harris county deparment of education

35th Annual R.T. Garcia Early Childhood Winter Conference

35th Annual R.T. Garcia Early Childhood Winter Conference includes Eric Litwin, best-selling author of the original four Pete the Cat books, and Dr. Kenneth Wesson, the second keynote speaker, speaks on the subjects of early brain development, design and engineering, STEM and ST2REAM, social-emotional learning and curriculum development.

Get on Board and Let’s Take a Virtual Fieldtrip for Early Learners

Image of a child building a tower out of blocks; courtesy of HCDE Staff.

Let’s take a field trip! While we can’t take our early learners on a physical field trip, how about a virtual one? Educators can follow this link to fun and engaging avenues of learning with their students. This resource can be used over and over to transport early learners all over the world and even to the moon. Check it out!

10 tips to Support Children’s Science Learning

Image of an adult educating a child; courtesy of HCDE Staff.

For early learners, it is critical to encourage teachers to engage children in activities that foster curiosity and spark exploration and discovery through science. Science activities provide children with opportunities to develop and practice many different skills including organization, communication, collaboration and perseverance, as well as analytical skills such as inferring, reasoning and problem-solving. Studies have shown that students who begin to develop an interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics during the elementary years often end up in high paying STEM careers.

The Science of Adult Learning Belongs in Early Childhood

Image of an adult from Fortis Academy conducting a science experiment; courtesy of HCDE Staff.

The practice of teaching adult learners lies in the basic fundamentals taught in early childhood education. Similar to early childhood education, Adult Education literacy programs address teaching the whole learner.

Social-Emotional Development in Early Childhood

Image of children performing a dance at the 2017 Early Childhood Winter Conference; courtesy of HCDE Staff.

Social-emotional development in early childhood supports the growth of children’s social-emotional competence. This includes their experience, expression, management of emotions, and their ability to establish positive and rewarding relationships with others. Social-emotional skills developed during early childhood have been shown to make significant contributions to children’s continued academic success. On the other hand, low social-emotional development in early childhood is associated with serious problem behaviors in adolescence and adulthood, which can undermine academic success. This study aims to examine the differences of age, gender, and language in early childhood social-emotional development.

Mindfulness in Early Childhood

Image of an adult high-fiving a child in Head Start; courtesy of HCDE Staff.

Mindfulness is growing in popularity just about everywhere. Parenting and early childhood settings are no exception. There is good reason for this enthusiasm. Mindfulness has been used with adults to reduce stress, bolster overall health and psychological functioning, and assist a return to wellness following adversity. We are learning that mindfulness may also support healthyContinueContinue reading “Mindfulness in Early Childhood”

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