Promoting Intentional Teaching

The LEARN Professional Development Model for Early Childhood Educators

Julie K. Kidd, Ed.D., M. Susan Burns, Ph.D., Ilham Nasser, Ph.D.

Intentional Teaching

Intentional teaching enhances all young children's learning through planned instructional strategies, conversations, and activities that build on each child's needs and interests. In this book, discover the LEARN IT approach—an evidence-based professional development framework that helps educators put intentional teaching into action in their classrooms.

Benefits of LEARN IT:

• Demystifies key elements of intentional teaching. Educators will discover how to facilitate play, include each child, engage in culturally responsive practice, assess diverse young children, and link assessment with curriculum and instruction.
• Engages teachers with effective activities. Facilitated professional development activities build teachers' skills through group meetings, one-to-one sessions between educators and mentors, and follow-up small-group meetings to discuss progress.
• Ensures lasting improvements. Going far beyond one-time teacher trainings, the authors' in-depth, ongoing LEARN IT approach ensures that educators retain new skills and strategies and apply them with fidelity in their everyday work.
• Evidence-based and field-tested. LEARN IT was developed and tested for effectiveness during a multiyear research project with Head Start teachers.
• Fits a variety of professional development needs. LEARN IT can be used with larger or smaller groups of teachers, and activities are flexible and adaptable to different learning needs.

PRACTICAL MATERIALS

The professional development activities come with clear and detailed instructions; reproducible self-assessments, discussion questions, and exercises; and check sheets to ensure that new skills are implemented with fidelity.

Reviews

• Marilou Hyson, Ph.D., Consultant, Early Childhood Development and Education - July 9, 2018
  "This book gives professional development providers practical, research-based tools, including workshop designs, engaging PD activities, and downloadable forms—all intended for implementation and reflection by communities of learners. The LEARN professional development framework, here applied to the promotion of intentional teaching, is consistent with current evidence about effective professional development and is adaptable to multiple contexts."

• Sue Bredekamp, Ph.D., Early Childhood Education Consultant - July 3, 2018
  "This book provides a much-needed, research-based model of early childhood professional development to achieve intentional teaching—the foundation of developmentally appropriate practice. Weaving the latest research on adult learning and child development, the LEARN IT model is a major step toward achieving the primary goal of developmentally appropriate practice—all children reaching their full potential."

Authors:

Julie K. Kidd Ed.D., M. Susan Burns Ph.D., Ilham Nasser Ph.D.
Chapter Authors: Leslie La Croix Ph.D., Leah S. Muccio Ph.D., Sehyun Yun M.A.

Read an excerpt
Chapter 1: Understanding LEARN IT

View the handouts
Promoting Intentional Teaching
The LEARN IT Professional Development Model

Conclusion

Developed by the authors, LEARN IT strengthens teaching in five steps: L earning new knowledge and skills, E nacting knowledge and skills in the classroom, A ssessing the effectiveness of instructional interactions, R eflecting on and revising practices based on the assessment, and N etworking with colleagues and mentors.

Through unique professional development activities that build skills through group meetings and individual mentoring sessions, teachers will master essential elements of intentional teaching and consistently apply their new knowledge in the classroom. Practical, flexible, and supportive, this proven plan for professional development will help schools make lasting gains in teacher effectiveness and boost learning outcomes for all young children.