California Preschool Learning Foundations - …

1 California Preschool Learning Foundations Volume 1. Social-Emotional Development Language and Literacy English-Language Development Mathematics Publishing Information The California Preschool Learning Foundations (Volume 1) was developed by the Child Development Division, California Depart . ment of Education through a contract with WestEd. It was edited by Dixie Abbott, Janet Lundin, and Faye Ong, working in coopera . tion with Desiree Soto, Consultant, Child Development Division. It was prepared for printing by the staff of CDE Press: the cover and interior design were created and prepared by Cheryl McDonald.

2 Typesetting was done by Jeannette Reyes. It was published by the Department, 1430 N Street, Sacramento, CA 95814-5901. It was distributed under the provisions of the Library Distribution Act and Government Code Section 11096. 2008 by the California Department of Education All rights reserved ISBN 978-0-8011-1681-0. Ordering Information Copies of this publication are available for sale from the California Department of Education. For prices and ordering information, please visit the Department Web site at re/pn or call the CDE Press Sales Office at (800) 995-4099.

3 An illustrated Educational Resources Catalog describing publications, videos, and other instructional media available from the Depart . ment can be obtained without charge by writing to the CDE Press Sales Office, California Department of Education, 1430 N Street, Suite 3207, Sacramento, CA 95814-5901; FAX (916) 323-0823. or by calling the CDE Press Sales Office at the telephone number shown above. Notice The guidance in California Preschool Learning Foundations is not binding on local educational agencies or other entities. Except for the statutes, regulations, and court decisions that are referenced herein, the document is exemplary, and compliance with it is not mandatory.

4 (See Education Code Section ). Contents A Message from the State Superintendent of Public Instruction v Acknowledgments vii Introduction xi Foundations in Social-Emotional Development 1. Foundations in Language and Literacy 47. Foundations in English-Language Development 103. Foundations in Mathematics 143. Appendix: The Foundations 173. California Department of Education Preschool Learning Foundations , Volume 1 iii A Message from the State Superintendent of Public Instruction I. am delighted to present the California ment of Education, during a three-year.

5 Preschool Learning Foundations long collaborative effort with leading (Volume 1), a publication that I believe early childhood educators, researchers, will be instrumental in improving early advocates, and parents, developed these Learning and development for California 's Preschool Learning Foundations . Preschool children. The Foundations outline key knowledge Young children are naturally eager to and skills that most children can achieve learn. However, not all of them are ready when provided with the kinds of inter . for school.

6 All too often, children entering actions, instruction, and environments school for the first time as kindergarten research has shown to promote early ers are already lagging behind their class Learning and development. The founda . mates, and this disadvantage can affect tions can provide early childhood educa . them socially and academically long past tors, parents, and the public with a clear kindergarten. Children who have had the understanding of the wide range of knowl . benefit of attending high-quality preschools edge and skills that Preschool children are more comfortable in their surround typically attain when given the benefits ings, have been exposed to books, have of a high-quality Preschool program.

7 Learned how to play cooperatively, and are These Foundations focus on four accustomed to Learning with others. domains: social-emotional development, Research shows that all children language and literacy, English-language can benefit from participating in high- development, and mathematics. They quality Preschool programs. And a recent provide a comprehensive understanding study by the RAND Corporation shows that of what children learn in these four closing the school readiness gap will help domains. to close the achievement gap, in which far It is my hope that these Foundations too many socioeconomically disadvantaged will help guide and support all California students and far too many African Ameri preschools as they offer developmentally can and Latino children are lagging behind appropriate activities and instruction that and achieving below their abilities.

8 Not all are both purposeful and playful, instilling Preschool programs are equally effective, in our young children a love of Learning however. Those that strengthen children's that will last a lifetime. school readiness operate with an in-depth understanding of what children need to learn before they start school. With a goal of ensuring that all preschools in California offer such high- JACK O'CONNELL. quality programs, the California Depart State Superintendent of Public Instruction California Department of Education Preschool Learning Foundations , Volume 1.

9 Acknowledgments T. he development of the Preschool Ross Thompson, University of California , Learning Foundations involved many Davis people. The following groups contrib Cathy Tsao, WestEd uted: (1) project leaders; (2) the Preschool Ineko Tsuchida, WestEd Learning Foundations Research Consor Rebeca Valdivia, WestEd tium; (3) expanded research consortia; Ann Wakeley, Sonoma State University (4) lead researchers; (5) staff from the Ann-Marie Wiese, WestEd California Department of Education (CDE); Mark Wilson, University of California , (6) early childhood education stakeholder Berkeley organizations.

10 And (7) facilitators of public Hiro Yamada, University of California , input sessions. Berkeley Marlene Zepeda, California State Project Leaders University, Los Angeles The developmental work involved the Osnat Zur, WestEd tireless work of dedicated staff. The following staff members are gratefully Lead Researchers acknowledged for their many contributions: Special thanks are extended to the follow . Peter Mangione and Cathy Tsao, WestEd; ing lead researchers for their expertise: Mark Wilson and Stephen Moore, Uni . Social-Emotional Development versity of California , Berkeley.