Pennsylvania Learning Standards for Early Childhood ...

1 INFANTS-TODDLERS2014 Office of Child Development and Early LearningPennsylvania Learning Standardsfor Early ChildhoodTABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ..4 The Learning Standards Continuum ..7 Guiding Principles ..8 KEY Learning AREA: Approaches to Learning through Play Constructing, Organizing, and Applying KnowledgeStandard Area : Constructing and Gathering Knowledge .. 11 Standard Area : Organizing and Understanding Information .. 13 Standard Area : Applying Knowledge .. 18 Standard Area : Learning through Experience .. 19 Approaches to Learning Glossary .. 23 KEY Learning AREA: Language and Literacy Development English Language ArtsStandard Area : Foundational Skills .. 25 Standard Area : Reading Informational Text.

2 28 Standard Area : Reading Literature .. 31 Standard Area : Writing .. 35 Standard Area : Speaking and Listening .. 37 Language and Literacy Development Glossary .. 40 KEY Learning AREA: Mathematical Thinking and Expression Exploring, Processing, and Problem-SolvingStandard Area : Numbers and Operations .. 43 Standard Area : Algebraic Concepts .. 46 Standard Area : Geometry .. 47 Standard Area : Measurement, Data, and Probability .. 50 Mathematical Thinking and Expression Glossary .. 53 KEY Learning AREA: Scientific Thinking and Technology Exploring, Scientific Inquiry, and DiscoveryStandard Area : Biological Sciences Living and Non-Living Organisms .. 55 Standard Area : Biological Sciences Genetics.

3 59 Standard Area : Biological Sciences Evolution .. 61 Standard Area : Physical Sciences Chemistry .. 62 Standard Area : Physical Sciences Physics .. 65 Standard Area : Earth and Space Sciences Earth Structures, Processes, and Cycles .. 67 Standard Area : Environment and Ecology Ecology .. 71 Standard Area : Environment and Ecology Watersheds and Wetlands .. 74 Standard Area : Environment and Ecology Agriculture and Society .. 75 Standard Area : Environment and Ecology Humans and the Environment .. 76 Standard Area : Computer and Information Technology .. 78 Scientific Thinking Glossary .. 80 Environment and Ecology Glossary .. 80 Computer and Information Technology Glossary .. 8123 KEY Learning AREA: Social Studies Thinking Connecting to CommunitiesStandard Area : Civics and Government Principles and Documents of Government.

4 83 Standard Area : Civics and Government Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship .. 83 Standard Area : Economics Scarcity and Choice .. 86 Standard Area : Economics Functions of Government .. 87 Standard Area : Economics Income, Profit, and Wealth .. 87 Standard Area : Geography Basic Geographic Literacy .. 88 Standard Area : Geography Physical Characteristics of Places and Regions .. 88 Standard Area : History Historical Analysis and Skills Development .. 89 Social Studies Thinking Glossary .. 90 KEY Learning AREA: Creative Thinking and Expression Communicating through the ArtsStandard Area : Production and Performance Music and Movement .. 92 Standard Area : Production and Performance Dramatic and Performance Play.

5 95 Standard Area : Production and Performance Visual Arts .. 97 Standard Area : Critical Response to Works in the Arts .. 100 Creative Thinking and Expression Glossary .. 102 KEY Learning AREA: Health, Wellness, and Physical Development Learning About My BodyStandard Area : Concepts of Health .. 104 Standard Area : Healthful Living .. 105 Standard Area : Safety and Injury Prevention .. 107 Standard Area : Physical Activity Gross Motor Coordination .. 108 Standard Area : Concepts, Principles, and Strategies of Movement Fine Motor Coordination .. 110 Health, Wellness, and Physical Development Glossary .. 113 KEY Learning AREA: Social and Emotional Development Student Interpersonal SkillsStandard Area : Self-Awareness and Self-Management.

6 115 Standard Area : Establishing and Maintaining Relationships .. 120 Standard Area : Decision-Making and Responsible Behavior .. 125 Social and Emotional Development Glossary .. 127 KEY Learning AREA: Partnerships for Learning Families, Early Care and Education Programs, and CommunitiesStandard : Families are supported in times of need .. 129 Standard : Families experience relationships with Early care and education programs that are affirming, reciprocal, and build upon their strengths .. 131 Standard : Families have the support and information they need to encourage their children s Learning and development .. 133 Standard : Family members have support from other families .. 135 Standard : Families have goals of their own and benefit from having supportive partners to help reach their goals.

7 135 Standard : Families grow in their leadership and use these skills in many different ways .. 136 Standard : Families are supported in times of transition .. 137 Resources ..139 IntroductionChildren are born with an incredible capacity and desire to learn . More than 40 years of research confirms the founda-tional importance of Early education and care for children s school and life success . It is essential that children s first experiences are robust ones, steeped in activities that develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, a deep understanding about themselves in a social society, and age-appropriate content . Instructional practices must embed the domains of development cognitive, social-emotional, language, and physical with approaches to Learning that enable children to explore, understand, and reach beyond the here and now to challenge themselves, experiment, and transform information into meaningful content and skills.

8 Professionals interacting with young children have the critical task of providing rich information and experiences . Such experiences build skills and understanding in the context of everyday routines and within intentionally-designed play opportunities that capture children s inter-ests and curiosity . Pennsylvania s Learning Standards for Early Child-hood are designed to support and enhance the Learning environment; responsive relationships; age, cultural, and linguistically-appropriate curriculum; and practices being used to assess children, classrooms, and programs .The Department of Education and the Office of Child Development and Early Learning use a Standards Aligned System . The Standards Aligned System is a collective body of research that identifies six elements which, when used together, provide a framework for program improve-ment and child success.

9 The elements identified are Standards , as-sessments, curriculum framework, instruction (including interven-tions), safe and supportive schools, and materials and resources . A web-based portal including more information and resources related to these elements is accessible at www .pdesas .org . Standards ALIGNED SYSTEM (SAS) Learning Standards DevelopmentPennsylvania s Learning Standards for Early Childhood were originally constructed as a joint project of the Departments of Education and Human Services . The Office of Child Development and Early Learning in col-laboration with the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education have overseen revisions to the Standards . Each set of Standards has been formulated with help and guidance from practitioners and program special-ists who represented Early Childhood programs, school districts, higher education, family leaders, policy analysts, and researchers.

10 A group of Pennsylvania educators, in conjunction with the Office of Child Devel-opment and Early Learning , created a set of Pennsylvania Core Standards beginning with Pre-Kindergarten . The Pennsylvania Core Standards start in Pre-Kindergarten and continue through 12th grade . The Pennsyl-vania State Board of Education adopted the Pennsylvania Core Standards in March 2014 . The 2014 revisions include updates related to the Pennsylvania Core Standards ; Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) supportive practices; and current research trends . Learning Standards for Early Childhood are used to: Inform professionals about curriculum and assessment Guide the selection of instructional materials and the design of interactions/goal setting Inform families of appropriate expectations for children Provide a common framework for community-based birth grade 3 alignment work Learning Standards for Early Childhood are NOT used as: A specific curriculum A means to prohibit children from moving from one grade or age level to another A specific assessment of the competence of children or teachers4 INSTRUCTIONCURRICULUM FRAMEWORKASSESSMENTSTANDARDSSAFE AND SUPPORTIVE SCHOOLSMATERIALS AND RESOURCESSTUDENT ACHIEVEMENT1.