C A R I B B E A N E A R LY C H I L D H O O D G O O D P R A C T I C E G U I D E
In St. Kitts and Nevis the following measures are in use: XX The COR Advantage 28, a validated observation measure developed by the HighScope Foundation that facilitates teachers to objectively record child anecdotes throughout the day, use these notes to make daily plans, and share information with families to extend children’s learning at home. XX The PQA, used to monitor and document teaching practices, relationships with families, staff professional learning and administrative practices, for the purpose of improving same. Trinidad and Tobago utilise their own quality assurance mechanisms and standardised instruments for monitoring and evaluating children’s progress. In Belize, evaluation of the ELLM Plus programme in the two preschools supported by La Isla Cariñosa Academy is undertaken as follows: XX An annual assessment of the physical environment using the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (Revised)(known as the ECERS-R) 29 each March; XX A biannual assessment of the academic content at the beginning of October and the end of May to measure programme effectiveness using the Test of Preschool Early Literacy (known as the TOPEL).30 zz Frequent supervision and guidance for staff on-task
Teachers are supervised by Early Childhood Education Officers who visit the public preschools on a regular basis, at least twice per term and the private preschools once for the term. Team visits are made to preschools with particular challenges. Guidance during the day, on task, is provided by teachers-in-charge/heads of schools. Guidance can also be provided through discussions at district team meetings, organised once per term, and in meetings of teachers-in-charge also on a termly basis, and by participating in team visits and teacher exchange facilitated by the Ministry of Education Early Childhood Education Unit.
11 Provide a structure for
regular and consistent guidance for teachers and practitioners to ensure they experience support and progress in curriculum aims with children.
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In Belize, the process of support to the ELLM Plus Programme through 28 http://coradvantage.org/ 29 The ECERS-R has been used in fourteen CARICOM countries. For details on the instrument see:: http://ers.fpg.unc.edu/early-childhood-environment-rating-scale-ecers-r 30 The TOPEL is an early literacy assessment instrument by Lonigan, Wagner and Torgesen. It measures three important indicators of later success in learning to read: print knowledge, vocabulary, and phonological awareness. It is designed for preschool children ages 3-5 years. It takes approximately 30 minutes to administer and entails receptive responses (responding by pointing to a picture) and expressive responses (responding orally). For details on the instrument see: http://www.proedinc.com/customer/productView.aspx?ID=4020