FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
    ?
    STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
    ?
    Jeanine Blomberg
    Commissioner of Education
    T. WILLARD FAIR,
    Chairman
    Members
    DONNA G. CALLAWAY
    DR. AKSHAY DESAI
    ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
    PHOEBE RAULERSON
    KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
    LINDA K. TAYLOR
    September 11, 2007
    MEMORANDUM#: 07-17
    TO:
    ?
    Interested
    Persons
    Early Learning Coalition Executive Directors
    District
    Prekindergarten
    Contacts
    FROM:
    ?
    Shan Goff, Executive Director, Office of Early Learning
    SUBJECT:
    ?
    Professional Development Initiatives and Resources for Voluntary
    Prekindergarten (VPK) Providers
    Consistent with our goal to provide support to prekindergarten programs and providers
    throughout the State, we are pleased to highlight several new professional development
    initiatives and resources. We especially would like to thank the numerous persons that have
    assisted us in identifying the needs of VPK teachers and directors through various workgroup
    activities. The VPK Regional Facilitators will be actively working with area trainers to provide the
    face-to-face trainings, as well as getting the word out about new online resources and trainings.
    To view the schedule of planned trainings in your area, please go to:
    http://www.fldoe.org/earlylearning/regionalfacilitators.asp.
    Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Standards: What Parents Should Know - It's
    Okay to Play in VPK! Parent Workshop
    – Fully recognizing parents as their child’s first
    teacher, this parent guide and supporting hands-on parent workshop is designed to help
    families understand the VPK Education Standards, provide an awareness of realistic and
    appropriate expectations for four-year-old children, and offer examples of developmentally
    appropriate activities that support children’s development at home, in the community, and in the
    classroom.
    Available: Now
    .
    Emergent Literacy in the VPK Classroom
    –The training teaches participants about emergent
    reading, emergent writing, oral language and communication, and environments, but more
    importantly participants take part in activities to help them understand the concepts, and many
    activities can be taken back into the classroom. This training is a total of 10 hours, split into
    either 5 hour or 2 ½ hour sessions.
    Emergent Literacy in the VPK Classroom
    is appropriate for
    SHAN GOFF
    ?
    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
    ?
    OFFICE OF EARLY LEARNING
    ?
    325 W. GAINES STREET • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0505 • www.fldoe.org
    Interested Persons
    Early Learning Coalition Executive Directors
    District Prek Contacts
    September 11, 2007
    Page Two
    teachers, assistants, and directors, and it is open to anyone, free of charge.
    Available: mid-
    September.
    Integrating the VPK Standards: Phonological Awareness
    – The focus of this training is on
    developing a developmentally appropriate activity, related to a benchmark in phonological
    awareness, to take back to the classroom. Emphasis is on planning, implementation, teacher
    self-reflection, and documentation of the activity. The training meets for 2 hours face-to-face and
    involves a 3-hour practicum. After taking part in the class, participants take their activity lesson
    plan back to their classroom to implement, reflect, and document.
    Integrating the VPK
    Standards: Phonological Awareness
    is appropriate for teachers, assistants, and directors, and it
    is open to anyone, free of charge.
    Available: mid-September.
    English Language Learners in the VPK Classroom
    –This online instructional module will
    serve as a resource for teachers with children in their classrooms who do not speak English.
    Topics include information on the role of culture, second language acquisition, classroom
    organization and management, suggested practices, and planning for instruction. This module
    will include interviews from current directors and instructors to provide tips and strategies that
    have been successful in their VPK programs.
    English Language Learners in the VPK Classroom
    is appropriate for teachers, assistants, and directors.
    Available: mid-September.
    Children with Special Needs in the VPK Classroom
    – This online tutorial will be a resource
    website that will serve as a valuable tool for programs that provides meaningful participation by
    all children including children with developmental delays, medical, or other special needs in the
    VPK classroom. The materials on the website will focus on problem solving, classroom
    environment, assessment and instructional and techniques, and adult/child interactions.
    Available: Fall 2007.
    Vocabulary and Language Development
    – This online teacher tool kit will include instructional
    strategies/resources to enhance vocabulary and language development.
    Available: Spring 2008.
    Questions related to these initiatives may be directed to the Office of Early Learning at (850)
    245-0445 or via email at Earlylearning@fldoe.org.
    SG/thm
    cc:
    ?
    Gladys
    Wilson
    Debby
    Russo
    Vocabulary and Language Workgroup Members
    Special Needs Workgroup Members
    English Language Learners Workgroup Members

    Back to top