Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards Fifth Edition

1 The Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards Steering CommitteeWisconsin Model Early Learning StandardsFifth EditionWISCONSIN Model Early Learning Standards iWISCONSIN Model Early Learning STANDARDSWITH INTRODUCTION2003 Edition 2008 Edition2011 Edition2013 Edition2017 Edition (Updates to the 2013 Edition )The Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards Steering CommitteeWisconsin Department of Public InstructionWisconsin Department of Children and FamiliesWisconsin Department of Health ServicesWisconsin Head Start State Collaboration OfficeWisconsin Early Childhood Collaborating Partners Wisconsin Early Childhood AssociationWisconsin Division of Exceptional ChildrenFunding for the 2003, 2008, 2011, 2013, and 2017 Editions are from: Wisconsin Head Start State Collaboration ProjectWisconsin Department of Public InstructionWisconsin Department of Health ServicesBraided Funding InitiativeWisconsin Early Childhood Collaborating PartnersGreat Lakes Head Start quality Network (QNet) Wisconsin Department of Children and FamiliesRace to the Top- Early Learning Challenge GrantiiWISCONSIN Model Early Learning STANDARDSThis publication is available fromWisconsin Child Care Information Center2109 South Stoughton Road Madison, WI 53716608-224-5388 or 1-800-362-7353Or order online at Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards (WMELS) are published in English, Spanish, and Hmong.

2 All versions are available on the Wisconsin Early Childhood Collaborating Partners (WECCP) web page and can be downloaded in a PDF format: This website also has related documents including: frequently asked questions, training materials, training calendars, alignment with Wisconsin Academic Standards , as well as information about curriculum and more information on the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards initiative contact:Katherine McGurkWisconsin Department of Children and W. KimballWisconsin Department of Public 2017 Wisconsin Department of Public InstructionTony Evers, PhD, State SuperintendentISBN 978-1-57337-166-7 The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, creed, age, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, marital status or parental status, sexual orientation, or on Recycled PaperWISCONSIN Model Early Learning Standards iiiWMELS State and Regional Steering Committee, 2013 & 2017 Leadership TeamArlene Wright, WMELS Statewide Coordinator, Office of Early Learning , Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (2013)Jill Haglund, Office of Early Learning , Wisconsin Department of Public InstructionJulie Betchkal, Early Childhood Program Support, CESA 11 (2017)Wendy Bowe, Head Start Technical Assistance CenterAbbe Braun, Supporting Families Together AssociationAmy Carriere.

3 Early Childhood Program Support, CESA 10 (2017)Glenna Carter, WI Child Care Information Center (2017)Penny Chase, Supporting Families Together Association (2013)Ruth Chvojicek, WI Birth-3 RESource (2017)Bridget Cullen, Division for Early Childhood Care and Education, Wisconsin Department of Children and FamiliesCatharine Daentl. WECCP Website Manager, CESA 5 (2017)Jenny Giles, Special Education Consultant, Wisconsin Department of Public InstructionJill Hoiting, Supporting Families Together Association Carrie Holden, WECCP Regional Collaboration Coach-Milwaukee (2017)Heather Jordan, Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council (2017)Sherry W. Kimball, UW Waisman Center (2017)Linda Leonhart, Head Start Collaboration Office, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (2013)Kathy McGurk, Division for Early Childhood Care and Education, Wisconsin Department of Children and FamiliesJoanna Parker, Office of Early Learning , Wisconsin Department of Public InstructionJeanette Paulson, Wisconsin Early Childhood Association Mary L.

4 Peters, Waisman Center, UW Madison Michelle Ogorek, Statewide Early Childhood Coordinator, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (2017)Nicole Lopez, The Registry, Wisconsin (2017)Ann Ramminger, Office of Early Learning , Wisconsin Department of Public InstructionWaisman Center, UW Madison(2013)Katie Roberts, Wisconsin Technical College SystemPamela Torres, Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council (2013)Research and DevelopmentThe 2003 Edition of the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards was researched and written by Diane Jenkins, Jenkins and Associates, Madison, 2008/2011/2013 Edition of the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards was researched and written by the following team:Arlene Wright, WMELS Coach and 2008/2013 Lead Coordinator; Independent Education Consultant, Chippewa FallsRuth Chvojicek, OSEP Outcome Grant Coordinator; Early Education Program Support, CESA 5 Linda Hurst, WMELS Coach; Early Childhood ConsultantAnn Ramminger, Southern Region Community Collaboration Coach; Early Childhood Professional Dev.

5 , UW Waisman CenterVikki Lane Kunstman, Retired, Curriculum and Instruction Coordinator and Early Learning Consultant, CESA 6 The following people advised on the 2003 and/or 2008/2011/2013/2017 editions of the standardsBarbara Chaney, UW-LaCrosseYa-Fang Cheng, UW-MadisonChristine Enockson, Watertown Unified School District Beth Graue, UW-MadisonKathy Hartjes, Wisconsin Kindergarten Teachers Association Sally Jansen, Green Bay Public Schools Head StartPatricia Kielpinski, Milwaukee Area Technical CollegeSherry W. Kimball, Waisman Center, UW-MadisonJoan Laurion, UW-Extension Dane County and Family Child CareJulie Lennon, Green Bay Public Schools Early Childhood Special Education Mary McLean, , UW-MilwaukeeLana Nenide, Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental HealthBarb Novak, Wisconsin Department of Public InstructionCasey O Keefe, MS/CCC-SLP Cardinal Stritch UniversityElizabeth Olsen, CESA 5/ Dane County Parent Council Teressa Pellett, Children s Trust FundMary L.

6 Peters, Waisman Center, UW-MadisonPence Revington, Parents Plus Wisconsin (PIRC)Mary Roach, , UW-ExtensionConnie Robers, Rock-Walworth CFS Head Start Paul Sandrock, Wisconsin Department of Public InstructionElaine Strom, Dane County Parent Council, Terrell, Early Childhood Council and Milwaukee Public SchoolsGaye Tylka, Early Childhood Response to Intervention Statewide Coordinator, CESA 4 Paula Wainscott, Eau Claire Schools Head StartSheila Weihert, Heritage Elementary School, De PereChristopher Weinhold, Wisconsin Rapids Public SchoolsChristina Wen, Waisman Center, UW-Madison2008/2011/2013 Editions Layout, Editing, Proofing, and Cover DesignOriginal Layout: Fernando Hernandez, CESA 5 Original Editing and Layout: Neldine Nichols, Wisconsin Department of Public InstructionRevision Editing: Arlene Wright and Laura Paella, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction; Glenna Carter, Child Care Information CenterProofing: Roslyn Wise, WI Department of Public InstructionCover Design: Cynthia Hoffman Meldorf at Mercury Communication in conjunction with the Think Big Start Small: Invest in a Child s Future public awareness campaign AcknowledgementsivWISCONSIN Model Early Learning STANDARDSWISCONSIN Model Early Learning Standards vWisconsin Model Early Learning StandardsTable of ContentsAcknowledgements.

7 IiiIntroduction .. and Physical Development ..12A. Physical Health and Development ..14B. Motor Development ..20C. Sensory Organization .. and Emotional Development ..26A. Emotional Development ..28B. Self-concept ..32C. Social Competence ..35 Development and Communication ..42A. Listening and Understanding ..44B. Speaking and Communicating ..47C. Early Literacy ..54 to Learning ..66A. Curiosity, Engagement, and Persistence ..68B. Creativity and Imagination ..71C. Diversity in Learning .. and General Knowledge ..78A. Exploration, Discovery, and Problem Solving ..80B. Mathematical Thinking ..85C. Scientific Thinking ..96 Interest Areas: Children Learn from Play ..102 AppendixesAppendix A: Alignment of Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards with Wisconsin Academic Standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics and Wisconsin Essential Elements ..107 Appendix B: Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards and IDEA Early Childhood Outcomes.

8 114 Appendix C: References and Resources ..116 Appendix D: Early Care and Education Resource Listing ..124vi Wisconsin Model Early Learning STANDARDSWISCONSIN Model Early Learning Standards 1 Why do we have Model Early Learning Standards ? Based on research and supported by evidence-based practices, the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards (WMELS) provide a framework for families, professionals, and policymakers to: Share a common language and responsibility for the well-being of children from birth to first grade; Know and understand developmental expectations of young children; and Understand the connection among the foundations of Early childhood, K-12 educational experiences, and lifelong the inclusion of the birth-to-3 age range, the revised WMELS also includes developmental continuums, sample behaviors of children, and sample strategies for adults. The development of the Standards was guided by research in the field and supported by content experts from institutions of higher education in the state.

9 Aligned to the Wisconsin Academic Standards (kindergarten through grade 12), the WMELS are intended to provide Early Learning opportunities that support children s continued success in school and future life. The basis for the development of the WMELS is a set of guiding principles that specify beliefs and values about young children in Wisconsin . The primary principles are as follows: All children are capable and competent. Early relationships matter. A child s Early Learning and development is multidimensional. Expectations for children must be guided by knowledge of child growth and development. Children are individuals who develop at various rates. Children are members of cultural groups that share developmental patterns. Children exhibit a range of skills and competencies within any domain of development. Children learn through play and the active exploration of their environment. Parents are children s primary and most important caregivers and more detailed description of the WMELS Guiding Principles is located on page 10 of the Introduction Model Early Learning StandardsIntroductionThe Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards provide a common language and guidance for families, professionals, and policymakers around Early childhood education and care.

10 2 Wisconsin Model Early Learning STANDARDSW isconsin Model Early Learning StandardsFrameworkThe Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards specify developmental expectations for children from birth through entrance to first grade. The Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards reflect attention to all the domains of a child s Learning and development. Each domain is divided into sub-domains. Each sub-domain includes developmental expectations, program Standards , performance Standards , and developmental continuum. Samples of children s behavior and adult strategies are also provided. The framework is described below in a narrative and on the following page as a Domains Discrete area of the child s development. The areas are interrelated and include: Health and Physical Development Social and Emotional Development Language Development and Communication Approaches to Learning Cognition and General KnowledgeSub-Domains Developmental domains are further divided into sub-domains.