1.2: Early Learning Standards
- Page ID
- 216634
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Early childhood educators use early learning standards to guide their work with young children. Early learning standards provide educators with a framework for what children should know and be able to do at various stages of their early development.
In addition to the early learning standards for your state, you may want to review the entire Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework paying particular attention to the language and literacy domain. The framework is similar to the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards in that they both refer to guiding principles, developmental domains, sub-domains, and developmental progressions.
The Head Start ELOF has age level indicators showing what a child should be able to do beginning at 36 months and at the end of 60 months. The Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards show developmental progressions, but they do not indicate age levels.
Using your state's early learning standards, such as the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards, can help you plan, implement, and assess high-quality early childhood learning experiences to ensure all children have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Review your state’s early learning standards. Can you identify which standards relate to language and literacy learning?
The Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards (WMELS) is divided into 5 interrelated Domains of Learning;
1. Health and Physical Development
2. Social and Emotional Development
3. Language Development and Communication
4. Approaches to Learning
5. Cognition and General Knowledge.
The standards in Domain 3: Language Development and Communication will be the most applicable to language and literacy development.
Other Standards
Other standards early childhood educators must be aware of are the English Language Arts (ELA) Common Core Standards and the WiDA Standards.
The ELA Common Core Standards are for K-12 students and are similar to early learning standards in that they provide a way for teachers to measure students' progress throughout the school year. The ELA standards establish guidelines not only for English Language Arts but also for history/social studies, science, and technical subjects. This is because students must learn to read, write, speak, listen, and effectively use language in many content areas. The standards help develop the literacy skills and concepts required for college and career readiness in multiple disciplines.
The WiDA ELD (English Language Development) standards are designed to help support educators who work with multi-lingual learners. WIDA is housed at the University of Wisconsin’s Wisconsin Center for Education Research, but it is a consortium of 41 member states, territories, and federal agencies. WIDA has two levels of standards. The WiDA Standards are for K-12 students and represent the language students need to be successful in those grade levels. WiDA The Early Years for children ages 3-5 and provides resources to support language and learning as well as engagement with families of multilingual children in Pre-K
When early childhood educators understand how early learning standards align with Common Core and WIDA standards they can provide for continuity in education as children progress from preschool to kindergarten and beyond.