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Top Takeaways is a series of recaps from important conversations, town halls, webinars and virtual events about early learning.

On Oct. 8, The Hunt Institute held an online conversation titled 鈥淓nsuring Developmentally Appropriate Practice Amidst a Global Pandemic鈥� in conjunction with the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). Javaid Siddiqi, president and CEO of The Hunt Institute made introductory remarks, and Dan Wuori, the institute’s director of early learning moderated the conversation.

Here are our takeaways:

1. Safety is the #1 priority. All of the participants agreed on this principle, while noting that we can safeguard the health of children and staff without wavering on quality. It鈥檚 not one or the other. 鈥淯se hand washing time for learning,鈥� recommended Tabatha Rosproy, National Teacher of the Year and an early child educator with the Winfield Early Learning Center.

Barbara Cooper, Alabama’s secretary of early childhood education, recommended . , superintendent of Dundee Community Schools in Dundee, Michigan and co-chair of the (and a former kindergarten teacher) said it starts with asking how big of a class can you handle safely and other fundamental questions. He also recommended Siddiqi and Wuori鈥檚 essay .

2. All we can do is focus on the things we can change. Educators and staff in the early childhood community can follow directives of administrators and public health officials. They can communicate with families and employ best practices in a world that鈥檚 constantly changing. They can stay up all night revising lesson plans. None of that will make the crisis go away.

Rosproy said the job has shifted from classroom teaching to family coaching. While she reported that kids who attend on site are 鈥渨earing their masks like champs,鈥� connecting with them remains a big hurdle. 鈥淔ocus on relationships,鈥� she counseled. 鈥淭he academic stuff will follow.鈥�

Tamara Johnson, a member of the NAEYC Governing Board and executive director of Malaika Early Learning in Milwaukee, Wisconsin said self-care still matters: 鈥淥ffer patience, grace and kindness to yourself.鈥�

3. There鈥檚 no time like the present. Siddiqi conceded that this is a time of upheaval. 鈥淲e spent years advising against screen time,鈥� he said. 鈥淣ow we鈥檙e on screens all the time.鈥� The uncertainty means there is no status quo to cling to.

Cooper said the ability to adapt is central to meeting the challenge: 鈥淭his is a moment to find our voice, to be a voice for children living with inequities.鈥� Johnson pointed to NAEYC鈥檚 statement on equity, which declares, 鈥淎ll children have the right to equitable learning opportunities that help them achieve their full potential as engaged learners and valued members of society.鈥�

The participants agreed that the intersection between Covid and social justice issues presents an opportunity. 鈥淔amilies still have to go to work, and we simply don鈥檛 have enough child care,鈥� Rosproy noted. 鈥淪o what happens is unsafe child care.鈥� She said everyone on the call should be advocates for families in those situations.

4. Early childhood professionals are endlessly inventive. 鈥淟eave it to early childhood teachers to get through just about anything,鈥� Wuori remarked, recalling a photo of a teacher whose face was concealed by a mask but whose T-shirt showed herself smiling and the words 鈥淚t鈥檚 me.鈥� Cooper said some Alabama teachers have played guitar to their Zoom pupils.

Rosproy stated, 鈥淭eaching is about 90% theater鈥� and said this maxim is especially true on remote learning platform. 鈥淒o not be afraid to be a fool,鈥� she advised. 鈥淜ids are going to know if you鈥檙e excited to see them or if you鈥檙e frustrated.鈥�

Manuszak displayed a hand puppet of a groundhog and said it helps him read stories. He also observed that more teaching goes on outside lately. 鈥淭eachers are making it happen,鈥� said Johnson, 鈥渞egardless of the curveballs coming their way.鈥�

5. Alabama is leading the way. Only Alabama, Michigan, Mississippi and Rhode Island meet or exceed all 10 of the benchmarks that the (NIEER) measures to determine a program鈥檚 quality. And Alabama has made the list 14 years straight. Cooper credits the leadership of Governor Kay Ivey as well as digital tools such as the learning management platform鈥攚hich prominently displays

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Friday, July 10, 2020, announcing the final report and recommendations of the Alabama Campaign for Grade-Level Reading.

Disclosure: Vroom was created by Bezos Family Foundation, which published the former Early Learning Nation.

This story originally published on Early Learning Nation and is now archived on 蜜桃影视. Learn more here.