Best Practices Archives - Early Learning Nation

“Baby’s First Years” Offers First U.S. Study to Assess Impact of Poverty Reduction on Infant and Toddler Development

Tom Kertscher·May 8, 2019·5 min read

“What this study is asking is whether or not, as a matter of public policy, is it a straightforward way to achieve the important goal of early childhood development.” -- Matt Klein, executive director, New York City Mayor's Office for Economic Opportunity

Reduce Mothers’ Stress Now to Improve Mental Health for the Next Generation

K.C. Compton·Jul 21, 2020·6 min read

The best time to get a child’s life off to a solid start begins months before their birth. That’s why...

Montessori and Equity: Rising to New Challenges

Part 3 of a 3-Part Series

Mark Swartz·Sep 27, 2022·5 min read

The Montessori method arose across the Atlantic and more than a century ago. How is it rising to the challenges set in motion by the global pandemic and national reckoning over racism? A new generation of Montessori leaders is infusing the approach with a heavier dose of equity.

Caring Arizona: An Innovative Program Offers Targeted Support for Informal Caregivers

Mark Swartz·Jul 21, 2021·4 min read

Cokis is an immigrant mom and grandmother in Arizona. Her struggles with the trauma that she and one of her...

Transition to Fatherhood: A Profound Passage that Should Be Protected

K.C. Compton·Aug 20, 2021·7 min read

Women come of age steeped in conversations about reproduction. Different cultures interact with women’s bodily changes in various ways, but...

More Bad News for Child Care: The Importance of Not Looking Away

Our Broken Child Care System and How to Fix It, Part 2

The Editors·May 20, 2020·8 min read

In this three-part series, Dr. Laura Justice—executive director of the Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy at The...

How Can We Make This School Year the Most Playful in History?

Educators and Experts Weigh In

Mark Swartz and Art Hondros (Illustrator)·Sep 7, 2023·6 min read

It’s “back to school” time, whether the children in your life are going back to an actual school or to...

5 Ways Colleges Can Assist Students Who Are Parents of Young Children

Mikah Jorgensen·Oct 6, 2022·5 min read

Across the U.S., colleges and universities have pledged to enhance diversity and to prioritize inclusiveness. In the wake of the...

Phil Fisher: The Realities of Stress on Children

The Editors·Apr 22, 2019·5 min read

When University of Maryland Associate Professor Geetha Ramani and her colleagues visit early learning classrooms, they’re known as the “game people.” Ramani’s research shows not only the importance of teaching math skills, but also the effectiveness of what might seem like an obvious tactic: Make it fun.

Erikson Institute’s New, Fully Funded Master’s Program for Educators of Color in Chicago

Applications Due April 21 for Educator Impact Grants

Mark Swartz·Mar 30, 2023·4 min read

Erikson Institute’s new Master of Science in Early Childhood Education (MSECE) licensure program is designed to prepare teachers to teach...

“Like a Dream Become Reality”: Multnomah’s Preschool For All Effort Showcases Parent Power

Elliot Haspel·Nov 9, 2020·5 min read

In this two-part series, Elliot Haspel explores how one Oregon region mobilized to generate an innovative, next-generation plan for universal...

5 Top Takeaways from the Conversation: Mississippi’s Education Turnaround

Mark Swartz·Jul 28, 2020·3 min read

On Tuesday, July 14, Mississippi's Superintendent of Education, Dr. Carey Wright, shared the story of grade-level reading success in her state. The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading (CGLR) powered the conversation as part of their Learning Tuesdays webinar series.

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