ISSA Principles of Quality Pedagogy

ISSA's Principles of Quality Pedagogy is a network-developed tool that defines quality in teaching practices and classroom environment. In 2010, continuing its work on promoting high quality support to children's development and learning in the early years, ISSA launched an updated version of its Principles: Competent Educators of the 21st Century: Principles of Quality Pedagogy in English in Russian and in French. This document lays out a framework of principles of quality pedagogy and can provide guidelines for teacher preparation and continuous professional development, supporting early years professionals from the classroom to the policy level. ISSA believes that the seven areas outlined in the Principles are important ideals to be followed by professionals, administrators, and policymakers in order to provide maximum support to children and their families. This document serves as a basis for professional discussion, building and expanding partnerships, improving practices, and bringing change into the lives of young children in the countries of the ISSA network and beyond.

ISSA Launches New Pilot – Kindergarten/Preschool Teachers Invited to Enroll in a Free Online Course

ISSA is pleased to announce open enrollment in a pilot online course for kindergarten/preschool teachers on child-centered education. This pilot is funded by IBM, through the IBM Global Work/Life Fund, and is implemented by ISSA in partnership with its member organization in Slovakia, the Wide Open School Foundation. Within the framework ISSA’s Principles for Quality Pedagogy, the course consists of 12 modules which will help teachers become more intentional and reflective in their teaching. It will be moderated by Dawn Tankersley, ISSA Program Specialist, and Eva Koncokova, Director of the Wide Open School Foundation. The course will take place between September 2011 - February 2012, and will be offered to two groups of 15 course participants, one group in English, one in Slovak.

Kindergarten/Preschool teachers interested in enrolling should act fast! Registration closes on July 15th!

Detailed information about the course

A sample course activity

For more information, please contact Dawn Tankersley for the English group or Eva Koncokova for the Slovak group.

Study on the Implementation of the ISSA Pedagogical Standards (2001-2008)

In July 2010 ISSA released the Study on the Implementation of the ISSA Pedagogical Standards and their Impact on ECDE Policies and Practices in the Region of ISSA's network and Beyond (2001-2008). The purpose of this Study was to compile a comprehensive overview of how the ISSA Pedagogical Standards have been used since their introduction by Step by Step NGOs across the ISSA network of 29 member organizations. As ISSA prepared to launch a revised set of Principles for Quality Pedagogy, this study was intended to provide information and insight into what has been learned over the past eight years that could help inform ISSA's work going forward. The Study examines the role of the Standards as they were implemented through certification, mentoring, training for staff development and as part of broader initiatives for improving quality of preschool and primary school care and education.

Outcomes are documented in terms of how the standards influenced three levels of implementation: individual teacher practice, educational systems and school and community culture, and national policy. The final results of the study:

• Present a comprehensive summary of the scope of implementation across the network
• Identify best practices and lessons learned
• Include country profiles for each Step by Step NGO
• Provide information to for developing a further strategy for ISSA's work on quality improvement
• Include case studies and a final analysis

Early Childhood Programs as the Doorway to Social Cohesion: Application of Vygotsky's Ideas from an East West Perspective

The International Step by Step Association is pleased to announce publication of the book "Early Childhood Programs as the Doorway to Social Cohesion: Application of Vygotsky's Ideas from an East West Perspective," now available from Cambridge Scholars Publishing. The book is an edited volume of peer reviewed papers based on research presented during the 17th EECERA Conference Exploring Vygotsky's Ideas: Crossing Borders. The main focus of the book is to illuminate how the Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky has influenced early childhood education in both western and eastern contexts, and how his work has represented a seminal approach to the globalisation of ideas - long before that concept became part of the public discourse. As a peer reviewed, academic publication, this volume is meant to suggest ideas and build links between theory and practice, as well as to stimulate development of new thinking for successful implementation of quality early childhood education.
ISSA is grateful to have had the opportunity to collect in this volume voices from the CEE/CIS region (including from among the ISSA network itself) alongside the voices of peers from the West and Asia. Authors contributing to the volume come from Australia, Azerbaijan, Canada, Denmark, Italy, Singapore, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The volume, created at the initiative of ISSA with generous financial support from the Bernard Van Leer Foundation, was edited by Aija Tuna, ISSA Program Specialist (The Netherlands/Latvia) and Jacqueline Hayden, Professor of Early Childhood and Social Inclusion, Macquarie University (Australia).

Please click here to learn more or to order a copy of the book.

Early Childhood Development and Education in Emergencies: Country Profiles from the CEE/CIS Region

ISSA recently published five country profiles on early childhood development and education in emergencies in the CEE/CIS region (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, and Tajikistan) under the auspices of a partnership project between UNICEF and ISSA focused on mapping early childhood development (ECD) and education resources for emergency preparedness in the region. These profiles provide an overview of the emergency context in the five countries, with a special emphasis on the needs and rights of young children and their families. Making children an immediate priority in emergency planning and management in the CEE/CIS region is the main lesson from this exercise.

Handbook of ECD Experiences, Innovations, and Lessons from CEE/CIS

The Handbook of ECD Experiences, Innovations, and Lessons from CEE/CIS showcases successful early childhood development (ECD) investments and public/private partnership in Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CEE/CIS) . The examples are from both within and outside the ISSA network, and ISSA hopes that the Handbook will serve as a source of inspiration in considering new ways of improving and expanding integrated ECD services, both in the CEE/CIS region and beyond. The Handbook was launched at the ECD Policy Roundtable: Investing in Early Childhood: The Most Effective Use of a Nation's Resources, hosted by the Romanian Ministry of Education, Research, and Innovation and ISSA on 14 October 2009 in Bucharest, Romania.

Publications for Young Children and their Parents

Through its Reading Corner Initiative, ISSA has published an array of developmentally appropriate, high quality children's books in 13 languages, as well as activity kits for parents and caregivers to accompany a selection of the books.

• Currently, the Reading Corner books can be ordered from www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk, and www.amazon.de. They can also be viewed in their entirety online at www.biguniverse.com. Click here to reach ISSA's online bookstore.
• Click here to learn more about "Opening Magic Doors" Activity Kits for Parents and Caregivers.
• Click here to learn more about the Reading Corner Initiative.

Methodologies

These resources for teachers, caregivers and parents and other early childhood professionals are hands-on guides, which provide practical applications on how to implement child-centered, community-based philosophies in early childhood programs. Learn more.

Training Modules

ISSA develops and implements training programs on a variety of topics and themes related to the Step by Step philosophy. Learn more.

Effective teaching and learning for minority-language children in preschool

These materials are supporting minority language children who are learning a second language in the classroom. Designed for kindergarten teachers, materials present background, theory, activities, and actively promote the inclusion of children's home language and culture in the classroom. Learn more.

Professional Development Courses for High Education Faculty

Semester-length courses and curricular materials prepare early childhood teachers for child-centered teaching. Learn more.

Videos

Children Are Our World colorfully illustrates how Step by Step programs in Haiti, Kazakhstan Latvia, Moldova, Mongolia and Ukraine are helping prepare children to meet the complex challenges of the 21st Century. Learn More.