Maine’s Distinctive Approach to First 10
Maine began working with First 10 Director David Jacobson in 2018, implementing First 10 practices in 13 schools across the state. This early work led to the creation of a state-level, cross-agency team that promotes connections between early education initiatives. Currently, the Maine Department of Education provides a state level support position and fading funding…
Campaign for Grade-level Reading Webinar: Exploring Best Practices and Community Innovations from the First 10 Network
The Campaign for Grade-level Reading webinar, The First 10 Framework: Exploring Best Practices and Community Innovations was the first in a three-part series of webinars focused on First 10. This first webinar, highlighted two communities — Conestoga Valley, Pennsylvania, and Woonsocket, Rhode Island — and explored the ways that they’re implementing the First 10 Framework in…
Successful Implementation of the First 10 Model: Insights from Rhode Island
Starting in 2021, the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) partnered with First 10 to improve the quality and coordination of the early childhood education and care in three communities: East Providence, Johnston, and Woonsocket. This report evaluates this partnership’s work spanning from spring 2021 through December 2023. Key findings from the evaluation include: All…
Strategies from Conestoga Valley
Each month, we bring together First 10 partners from across the U.S. to share best practices via First 10 Network Meetings. In October, we heard from the Conestoga Valley team from Lancaster, PA. Conestoga Valley partnered with First 10 in 2022. They offer a great example of a supportive, dynamic team implementing creative strategies to…
Practical Ideas for Deepening Family Partnerships
We at First 10 were excited to welcome Dr. Karen Mapp to our May network meeting. Dr. Mapp, a Senior Lecturer on Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) and Faculty Director of the Education Policy and Management Master’s Program, developed the widely-used Dual Capacity-Building Framework for Family-School Partnerships for the U.S. Department…
School-Connected Play & Learns
The First 10 Network launched in 2022 as a way to connect First 10 communities to one another so that they can learn about and build on each other’s innovations and adapt them to meet local needs. At our February network meeting, a panel of on-the-ground experts from the First 10 community—facilitators who lead play…
School Leader Perspectives on First 10 Partnerships: New Video
First 10 is excited to share the first in a series of short videos to spotlight the work of First 10 partnerships nationwide. In First 10, community agencies, families, Head Start, child care, preK, and schools form partnerships and take action to ensure all children learn and thrive. We’ll be sharing a variety of perspectives…
Innovative Communities Support Young Children and their Families
Just out in Kappan magazine: “In many cities and towns across the United States, elementary schools are forging deeper partnerships with families and community organizations well before children arrive at kindergarten. The aim of this work is to improve children’s experiences and family engagement and support along the entire continuum from prenatal care through grade…
The Power of a Good Kindergarten Curriculum
Last week approximately 35 Rhode Island teachers and coaches began learning how to implement an interdisciplinary kindergarten curriculum developed by the Boston Public Schools (BPS). This training is part of a pilot project sponsored by the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) with the aim of supporting developmentally-appropriate, Common Core-aligned kindergarten teaching and learning. 23…
“Out of the Books in Kindergarten, and Into the Sandbox”
From today’s New York Times: As American classrooms have focused on raising test scores in math and reading, an outgrowth of the federal No Child Left Behind law and interpretations of the new Common Core standards, even the youngest students have been affected, with more formal lessons and less time in sandboxes. But these days,…