PreschoolFirst in Preschool Settings

• Built on the work of the noted pediatric psychologist and early learning authority Dr. Sally Flagler, PreschoolFirst includes an open framework of more than 3,100 age-appropriate, hands-on activities grouped in the most popular themes typically used by early childhood educators. These original activities incorporate the 500 behaviors children should master to be ready for kindergarten as Dr. Flagler documented in her Infant-Preschool Play Assessment Scale (I-PAS).

• PreschoolFirst is aligned to all state early learning standards, as well as NAEYC curriculum content and assessment guidelines, American Academy of Pediatrics developmental milestones and Head Start Outcomes Framework. Teachers can search and find activities by state standard using PreschoolFirst's optional standards integration. So accountability, as well as flexibility, is built in.

• Integrated with the curriculum activities is a uniform, validated assessment tool for observing and continual tracking of children’s development and school readiness in their most natural setting – at play. This assessment tool makes it easy for teachers to record and access observations made during daily, play-based activities. Based on observations by the teacher, the PreschoolFirst assessment tool helps educators track the developmental age of children and identify children who need extra attention as early as possible, then apply appropriate interventions, maximizing school readiness.

• PreschoolFirst's robust reporting features make it easy for teachers to document their observations by preparing and printing out a wide range of developmental summaries and progress reports for both their class and individual children. Flexibility in these reporting options means that PreschoolFirst can provide full information to teachers while allowing parents to see selected reports.

• Teachers save time with PreschoolFirst because its easy-to-use online format gives them everything they need with just a few clicks of a mouse. The robust database of curricular activities – searchable by theme or standard and indexed to developmental age – combines the convenience of a clickable calendar, planning book, and the online assessment tool. Together, these PreschoolFirst features give teachers a time-saving way to plan and organize activities, and perform record-keeping duties in a one-stop routine. Additionally, the system gives inexperienced teachers access to a professionally-designed curriculum resource. For seasoned teachers, PreschoolFirst offers new ideas and allows them to easily incorporate their own proven activities or lessons. All teachers – new or veteran -- get a time-saving way to plan and organize activities and perform record-keeping duties in a one-stop routine as little as once a week.

• PreschoolFirst’s two-way communications tool and suggested at-home activities to enhance classroom activities helps busy parents become more involved in their child's education. The parent involvement features provide a competitive edge and strengthen the home-school connection, while retaining confidentiality and security. Center directors, teachers and parents alike can access PF from any Internet-connected computer -- anytime, anywhere.

• PreschoolFirst gives early childhood programs a competitive edge by combining accountability, targeted learning experiences, and parent involvement into an integrated resource that can promote school readiness.

See our Features Summary for more details on features available to administrators, specialists, teachers, and parents.