Children's first years of development set the foundation for their success in school and future well-being. Children's development during these early years affects their learning, behaviour, and physical and emotional health throughout adulthood.
The Early Child Development (ECD) Mapping Initiative is a province-wide, five-year research project activity looking at the factors that may influence healthy child development. The Initiative will use the results to support communities and families in ensuring that all children have the best possible start in life.
Focus: Early Learning, Inclusive Education
Early Learning is working with the ministries of Children and Youth Services and Health and Wellness to support Education Business Plan strategy 2.1 for excellence in student learning outcomes.
The three ministries are coordinating a collaborative approach for early identification of children's needs.
Focus: Early Learning, Inclusive Education
The Alberta Professional Development Consortia (ARPDC) are dedicated to promoting student learning and achievement, school improvement and parental engagement in the educational process through the provision of professional learning opportunities. The intent of this website is to provide you with a variety of accessible learning opportunities to support implementation of an inclusive learning environment.
Focus: Inclusive Education, Early Learning, FNMI, Differentiated Instruction, English Language Learners, Leadership
A cross-ministry website, Raising Children, has been developed to increase awareness of programs and services available for children 0-6 years and their families.
Focus: Early Learning, Inclusive Education
Early Learning is directly tied to Setting the Direction: Strategic Direction 10 "Develop and implement a model of support for young children who experience at-risk factors that enable programming and support in the most natural pre-school environment along with a seamless transition into grade 1."
Early Learning is working collaboratively with organizations, communities and families across the province to support pre-school children who are at-risk and is providing opportunities for inclusive early learning experiences for young children. A series of workshops, online information, and training sessions are being developed to meet this goal for parents and families, childcare practitioners, and health and education professionals.
Focus: Early Learning, Inclusive Education
This three-webinar series, focused on Early Literacy, covers creating Notebook lessons that address higher order thinking skills, critical thinking skills and assessment for learning.
* Conversation guide available
Focus: Early Learning, Literacy / English Language Arts, Technology Integration
The Learning through Play academic round table, held on Oct.15, 2010, provided an opportunity to discuss current research and assist the Early Learning Branch in developing key messages about learning through play to facilitate a greater understanding in communities, schools and families about the importance of play in a child's development. This wiki houses a collection of resource links from the event.
Focus: Early Learning, Inclusive Education
Inclusion in the Early Years: Provincial Promising Practices Symposium was held December 6, 2010. This page provides links to resources and information you may find helpful to support your work in providing inclusive, play-based early learning programs for children as well as presenters' resources and slides.
Focus: Early Learning, Inclusive Education
with Candace Beaton
This session will introduce you to a variety of strategies for using your SMART Board and Notebook Software to engage early learners in literacy and numeracy.
* Conversation guide available
Focus: Early Learning, Inclusive Education, Literacy / English Language Arts, Mathematics, Technology Integration