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

Learning Environment9. Program Standard: Routines and transitions between activities aresmooth and kept to a minimum.A Quality Program:1. Allows enough time so that routines and transitions are unhurried andpurposeful.2. Supports and plans for children who find transitions difficult.3. Prepares for transitions and limits wait times.4. Provides children with opportunities to participate in daily routines such aspicking up toys.5. Minimizes or eliminates pull-out programs and activities that take childrenaway from the classroom to another location.6. Appropriately prepares children and families for transitions into theprogram and to new or different programs/classrooms.7. Gives all children notice to prepare for change, and explain to them whatis happening and what will happen next.8. Minimizes idle time in group settings.10. Program Standard: Adults use language and strategies whichenhance children’s language and critical thinking.A Quality Program:1. Expects teaching staff to talk with children individually and in small groupsand to take advantage of spontaneous events to talk with each childindividually.2. Expects teaching staff to ask children a variety of questions designedto stimulate extended response (e.g., minimizing “yes” or “no” responsequestions, increasing “why” and “how” questions).3. Expects teaching staff to talk to children about the children’s emotionsand the emotions of others and about how to understand the perspectiveof another person.4. Expects teaching staff to involve children in making choices andevaluating the consequences of the choices they have made.5. Provides opportunities for children to contribute their ideas to classdecisions and to help make class rules.6. Involves children in planning, implementing, and evaluating some classactivities.46 Michigan Department of Education