FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Chairman
Dr. Eric J. Smith
Commissioner of Education
Members
PETER BOULWARE
AKSHAY DESAI
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
PHOEBE RAULERSON
KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
Contact Information
LINDA K. TAYLOR
Shan Goff
(805) 245-0445
Shan.goff@fldoe.org
April 6, 2009
DPS: 2009-069
MEMORANDUM 09-13
TO:
Interested Persons
FROM:
Shan Goff, Executive Director, Office of Early Learning
SUBJECT:
Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Teacher Toolkit: Language and Vocabulary Folder
We are pleased to announce the availability of the Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Teacher Toolkit.
This new online resource is available free to all VPK teachers, assistants and directors and is designed to
support early learning in the VPK classroom. The information included in the folders aligns with the Florida
VPK Education Standards and provides guidance that connects instructional needs with professional
development.
The Language and Vocabulary folder, the first of five resource folders, supports early language
development through the use of implicit and explicit instructional strategies. This folder provides research-
based practices for teachers to access at their convenience. These practices are geared toward
increasing the vocabulary development of young children. Specific strategies include
Book Embedded
Vocabulary Instruction, Dialogic Reading, Language Scaffolding and Think, Show, Tell, Talk.
Visit the VPK Teacher Toolkit at http://www.flvpkonline.org/teachertoolkit and follow the steps to visit the
Language and Vocabulary Folder. Those interested can explore each section of the folder as often as they
like and there is no need to register or complete an assessment.
Each additional folder will soon include information, resources, and video footage from VPK classrooms
across the state.
If you have questions, please feel free to contact the Office of Early Learning at (866) 447-1159 or via
email at earlylearning@fldoe.org.
SG/db
cc:
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Assistant Superintendents of Curriculum and Instruction
Coalition Executive Directors
Prekindergarten Contacts
VPK Regional Facilitators
Brittany Birken, Agency for Workforce Innovation
Debby Russo, Department of Children and Family Services
SHAN GOFF
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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OFFICE OF EARLY LEARNING
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325 W. GAINES STREET • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0445 • www.fldoe.org
Voluntary Prekindergarten
Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK)
New Resource
Teacher Toolkit
for
VPK!
Language & Vocabulary Folder
The
Teacher Toolkit is an online resource that is
appropriate for all VPK teachers/instructors,
assistants and directors and is designed to
support early learning in the VPK
classroom. The information included in the
folders aligns with the Florida VPK
Education Standards. The toolkit also
provides guidance that connects
instructional needs with professional
development.
The scope of each content area is the result of collaboration among various stakeholders, providers
offering the VPK program from across the state, and national experts. Each folder will include
information and footage from VPK classrooms across the state and additional resources as they
become available.
The
Language and Vocabulary folder
is the
first of five resource folders designed for
teachers and directors. This folder provides
strategies to increase language and
vocabulary development in young children.
Specific strategies include:
•
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Book Embedded Vocabulary
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Instruction
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•
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Dialogic Reading
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Think, Show, Tell, Talk
•
Language Scaffolding.
Features include videos of VPK teachers
implementing the strategies with children and
activities and resources to support teachers
as they begin to use the language and
vocabulary strategies in their own
classrooms.
Visit the VPK Teacher Toolkit at: http://www.flvpkonline.org/teachertoolkit/.
Florida Department of Education
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Office of Early Learning
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325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1524
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Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400
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(850) 245-0445
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1-866-447-1159
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EarlyLearning@fldoe.org
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http://www.fldoe.org/EarlyLearning
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April 2009
