Outcomes of Expanded Learning Opportunities

The purpose of this 3-hour presentation is to provide a discussion of the issues involved with the evaluation of expanded learning opportunity programs in order to help guide policy and technical decisions within programs/agencies currently involved in evaluation, as well as states considering such systems. This presentation is based on findings from recent research syntheses on school readiness initiatives, after-school programs, and tutoring programs.

Training and Technical Assistance for 21st Century Community Learning Centers

These multi-day sessions assist state department staff and local program-site staff with determining how to develop advisory committees and to design and refine application processes and procedures. Additionally, an introduction is given on how current after-school research and evaluations can be used to design, staff, and evaluate programmatic efforts to ensure positive impacts on student outcomes.

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English Language Learners

Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) Training

This 2-hour session will help participants learn the basics of teaching English language learners. Participants will become familiar with the terminology used in the education of English language learners, they'll learn a framework through which teachers of grades 3–12 can become more effective teachers of English language learners, and they'll have an opportunity to practice assessing lessons in terms of how successfully they make content comprehensible to English language learners by focusing on lesson preparation, instruction, and review/assessment. Participants will also receive the latest SERVE documents on research, policy, and practices relevant to the education of English language learners.

Awareness and Training-of-Trainer sessions of SIOP will be coming soon to the state departments of education within the SERVE region. Watch our website for updates or contact Cynthia Robertson at 800-352-6001 for more information.

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School Readiness

Assessing Young Children

This 3-hour presentation is designed to provide research-based information that can be used by educators and policymakers as they develop and implement school readiness assessment systems. It will provide information on the purposes of assessment, how to select assessment measures, and how to use the data from readiness assessment appropriately.

Beginnings of Literacy/Language Development

This 3-hour presentation offers information on early childhood literacy and how teachers, caregivers, and parents can support literacy development. It includes information on the development of early literacy and language skills, specific strategies and environments that support literacy development, and the assessment of literacy skills.

Improving the Quality of Early Childhood Education Programs

This 3-hour presentation highlights the research on high-quality childcare as it relates to later school performance. The session also focuses on features of high-quality care, including well-educated, well-trained teachers/caregivers, small classes, low adult/child ratio, age-appropriate materials, and a well-defined curriculum.

Building Babies' Brains: A Training for Infant/Toddler Caregivers

This 1-day training provides an easy-to-follow guide for presenting information to caregivers in both center-based and family childcare settings. This training package provides caregivers with up-to-date information on young children's brain development and emphasizes the need for supportive and responsive relationships between caregivers and children. This package includes a set of complete lesson plans, instructions for group activities, and support materials such as handouts and transparencies.

Continuity in Early Childhood: A Framework for Home, School, & Community Linkages and Trainer's Guide

This training curriculum, Continuity in Early Childhood: A Framework for Home, School, and Community Linkages, is designed to help communities improve continuity of services for young children and their families. It outlines eight elements that are essential to successful partnerships: family involvement, shared leadership, comprehensive and responsive services, respect for culture and home language, communication, knowledge and skill development, appropriate care and education, and evaluation.

Planning for Terrific Transitions

This 2-day training is designed to help teams improve their transition processes through more effective planning, implementation, and evaluation. By the end of training, participants shouldbe able to form a comprehensive transition team, initiate a needs assessment process, explain how to conduct a focus group, initiate a transition plan, explain their role in transition implementation, and plan for the evaluation of their transition goals and strategies.

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