1Vermont Early Learning Standards

OVERVIEW, PURPOSE, AND USES

By the end of this module, you will:

✓ Know what the Vermont Early Learning Standards

(VELS) are and where to find them on the web

✓ Understand how the VELS are organized

✓ Understand the purpose and uses of the VELS

for families, child care professionals and

policy makers

✓ Know how to navigate through the VELS to find

information about a specific area of development

at a specific age

What are Early Learning Standards?

Early Learning Standards are the expectations for the learning, growth, and development of young children birth through age eight.

The VELS are Vermont’s Early LearningStandards

• What your child should know andbe able to do at different ages

• What experiences will help yourchild learn, grow, and develop

Early

experiences

matter!

Children learn

throughplay

How do you and your child play throughout

the day?

• What are your favorite things to playtogether?

• What kinds of toys or activities doesyour child like the most?

• What songs do you sing when you wakeup, get dressed or get ready for bed?

• What games do you play togetherduring bath time?

Play happens all day long in the things you do together as a family!

The History of the VELS

2003The first edition was published

2016The VELS were revised to include updated research, and to cover from birth through grade 3

VELS Guiding Principles Inspired by Families

4 Each and every child has a unique life story written by its family,community, culture, heritage, language, beliefs, and circumstances.

6 Families are a child’s first, most consistent, and important teachers.

Each family deserves respect and support as partners and

7 decision makers in the education and development of theirchildren.

8 Home language and culture are essential components ofeach family’s identity; they are to be valued and maintained.

To Realize the Promise to Each and Every Child

ALL of Vermont’s children grow up happy, healthy, and ready for a lifetime of learning.

You areyour child’sfirst and mostimportant teacher!

Pause and Reflect

What do you think about being your child’s first teacher?

Who else in your life do you rely on to help you raise and teach your child?

How do you think the VELS can help you with your child?

Organization of the VELS

I.Developing Self: Approaches to Learning; Social-Emotional Development; Growing Moving and Being Healthy

II.Communication and Expression: Language Development; Literacy Development; Creative Arts and Expression

III.Learning About Our World: Mathematics;Science; Social Studies

Purposes of the VELS

The VELS help providers and teachers:

• Plan different kinds oflearning experiences forchildren

• Select what concepts to teach

• Incorporate play to supportlearning

• Plan how they teach

Purposes of the VELS

The VELS help administrators The VELS give policy and community early makers the information childhood leaders: they need to:

• Know what teachers should • Understand what youngbe teaching your child at children need when theydifferent ages. develop policies and

rules.• Provide guidance to teachersabout how to teach each andevery child.

The Purpose of the VELS for Families

The VELS describe the progression of child development from birth through age eight, so that as families you can:

• Understand what your child is learning at different ages, and

• Make choices about the types activities at home and in yourcommunity that will support your child’s development.

Some things to keep in mind

You are your child’s first and most important teacher, and we want you to have tools and resources available to support that role for you!

We don’t expect you to

• Become ECexperts

• Teach allday long

Using the VELS

• Inform families about childdevelopment.

• Help teachers individualize theway they teach your child.

• Help early childhood programleaders develop high-qualityprograms and staff.

• Create a common language forall about early childhood.

The VELS should not be used as:

• An assessment checklist.

• A curriculum.

• A way to diagnose delays or to label children.

• A way to tell teachers how to teach.

• An evaluation of teachers or program.

• A means for excluding children from programs or experiences.

The VELS are for Each and Every Child

• Modules 2 – 4 will describe in detail the threesections of the VELS, and provide some activityideas for you to try at home with your child.

• Family Guides and a calendarwith additional activities and informationabout the VELS will be available soon.

• Workshops

What’s next?