Learning Modules : Making Access Happen

Welcome to Learning Modules!

Imagine walking into an early learning program and you are immediately impressed by what you are seeing. All young children are actively engaged—interested, motivated, and challenged—in the learning process. You see the educator involving the children in the learning activities with the use of strategies and tools to help them understand and take part in the activities. How is this so?

Early childhood educators and providers have learned how to use evidence-based strategies and knowledge to set up learning opportunities for young children. They have also taken great care with the design of the physical environment - the spaces in the room, the lighting, the learning centers, even sounds and scents can enhance learning. Join us as we explore a variety of concepts and strategies designed to build inclusive opportunities where all young children can demonstrate their abilities and participate in learning with their peers

In order to help you keep track of information, ideas, and other thoughts as you go through the learning module(s), you will the note-taking forms in the different sections. Please feel free to print out any of the forms you find, such as the form below:

DAP Printable Note-taking Form

Review the video to learn more about what to expect as you go through each module. Then, select one of the topics to begin.

Developmentally Appropriate Practice : Making Access Happen
In this module, we will discover ways to create a learning environment that supports developmentally appropriate practices. We will attain this goal through several objectives, including: defining "developmentally appropriate practices," exploring ways that the environment supports developmentally appropriate practices, understanding how to use activity centers to optimize children's learning, and understanding how building reciprocal relationships with the children in our care and their families helps promote their learning and development.

Positive Guidance of Behavior
This section provides information and ideas for using strategies to promote healthy social-emotional development, manage challenging behaviors, and contribute to the developmental appropriateness of the learning environment. Topics such as building visual schedules, routines and rules; using cues; individualizing learning opportunities; providing choices, and problem-solving are reviewed.

Forming Positive Relationships
This section focuses on the connections between building relationships with children and developmentally appropriate practice and ideas for forming those relationships. By building positive individualized relationships with children, we learn what is individually appropriate for each child, including each child’s specific interests, abilities, and developmental progress.

Physical Environment for Developmentally Appropriate Practice
This section presents information on how to make decisions for setting up learning environments and choosing developmentally appropriate toys and materials for young children to support their development and learning. In addition, the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), a framework for creating curriculum and environments that meets the needs of all learners, is reviewed.