“Selecting the right software can transform your business and quality of education you can provide.”
Leah Woodbury, Procare Solutions
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Page 07 An independent supplement by Mediaplanet to USA Today
“Research shows that high-quality, culturally responsive early learning education sets the foundation for lifelong well-being.”
Mia Tuan, Ph.D., Dean, University of Washington College of Education
Nonprofit ReadWorks Is on a Mission to Improve Reading Comprehension for All
ReadWorks offers 100% free, high-quality resources to assure science-backed instructional support for teachers.
Though not a new issue, pandemic-related learning loss has shed an increased spotlight on the complexity of reading proficiency in the United States. ReadWorks, a national nonprofit education technology organization, closes the gap between reading research and teaching instruction, all for free, through an online platform with more than 6,000 ready-to-use reading passages, vocabulary activities, and question sets.
Extensive research, in collaboration with world-renowned research institutions, has shown that ReadWorks is a game-changer for students’ reading comprehension. ReadWorks thoughtfully designs supplemental resources to align with many popular curricula to help students develop the skills they must learn on both strands of the reading rope — background knowledge and vocabulary acquisition, which experts say are the most critical skills.
ReadWorks partners with world-class organizations and universities to provide rich, engaging texts written by subject-matter experts. Millions of teachers have already used ReadWorks to add more culturally responsive texts, and to add more reading opportunities to their science and social studies curriculum with its nonfiction Article-A-DayTM routine. No matter what topic is being covered, ReadWorks’ supplemental content has been proven to improve students’ reading comprehension.
There is a world of new content and resources that teachers can tap into with only an email address, all available right now.
Written by ReadWorks
Tackling the Literacy Crisis: A Call for Equity and Innovation
Educators, researchers, policymakers, and advocates are invited to rethink literacy education through an equitable, inclusive, and research-informed lens.
The literacy crisis in the United States isn’t just a story of low reading scores — it’s a call to action for justice and equity in education. For too long, historical inequalities have left Black and Hispanic learners disproportionately behind, reflecting systemic racism, unequal funding, and discriminatory policies.
To truly address this crisis, we must dig deeper, confronting the historical and cultural forces that have shaped our education system. Now more than ever, we need to champion literacy through an equity lens — one that embraces the unique experiences of marginalized students and opens doors to success for every child.
Rethinking literacy research for diverse classrooms
The field of literacy research is vast and ever-evolving, and debates about the “science of reading” continue to dominate the conversation. Yet, focusing on a single approach overlooks the complexities of learning. To truly meet the needs of diverse learners, we must broaden our perspective, incorporating insights from multilingual literacy, cognitive science, and social-emotional development.
Teachers are not just consumers of research; they are its interpreters and innovators. By questioning whose voices are represented and whose are left out, educators can develop inclusive practices that resonate with the diverse children they teach. Embracing a richer, more inclusive view of literacy research empowers teachers to create classrooms where all students can thrive.
The complex journey of learning to read Learning to read is so much more than decoding words — it’s about finding meaning, connecting with texts, and seeing oneself reflected in the stories. Every child
embarks on this journey with their own set of experiences, shaped by their culture, language, and identity. Literacy instruction should reflect this individuality.
Moving beyond a one-size-fits-all approach, teachers must engage with each child’s unique needs, helping them build confidence and cognitive skills in a way that honors their personal and cultural identity. When learning to read becomes a celebration of who they are, children are not just readers — they are empowered thinkers.
The literacy crisis in the United States is a reflection of deeper historical inequalities that have held back our most vulnerable learners. But by centering equity in our approach, we can change the story. Literacy research is as diverse as the students it aims to serve, and educators must critically engage with it to create teaching practices that uplift all learners.
Effective literacy instruction is multifaceted and must honor each child’s culture, language, and life experiences. By fostering culturally responsive practices and supporting teachers as evolving professionals, we can close the literacy gap and build a more inclusive, inspiring future for every student.
Publisher Razelle Amante Managing Director Gretchen Pancak Production Manager Dustin Brennan Creative Director Kylie Armishaw Client Success Manager Taylor Daniels
WRITTEN BY Erica Holmes-Ware Chief Program Officer, Children’s Literacy Initiative
Play Your Way to Reading Success
“In play a child is always above his average age, above his daily behavior; in play it is as though he were a head taller than himself,” renowned child psychologist Lev Vygotsky once observed.
Play is powerful and transformative. Vygotsky is referring to dramatic play where children role play a real-life scenario, such as ordering food at a restaurant or visiting a doctor’s office. Many of us can remember gathering our office supplies, pulling over the chalk board, and setting up a classroom in the basement to “play teacher.” This imaginative exploration of play not only opened our minds to what we wanted to be when we grew up, but developed our language skills and supported us in making connections between speech and print.
Play develops higher order thinking From family homes to school buildings, we’ve long known the important role of play for children. The use of dramatic play centers is commonplace in preschool and kindergarten classrooms.
I love walking into my own children’s classrooms and seeing kids busy at the woodworking bench or getting ready to check out at the ice cream shop. In these preschool rooms, the joy is evident and, organically, children are developing higher order thinking skills, such as predicting, problem-solving, and comparing and contrasting.
Yet, time for play in early childhood settings has been reduced in favor of teacher-directed, skill-based instruction. The trend toward these types of scripted, teacher-directed exercises is not nearly as beneficial as a play-based method, only supporting children’s lower order thinking, such as memorizing basic facts.
A clear example of how this plays out can be seen in Tennessee, which initiated a state-funded PreK program for low-income families (TN-VPK) with this type of teacher-directed instruction. While the initial results were encouraging, as the researchers continued to follow this group, they
found these results disappeared by the end of kindergarten, and by sixth grade, the children had worse academic achievements, higher rates of disciplinary infractions, lower rates of attendance, and high rates of special education services.
What was causing this promising program to flounder? Researchers believe that the PreK program spent too much time on skill-based instruction and did not develop the type of self-regulation and natural curiosity that would ensue through play-based approaches.
While cuts to playtime for all children are concerning, it’s particularly alarming that cuts for playtime are more severe for children from underresourced communities. A survey of kindergarten teachers in Massachusetts found that 33% of teachers of students from low-income families had no time at all scheduled for play, compared with only 3% of schools with students from high-income families.
Add books, boost learning
Regardless of economic factors, the latest data shows we need to find innovative and effective methodologies to drive reading proficiency. Recent National Assessment of Educational Progress 2022 scores show that only 33% of fourth graders are reading proficiently. It’s evident: kids need play, and when paired with the power of a book, the effects are multiplied.
These playful approaches have even more positive impacts when directly connected with storybooks read aloud by the teacher. The language in the book can support the language in the play.
For example, one study found that when children engaged in a dramatic play center, 76% of their play episodes followed story structure, which helps children progress in their ability to
understand and develop narratives. This is because when children engage in dramatic play, they are given the opportunity to imagine a setting (e.g., doctor’s office), characters (e.g., doctor and patient), and plot (e.g., patient is sick). Additionally, connecting storybooks with dramatic play coupled with adult guidance has large effects on vocabulary gains as well as kindergarten readiness and fourth grade word decoding and reading comprehension. The research is clear that play-based learning has strong implications for children’s literacy and invites adults to find a balance between creating play environments that are conducive to literacy learning while still allowing play to be an art of childhood.
Play-based resources
Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) supports the importance of play-based learning in a child’s reading journey. That is why it recently launched an online destination for Early Childhood Education. This free online destination provides teachers and families with the ideas and resources to create storybook-based dramatic play centers in classrooms and in homes to foster the link between literacy and play, as well as provides resources to support other early literacy skills, such as listening, speaking, and writing.
WRITTEN BY Erin Bailey, Ed.D. Vice President, Literacy Programs & Research, Reading Is Fundamental (RIF)
Explore RIF’s Early Childhood Education online destination today to support the young readers in your life to learn in fun and engaging ways.
Photo courtesy of Reading Is Fundamental
Nurturing Young Minds: Ms. Rachel’s Approach to Early Learning
Viral YouTuber Ms. Rachel discusses her journey into early childhood education and how her interactive videos make learning fun and effective for kids.
Many parents and caregivers find inspiration in your work. What sparked your interest in early childhood education and development?
When you are a parent and your little one is struggling with communication, you want to do anything and everything possible to help them find their voice. My son having a severe speech delay inspired my dive into early childhood development, although I have always had a passion for working with little ones! I love being around their contagious wonder and joy.
Your content is known for being engaging and interactive. Can you elaborate on the specific skills young learners develop as they interact with your videos?
I’ll take something as simple as introducing and singing “Wheels on The Bus.” I ask the children to do the first motion of the song with me. Imitation is an important toddler skill. Then I ask them to say, “Beep! Beep!” If they do, a cartoon bus will come out! I am trying to show them that when we use our voice, things happen! Their voice is powerful. Also, fun vehicle sounds like “beep-beep” and
“vroom-vroom” are fun ways to explore speech. Then, we sing the full song with all of the gestures. Singing the lyrics is great for language development as well. It’s also a fun song that encourages imaginative play. While the song is playing, we have text on the bottom of the screen for parents suggesting they sing songs with gestures with their child. We do this so parents can learn about their child’s development while the child is learning and being entertained.
The literacy gap in America is a growing concern. How can your work help foster early literacy skills in young children?
I am always encouraging parents to read daily with their little ones, which is so important. We recently did a “Learn To Read with Ms Rachel” video. We created a fun “Phonics Song” that introduces all of the letters and letter sounds. Knowing that multi-sensory learning helps children retain knowledge, I created a gesture for each letter sound that hints at how the mouth moves to create that sound. The videos of young children doing all the sounds and gestures with us have been incredible! We also incorporate many of the
preschool learning standards for literacy in this episode and others.
Your dedication to early childhood development is truly inspiring! Given your current success and passion for this field, what plans do you have for the future?
It’s definitely a calling, and I feel so lucky I get to do this job! I want to be part of the movement to transform the way we care for young children and their families worldwide. Every child deserves to have their rights respected and to receive the best possible start in life. It is essential to provide families with more support during the critical early years, laying the foundation for a brighter future.
Play is how little ones learn, especially at the earliest ages, and I’m excited to extend the themes and learning of our show to my first picture book and toy collection. Both the book and toys have been thoughtfully created to help foster learning through play and are inspired by favorite songs, themes, and research-backed learning techniques from my videos. My toys and book, “Ms. Rachel and the Special Surprise!” will be available at the end of September.
Automate Your Center Operations to Focus on What Matters Most — The Children
Administrative tasks can consume hours of precious time during the day of a childcare center leader — time that is better spent connecting with children, staff and families. From managing enrollments to maintaining communication with parents and ensuring compliance, the responsibilities are numerous.
Childcare management software is designed to meet the specific needs of your business by automating administrative tasks so you can focus on what matters most — educating the children in your care.
Selecting the right software can transform your business and quality of education you provide. So how do you choose the one that best fits your needs? Let’s answer some questions to help you make the best choice.
How do your business goals align with childcare software?
Start by identifying the pain points at your center. Talk to staff about which administrative tasks take up most of their time and where they think automation could most benefit your program.
Consider speaking with your families to see which features they find most helpful. From these conversations, make a list of must-haves and nice-to-haves. This list will start to narrow down possible vendors and guide you moving forward.
What is the user experience like with the childcare software?
Once you have narrowed down your software search to a few vendors, request a demo to see how it works. Ensure the software solves your business problems and is user-friendly for both staff and parents.
During the demo, make sure you can see yourself using the program and that there is an obvious flow to how it works. The same goes for testing a childcare mobile app to make it easy for teachers to share photos, developmental milestones and daily updates with families.
Does the childcare software manage all business operations?
Understand everything the software can do and any additional costs you might face. Will there be extra charges for accessing customer support or staff training?
Check if the software covers all parts of running your business, including tracking child attendance, easy access to family information, handling schedules, keeping records, communicating with families, and billing and processing payments. These tasks can consume time that could be spent with the children.
What support options are provided with the childcare software?
If you have a question, is there someone to talk to who can resolve your issue promptly? A strong support team is an essential feature to look for in a software provider. Ask about the availability of live customer support, online support resources, training webinars, and the implementation process.
Also inquire about the history of the company, its experience with childcare management software, and its customer base. Having reliable support and a knowledgeable provider can make a significant difference in your experience.
Ready to get started?
To explore how much time and money you could save by automating your administrative tasks with childcare management software, check out the Procare Cost and Time Savings Calculator by scanning the QR code below to learn about the potential savings of using automation in your childcare center.
About Procare Solutions
For more than 30 years, Procare Solutions has been helping early childhood educators simplify operations and create meaningful connections with families, so they can focus on what matters most — the children. That’s why over 37,000 customers choose Procare. We are proud to be a leader in childcare management software.
Written by Leah Woodbury, Procare Solutions
For more information, visit ProcareSolutions.com
Photo credit: Adobe Stock
High Five! 5 Tips for Inclusive Play
When children of all abilities play, learn, and grow together, everyone benefits — children, families, communities, and our society as a whole!
Inclusion ensures children with and without disabilities have the same opportunities to engage in meaningful experiences and relationships. Inclusive learning and social experiences help children feel a sense of belonging, connection, and worth. Inclusive play is one of the most effective ways we can support positive early development for young children. In fact, inclusive play is one of the most effective ways we can support positive life-long development for all of us! Here are five ways to harness the power of inclusive play.
1. Adopt an inclusive attitude
Inclusion starts with the belief that everyone is important and valuable. When we create an environment where everyone belongs, it fosters a sense of community and acceptance. Research shows that successful inclusion is rooted more in mindset than in methodology. By modeling kindness, acceptance, and welcoming behaviors, and reinforcing these values
daily, children learn to embrace diversity and foster friendships. Inclusion is driven by the belief that it is not only the right thing to do, but also that it is achievable.
2. Know kids, not labels To effectively include children with disabilities, it’s crucial to see them as individuals, not just as their diagnoses. Every child has unique strengths, weaknesses, likes, and dislikes. Rather than generalizing based on a disability, getting to know each child as a person allows for more meaningful connections and avoids harmful stereotyping. Children with disabilities, like all children, are motivated by the same factors and want to be seen, heard, and valued for who they are. Understanding their individual abilities, needs, and preferences helps in supporting their independence and fostering success.
3. Communicate openly Open communication is key to successful inclusion. Being
receptive to questions, comments, and discussions helps address uncertainties or misconceptions. Often, uncomfortable or awkward interactions stem from a lack of knowledge or experience. By pausing to reflect rather than reacting harshly, and by seeking clarification or information, we can build a shared learning experience. Honesty and a willingness to admit what you don’t know, coupled with a commitment to finding answers, can bridge gaps in understanding and promote inclusivity.
4. Celebrate both similarities and differences
Diversity without connection leads to separation. Inclusion thrives when diversity is connected to empathy and learning. It’s important to help children identify and celebrate both what they have in common and what makes each child unique. Normalizing differences as a unifying factor rather than a dividing one fosters a sense of belonging for
all. Recognizing that everyone has something valuable to contribute, regardless of their abilities, helps create a more inclusive and supportive environment.
5. Let kids be kids
Children naturally form friendships when given the opportunity to interact in a supportive environment. While friendships can’t be forced, they can be fostered by creating conditions where children respect, learn from, and support each other. Inclusive practices encourage children to play, have fun, and explore together. Allowing children to try new things, struggle, solve problems, and succeed on their own empowers them and reinforces the idea that fun transcends differences.
Let’s work together to make inclusive play the expectation, not the exception. Everyone benefits! Fun is an equalizer, and smiles are universal.
Written by National Inclusion Project
Strengthening the Early Childhood Educator Workforce: Addressing Compensation
and
Investing in Professional Development
While early childhood educators are shaping young minds at a critical part of their lives, they are not rewarded for it with adequate compensation, benefits, career growth, or even respect.
Every time I step into an early childhood program, I’m struck by how warm and welcoming the environments are, filled with the sights and sounds of joyful learning through play.
It’s a testament to the pride that early childhood educators bring to their work and the care they take in creating spaces where children will spend formative time learning and growing.
Ninety percent of a child’s brain develops by the age of 5. Yet, while early childhood teachers are helping shape young minds at a critical part of their lives, they are not recognized for it with adequate compensation, benefits, access to professional development, career growth, or even respect. This has led to an early education workforce in perpetual crisis, which puts families and children in tough situations when programs shrink or close. It also puts a significant dent in the American economy.
To pull out of this crisis, we must invest in early childhood educators, both in compensation that reflects the value of the work they do, and in the opportunities to develop their careers so that the workforce behind the workforce can be fully supported in serving children, families, and communities.
Compensation matters
Inadequate compensation is the core of the problem, which has far-reaching consequences for the quality of care and education provided to young children. Early childhood educators often earn poverty-level wages, with nearly half relying on public benefits to make ends meet. This unacceptably low pay contributes to high turnover rates and forces talented teachers to leave the field they love for better-paying opportunities elsewhere.
Early childhood educators must earn a thriving wage that reflects the highly skilled, professional work they do.
Access to professional preparation and development matters Research shows that higher teacher
qualifications are positively correlated with higher-quality early childhood education and care, so increasing pathways and equitable access to higher education and professional development opportunities is essential for strengthening the early childhood educator workforce and increasing the supply of quality childcare and early learning.
Educators and organizations from around the country are proud to be part of a collective movement to define and drive investments in a unified, cohesive, diverse, and equitable early childhood education profession that is prepared, recognized, and supported.
Public financing for ECE matters
Quality early childhood education is found in a variety of settings, from family childcare homes to public schools, and the educators in these programs deserve to be compensated equitably. This requires increased and sustained federal and state investments to improve outcomes for children and families.
Costs for higher wages and better benefits cannot be borne by families, whose monthly childcare costs often exceed their rent or mortgage payments, or by providers, who cannot charge less and for whom working with a shoestring budget is the norm, not the exception — a perpetual and demoralizing Catch-22.
Investing in the education and compensation of early childhood educators is the best way to improve the supply and quality of early childhood education programs. When we underinvest in this critical workforce, we undermine the short- and long-term benefits of high-quality early learning, diminishing the return on investment and ultimately harming children and families. And when we invest in this workforce, educators benefit — and so do we all.
Investing in Early Learning Excellence Impacts Lifelong Well-Being
Research shows that high-quality, culturally responsive early learning education sets the foundation for lifelong well-being. Yet research also highlights severe shortages in the early learning workforce, limiting access to rich early learning experiences for many of the nation’s youth. At the University of Washington College of Education, we are committed to addressing gaps in the early childhood education workforce through targeted scholarships and innovative community partnerships.
Our effort includes providing funding for more than 1,500 scholarships for students pursuing bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and high school internships in early childhood education. Specifically, our Early Learning Equity Scholarship supports students accepted into our online Early Care and Education and on-campus Early Childhood and Family Studies undergraduate programs, while our Early Childhood Policy Fellowship supports students enrolled in our on-campus Early Childhood Policy master’s degree specialization.
Additionally, the College of Education has partnered with community to co-design an early learning resource and workforce development hub that will serve the vibrant neighborhoods of Seattle’s Rainier Valley and serve as a national model for innovative university-community partnerships. The Rainier Valley Early Learning Campus will address historical injustices and inequities in early learning by expanding access to affordable, high-quality childcare and preschool, center anti-racist care and curricula, and provide tools and professional development to an industry led by practitioners of color.
Our commitment to early learning education will ensure that all children have opportunities to thrive, and this begins with investing in current and aspiring early childhood educators.
WRITTEN BY Michelle Kang CEO, National Association for the Education of Young Children
WRITTEN BY Mia Tuan, Ph.D. Dean, University of Washington College of Education
