A
new series by WOSU Public Media features the A. Sophie Rogers School for Early
Learning, along with two other early care programs in Columbus.
The Right Start video series highlights
two particular aspects of the School's early learning program as worth
replicating; diversity and high-quality teaching.
View
the first video, Fostering Diversity and Inclusion,
to see A. Sophie Rogers classrooms in action and hear from Dr. Laura Justice,
Executive Director of the Crane Center for Early Childhood
Research and Policy and the Schoenbaum Family
Center.
Dr.
Justice describes the value of mixed age grouping in early care settings as
well as mixed income environments-and touches on the importance of public
funding policy to help make this a reality, including funding from the City
of Columbus and Columbus City Schools. (Read more on the school's blended
funding model here.)
She
says: "To live in a diverse country, we have to understand one
another. If we don't understand one another we become very very siloed-siloed
as a function of our religion, our political beliefs, our neighborhoods. And
that creates conflict and lack of understanding. And so if we can, from when
children are very, very young, come to understand that in this society people
have different beliefs, they have different values, they have different
languages, and dialects and accents and skin colors, if we can embrace that
early on, children are much better prepared to exist and thrive in diverse
country."
The
second video, Teachers Are Key,
highlights the role of high-quality teachers in early care and education
settings. Hear teachers Vanessa Shrontz, Sara Bradley, and Meredith Schilling
discuss the importance of building strong relationships with students,
play-based learning, Pre-K to elementary school transitions, and peer
relationships.
Be
sure to check out the WOSU series and share with folks who may want to learn
more about the A. Sophie Roger School for Early Learning or about best practices
in early care and education.
|