Early Childhood Standards of Quality for ... - State of Michigan

Learning Environment2. Provides a large variety of age appropriate books and other literacyrelated materials throughout the classroom.3. Facilitates a child’s exploration of writing in multiple areas of theclassroom.3. Program Standard: The program is planned and implemented to permitchildren to learn from exploration, acquisition of skills and knowledge,practice, and application.A Quality Program:1. Provides opportunities for children to engage in exploration of materials orconcepts with which they have had little prior experience.2. Provides opportunities for children to learn and practice prerequisite skillsprior to engaging in the activity for which those skills are required.3. Provides opportunities for teachers and children to be used as models inthe learning process.4. Provides children support to investigate and discover new knowledge.5. Provides opportunities for teachers to be guides in facilitating children’sinvolvement; enriching their learning experiences by affirming andextending their ideas; responding to their questions; engaging them inconversations; and challenging them in their thinking.6. Provides opportunities for teachers to encourage and capitalize onunplanned learning opportunities.7. Exposes children to skills, concepts, or information they cannot discoveron their own, through the use of teacher-initiated learning activities.4. Program Standard: Activities are designed so that concepts and skillsare appropriately presented using a variety of methods and techniques.A Quality Program:1. Designs activities that permit children to use the greatest number ofsenses.2. Presents concepts to children using self correcting hands-on materialsrather than through paper-pencil exercises or patterned activities.3. Presents concepts multiple times using various materials and methods ofinstruction.4. Makes activities and materials available for extended periods of time sochildren can repeat and expand on their previous experience and so thatchildren’s desire to repeat experiences can be encouraged by adults.Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Prekindergarten 43