Early Learning, A Contender In The Race To The Top Of Society And Government Priorities

I consider it an honor and privilege to serve as Senate Majority Leader in a state that has increased its commitment to early learning over the last decade.

Through the tireless education and outreach by people like Mind in the Making author, Ellen Galinsky, early learning efforts are a main contender in the race to the top of society and government priorities.

In Chapter 3, Communicating, Galinsky writes:

Think of interactions during those first months and years as forming the foundation of children’s skill in communicating. The way we talk, the expressions on our faces and in our eyes, what we look at, even our gestures are the basis upon which learning to communicate is built (113).

Galinsky makes clear, parents and primary caregivers are kids’ first and best teachers. This is absolutely the case, but sometimes we all need help to be our best. Our state has responded with policies to help parents and kids reach their brightest potential.

Quality Rating Improvement System

Galinsky highlights that quality preschools make a difference in literacy and overall child development (130). Yet child care quality varies considerably around Washington. The Washington Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) is our state’s voluntary program for helping licensed child care providers offer high-quality care.

For two years, child care providers in five communities around the state participated in the development of Washington’s QRIS. An evaluation of the model showed promising results. With one-on-one coaching and funding support, the quality of care increases quickly. Based on feedback from participants and lessons learned from the field test, the Dept. of Early Learning (DEL) is now refining the QRIS standards, and will expand the voluntary program statewide in mid-2012, within available resources.

Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program

Galinsky writes about the importance of helping at risk families and kids. (126) Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) is Washington’s pre-kindergarten program serving low-income and at-risk three and four year-olds and their families. The Legislature created ECEAP in 1985, to expand the benefits of the federal Head Start preschool program to more children. ECEAP focuses on preparing children for success in school and life through three interactive components — preschool education, health services coordination, and intensive family support and parent involvement.

Preschool workgroup (SB 6759)

Galinsky stresses there are many ways to encourage literacy and communication skills (132). The Legislature is currently examining opportunities and barriers to at least two options for a comprehensive voluntary program of early learning — as a part of the state definition of basic education, or as an entitlement program executed by statute or constitutional amendment.

This is our state’s chance to look at what a “voluntary program of early learning” should look like in Washington to help ensure school-readiness for all children, and how we would fund it.

In Summary

Turning to the words of Galinksy:

Children are born engaged in learning. With our help they will remain engaged. Communication skills extend their learning by giving them the tools not only to learn from others, but to share what they’ve learned with others. What better gift can we give them than the ability to send their messages into the world? (156).

I am proud of Washington’s early learning efforts. We must take the advice of Galinsky and other early learning advocates by supporting world-class, developmentally and culturally appropriate early learning opportunities for all of Washington's youngest learners and families. This includes, but is not limited to essential communication skills, so each child enters kindergarten with a solid foundation for success in school and life.

Senator Lisa Brown

3rd District Spokane

Mind in the Making: Communicating

Ellen Galinsky’s chapter on “Communicating” in Mind in the Making touches the many fascinating ways that humans learn to communicate, from inside the womb all the way through infancy and childhood. Communication beyond mere spoken language, as Galinksy explains, is a mélange of pitch, tone, facial and hand movements and other nuanced expressions. She guides us on how to help our young ones sharpen their language skills and become effective communicators.

 

No matter your age, social position or vocation, communication is essential. I believe there are two crucial parts to communication: being able to make distinctions and break things down so others can understand you; and, more important than anything else, listening. To master communication one needs a firm grasp of the spoken and written word. As Galinsky explains, when she asked businesses, “Tell me the general skills and competencies you look for in new hires that often fall below your expectations,” the two main concerns were “spoken communication skills and written communication skills.” It is our job as parents, educators, community leaders and policymakers to create an educational environment that nurtures communication skills so these discrepancies no longer arise. 

 

I had many opportunities throughout my schooling to read, write and speak many languages and to travel the world, which has enriched my ability to communicate. Soon after I was born my father, a college professor, moved us to Paris for a couple years to conduct research for his next book, so as an infant and toddler I was immersed in French language and culture. Back in the United States, beginning in 4th grade, I rediscovered my French tongue and accent and it awoke in me a hunger for all languages. From middle school on I learned every language I could: Sanskrit, Greek, Latin, German, French – and English, of course. In studying these other languages I also learned about diverse cultures and geography. The more I understood my place and my culture in relation to the rest of the world, the better I felt I could communicate. This has helped me immensely in every facet of my life.

 

As parents, my wife and I try to create every opportunity in our household for our children to learn and to be creative. When I read Ellen Galinsky’s suggestions for promoting communication with our children, I thought of our home. Our house is never quiet - there is always a LOT of talking going on! It’s also important to note that my wife and I ask the kids to tell us how they are feeling – especially when they are acting out. Not only does that help us to understand if they are having difficulty, but it helps the kids to identify and sort out their feelings and to articulate them.

My family enjoys reading just as much – 4-year-old Felix is already reading Thomas the Train books and 8-year-old Vivian is plowing through Harry Potter, Nancy Drew Mysteries and Little House on the Prairie. We often all climb into bed together and take turns reading to each other – what a treat!

Family dinner time is important and every night we sit together, all around the same table. It is a great time to talk, to laugh, to catch up on the day and to teach and learn. We don’t have a TV, so screen time is replaced by more interaction and play. Ellen Galinsky suggests giving children “access to many forms of media communication.” The time my children DON’T spend in front of the TV is often spent painting, drawing, dancing, singing, playing the piano or reading – of course!

As a policymaker I have made it a priority to ensure that kids are healthy and ready for school. As we all know, when kids arrive in kindergarten without the social and emotional skills to be ready to learn, they are already at a severe disadvantage. Preschool plays a key role in this preparation and I’m focusing a lot of my legislative energy to promote greater access to high-quality preschool.

I am encouraged by our state’s high-quality early learning programs: ECEAP and Headstart. However, I lament that there are more than 4,000 children on waiting lists for these programs. In 2010 I sponsored and led the Legislature to pass House Bill 2731, which makes preschool an entitlement for all 3- and 4-year-olds by 2019. In addition, I am part of an Early Learning Technical Workgroup that for the last two years has been creating a plan to expand Washington’s preschool programs to all parents who want it for their kids. I am very excited about making quality early learning available and affordable to all!

In the Legislature I am also working to encourage rich and meaningful learning experiences in the home. A child’s home environment is even more important than the quality of the school experience. There are terrific programs in our state that couldn’t sustain themselves without state partnership in funding. Some of these programs include Reach Out and Read, whereby pediatricians support and encourage early exposure to books in infants and young children; and United Way’s Parent-Child Home program, in which a trained volunteer of the same language and cultural background of the family brings a book or toy to the child and teaches the parents and children alike.

I agree with Ellen Galinsky about the importance of imparting communication skills to our children so they can become competent and independent adults. With supportive homes, strong and healthy parent-child relationships and access to high-quality early learning programs, we can help our children to be engaged learners, effective communicators and successful in life.

Representative Roger Goodman
45th District