to scaffold children's development and learning, beginning with what children already know and can do."

Other exciting components of the Teaching Strategies® System for Pre-K, Texas Edition include a Getting Started DVD, a thorough System Guide, embedded support for English- and dual-language learners, and family connection resources that help teachers develop meaningful partnerships with families. The children's book collection features classic tales, original nonfiction titles, contemporary works by award-winning authors and illustrators, and a set of eBook DVDs that present story readings in English and Spanish. The children's books include authentic Spanish literature for children as well as translations of books originally written in English.

For more information about the Teaching Strategies® System for Pre-K, Texas Edition, please visit www.teachingstrategies.com/texas.

Teaching Strategies is a dynamic educational publishing company that serves the early childhood community exclusively, bringing curriculum, assessment, professional development, and family connection resources to programs serving children from birth through kindergarten. Its mission is to provide the most effective early education resources to support the critical work of early childhood educators. Teaching Strategies materials are used in thousands of public school, Head Start, child care, and other preschool programs throughout the country. The company provides curriculum and assessment resources to programs in all branches of the United States Military and Department of Defense schools worldwide.

For more information about Teaching Strategies, Inc. please visit www.teachingstrategies.com.

SOURCE Teaching Strategies, Inc.