Language-Rich Learning Environments and Experiences: Increasing Opportunities-to-Learn for Today’s Young Children

Zaentz Professional Learning Academy co-directors Nonie Lesaux and Stephanie Jones, along with Harvard Graduate School of Education faculty colleagues, share the latest science of early language development and explore what this science means for the design of high-quality early learning environments and experiences.

Overview

Today’s young children bring tremendous linguistic, cultural, and developmental diversity to their early learning settings and interactions – and every day, leaders and practitioners across the mixed-delivery early education system are working to create environments and experiences that promote their healthy language development.

Over the last decade, the science of early language development has evolved and expanded to inform quality improvement efforts in meaningful ways. What does this science tell us about the kinds of interactions and practices that foster children’s early communication skills? And how can we use this science to create high-quality, language-rich, and equitable environments that meet the needs of all young children? What are the best practices for children who are multilingual learners?

This program explores what the latest science reveals about creating optimal formal and informal language-learning environments and experiences — ultimately supporting children’s healthy brain development and laying the foundation for lifelong learning.

Program Objectives

During this program, participants will:

• Explore the latest science of early language development among monolingual and multilingual learners.
• Learn how language development may be influenced by stress, adversity, or disruption.
• Discover effective strategies for supporting young children’s emerging language skills.
• Make an initial plan to enhance children’s language-learning opportunities in your early education setting.

Who Should Attend

• Directors of early education centers or programs
• Leaders of early education service organizations across the mixed-delivery system
• Teachers who have assumed leadership positions in early education settings or teachers with leadership aspirations
• Directors, administrators, and coaches in public school preK programs
• Early education professionals who support teachers in their work, such as instructional coaches or supervisors
• Higher education faculty and administrators who develop programming for students in early childhood programs

Earn CEUs

Professional Education is excited to offer Continuing Education Units (CEU's) for your successful participation in this program.

The Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is a nationally and internationally recognized unit of measurement for non-credit continuing education programs. As an IACET Accredited Provider, Professional Education offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard.

Requirements to be eligible to earn CEUs:

• Attend or view all program sessions.
• Complete program evaluation.
• Successfully complete all program requirements.

Upon successfully meeting all requirements outlined above, you will be notified via email that you have A) earned the certificate of completion for the program and B) are now eligible to earn CEUs. This email will contain the link to complete the required reflection assignment if you wish to receive CEUs, along with a submission deadline, and time frame for receiving your CEUs. After submitting your reflection assignment, we will notify you via email of your CEU status, and if you have met all requirements, you will be able to download and view your CEU certificate at this point in time.

This program is eligible for 0.5 CEUs and 5 clock hours.

Note: Professional Education is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes the quality of continuing education and training.

Fees & Policies

Full tuition is due by the indicated payment deadline, which you may find above or on the program’s community page. While a purchase order confirms enrollment, full payment is still required by the payment deadline. Please note that failure to pay by the payment deadline will result in your withdrawal from the program. Click here for more information on payment, refund, and withdrawal policies.

Tuition includes all instructional materials required for participation in the program. The Harvard Graduate School of Education reserves the right to change faculty or cancel programs at its discretion. The school is not responsible for any planning expenses incurred.