Teaching with CLASS‪®‬ Teachstone Inc.

The process of fostering children's critical thinking and problem-solving skills can be challenging yet rewarding. In today’s episode, you’ll hear an enlightening conversation with early childhood education expert, Shawn Kaplan, about the art of cultivating thoughtful interactions in children and unlocking their cognitive abilities.
With 30 years of experience in the Early Education sector, Shawn Kaplan has supported Teachstone, the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE), and local school districts as a consultant with CLASS-related learning applications and improvement plans. Shawn has also supported Family Child Care programs as a Quality Coach, worked in infant through PreK in both private and public programs, held leadership roles in the private sector, and managed non-profit programs.
Listen to the episode to hear Shawn’s insights on fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills in children. The episode offers practical advice on enhancing children's cognitive abilities, understanding their non-verbal communication, and promoting their inherent creativity. Furthermore, Shawn introduces us to the innovative Architects of the Mind program, which aims to nurture advanced problem-solving skills in children.
Topics Discussed in This Episode

[00:00:50] Shawn’s background
[00:01:44] What it means to have children explain their thinking
[00:02:44] How explaining their thinking helps children develop cognitive skills
[00:05:41] Ideal moments for these interactions between students and teachers
[00:09:38] Leaning into transitions
[00:12:26] Reminders teachers can use to push that kind of thinking in students
[00:14:48] How asking students to explain their thinking connects to the other four indicators of quality of feedback
[00:18:38] How to have these kinds of interactions with children who are non-verbal or special needs
[00:21:01] How educators can balance guidance and allowing children to think independently
[00:23:48] Strategies for teachers to implement in the classroom 
[00:26:24] Encouragement and grace for educators

Resources
Shawn Kaplan
 

En el episodio de hoy tenemos a Zaidaliz Beltrán e Iris García como invitadas, ambas iniciadas como maestras de preescolar en Head Start y actualmente consultoras en varios programas de Head Start en Puerto Rico y afiliadas CLASS Trainer - Pre-K. Iris y Zaidaliz han trabajado juntas por más de 20 años, les gusta viajar, entrenar y hacer largas caminatas.
 
En esta conversación escucharás la importancia de planificar transiciones entre las actividades a lo largo del día, cómo benefician estas transiciones al desarrollo de las funciones ejecutivas cuando son bien implementadas y algunos ejemplos de cómo hacerlo apropiadamente.
 
Tópicos discutidos en este episodio:
 
[02:12 - 06:46] ¿Cuántas transiciones se hacen en el día? Y ¿Cómo pueden manejarse esas transiciones?
[07:01 - 09:35] ¿Qué dice la evidencia sobre las transiciones y el tiempo que se invierte en ellas?
[09:38 - 13:13] ¿Cómo estructurar los momentos de transiciones?
[13:24 - 15:24] ¿Qué efecto tienen las transiciones en el aprendizaje?
[16:06 - 19:18] Una historia que ilustra estrategias para fomentar el interés y participación de los niños y niñas en el salón de clase.
[21:08 - 22:45] Estrategias que puedes implementar desde hoy. 
[23:04 - 26:06] Curiosidad intelectual e ideas finales.
 

As educators, we are all familiar with the hustle and bustle of a new academic year. It's a time filled with excitement, anxiety, hope, and often, an overwhelming to-do list. But amidst the chaos, it's essential to take a moment to breathe, refocus, and reconnect with our passion for teaching.
In the latest episode of Teaching with Class, our host, Kate Cline, navigates us through the three Ws of teaching - the Why, the Who, and the What - offering actionable strategies to help educators reignite their passion and maintain their motivation throughout the academic year.
Topics Discussed in This Episode

[00:00:52] Connecting to the opportunities of a new school year
[00:01:40] Reconnecting with the present
[00:02:08] The three Ws
[00:02:34] Your educator why
[00:03:22] Three whos: your students, your colleagues, and yourself
[00:05:17] Finding a mentor as a new teacher
[00:06:42] What you do each day in your classroom

Resources
Kate Cline

In this podcast episode, we are introduced to the insightful Pamela Thompson, a director of teaching and learning at Neighborhood Villages in Boston. With a wealth of experience in early childhood education, Pamela shares her approach to fostering a sense of belonging in classrooms for children as young as 15 months. 
She explores the concept of an 'always yes' environment to nurture curiosity and open-ended exploration among young learners. The episode dives deep into the power of language, family engagement, classroom dynamics, and the importance of diversity in early learning environments. Thompson's fresh perspectives on language development, trust-building, and celebrating diversity are sure to inspire listeners and offer practical tips for cultivating a greater sense of belonging in their own classrooms.
Topics Discussed in This Episode

[00:00:50] Pamela’s background 
[00:03:24] What drove Pamela to stay in the classroom
[00:04:42] Creating a strong partnership between parents and educators
[00:09:14] Specific moments with parents and their children
[00:13:44] How a sense of belonging helps children feel safe so that they can focus on learning 
[00:18:02] How teachers can facilitate a moment of learning
[00:26:55] Takeaways from this episode that educators can put to use right away

Resources
Pamela Thompson
 

Understanding how best to support strong-willed children is an important question in education. In today’s episode, Megin Ruston, an adept educator and online course facilitation manager, delves into the challenges and strategies associated with teaching strong-willed children. With her expertise in early childhood education, Megin provides insightful explanations of how temperament impacts behavior and classroom dynamics. 
The discussion encompasses strategies to identify rigid traits in toddlers and preschoolers, practicing flexibility and cooperation during calm moments, and fostering emotional literacy. She also addresses the importance of setting boundaries and behavior expectations in the classroom, handling challenging behaviors, and promoting self-regulation. The episode wraps up with Megin emphasizing the crucial role of positive reinforcement and acknowledgment in the classroom and the importance of practice for educators.
 
Topics Discussed in This Episode

[00:01:38] The definition of a strong-willed child
[00:03:13] What temperament means and how descriptions of temperament have changed
[00:08:30] Why having a strong will is not necessarily a bad thing
[00:09:43] The difference between a cooperative child and a compliant child
[00:13:57] Thinking about what a child’s behavior means
[00:15:38] Flexibility as a strategy for children with more rigid tendencies
[00:21:05] Setting boundaries as a teacher
[00:27:10] What happens when the student and teacher share a temperament 
[00:29:14] Acknowledging the importance of every teacher

Resources
Megin Ruston
 

En este episodio tenemos a María Cristina Caro como invitada para visitar estrategias de desarrollo de conceptos en el salón de clases, una práctica que ayuda a construir un alto nivel de pensamiento.
El desarrollo de conceptos se basa en cuatro pilares fundamentales:

Análisis y razonamiento, se logra preguntando el por qué y el cómo de las cosas, resolución de problemas, ejercicios de predicción y experimentación, y ejercicios de comparación y exploración.
Creatividad, se basa en generar oportunidades para que los niños y niñas puedan expresar sus propias ideas.
Integración, con otros conceptos y el conocimiento previo.
Conexión con el mundo real, para entender las aplicaciones del conocimiento en la vida cotidiana.

En esta conversación se discuten los conceptos básicos, ejemplos prácticos y consideraciones especiales.
Tópicos discutidos en este episodio:
[00:45] Conociendo a Maria Cristina Caro
[03:26] ¿Qué es el desarrollo de conceptos?
[10:51] Expectativas al comenzar
[16:27] Ejemplos prácticos
[21:42] Consideraciones para aplicar las estrategias con niños y niñas con necesidades especiales