The Planning Cohort (READ CAREFULLY)

In order to be part of this terrific cohort, you must have completed an ELDS training with us.  If you did, you should have an ELDS book.  If you’re not sure, contact Eric Postman at epostman@firstsparkva.org.

Every year, we offer opportunities for all VQB5 educators to be part of one of our cohorts.   What is a cohort?  A cohort is a group of educators who meet several times, about once a month.  The Planning Cohort is designed to help you do an even better job of covering the state standards (ELDS) to prepare your children for kindergarten. This cohort will be a collaborative “think tank” rather than typical training sessions. We will explore ways to use the ELDS in conjunction with your center/school’s curriculum to plan more effectively.

Our focus will be on ways to observe children during play, using the age band(s) in the ELDS to determine a child’s level of functioning, and using your curriculum to plan strategies and activities to help each child achieve mastery for age-appropriate emerging skills. We will take advantage of our collective knowledge and expertise to share ideas and hone our planning skills.

We will meet four times beginning on Feb. 26  The dates are listed below.  All trainings will be be held IN PERSON at the FirstSpark office at 11832 Cannon Blvd., Suite F in Newport News on Wednesday nights from 6:30-8:30.

Testimonials:

Beyond the ELDS cohort gave me the opportunity to delve further into the ELDS, determine what skills are emerging or mastered and then what comes next, and use the ELDS to drive lesson planning! This cohort is fantastic for both the novice and the veteran teachers due to that the ELDS is fairly new to us. Diane and Eric were both helpful and had many great ideas for us to be the best teachers that we can be.     ~Debbie D.

The ELDS cohort took a more in-depth look at how teachers and early education staff can use the ELDS to plan lessons and meet the needs of the students in their care. Whether you have a curriculum that is aligned with the Virginia standards or you are starting a brand new curriculum, this cohort will provide you with the experience needed to determine the appropriateness of lessons that you have planned to use in the classroom. I came away with a stronger knowledge of Virginia Standards expectations and how to relate them to daily activities in the classroom. I would recommend this cohort whether you are a brand new teacher to ELDS or an experienced teacher looking to strengthen use and knowledge of the ELDS.  ~Sarah R.

Again, in order to qualify to be part of this cohort, you must have completed an Early Learning & Child Development (ELDS) training with us. If you have not completed an ELDS training, your registration will be voided.

You may register any time, but our cohorts fill up fast so don’t delay. On or around February 17th, you will receive an IMPORTANT email to finalize your registration.  Please monitor your email so you don’t miss this important message.

Trainer: Diane Postman

Questions? Contact Diane at dpostman@firstsparkva.org.