Welcome to the…
Professional Standards & Competencies Resource Library
The Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators outline the essential knowledge, skills, and practices that are foundational to high-quality early childhood education. These standards define what early childhood educators should know and be able to do in order to support the learning and development of young children from birth through age 8. They serve as a guiding framework for professional development, practice, and evaluation within the field of early childhood education.
Understanding and implementing these standards is crucial for educators as they help ensure the delivery of equitable, inclusive, and high-quality education that promotes the well-being and success of all children. By adhering to these standards, educators also contribute to the profession's commitment to continuous improvement and accountability.
Please note that while the collection of resources has been organized and tagged according to the Professional Standards and Competencies, only the most applicable competencies have been prioritized for searching and tagging purposes.
For NAEYC resources in the library, you can find policies related to reproducing, distributing, or otherwise using content here. For all other resources, please follow appropriate practices for using/citing sources.
Directions for Using the Professional Standards and Competencies Resource Library
Check out the resource library tutorial here!
-
The PS&Cs Resource Library allows you to peruse ALL of the many resources available (by default) or you can utilize the provided filter and narrow down your search to target specific resources.
Check out the resource library tutorial for more info.
-
By using the filtering categories, you are able to narrow your search to particular professional standards, one or more of the 22 key competencies, various ECE topics, a variety of age ranges, specific types of resources such as articles or videos or even find resources available in languages other than English.
The robust filters even allow you to choose multiple choices across categories or within the same category to further narrow your search!
-
Once you have opened the various filter categories provided in the filter tool, you will notice that “all” is highlighted and checked in each category by default. This means the filter tool will not filter out any of those options within that category. If you wish to narrow your search, you simply click on one or more of the other options within the various filtering categories. Clicking will check that option. Checked options will be utilized for your search!
To remove an option, simply click it again to remove the check from the checkbox.
-
The search feature is similar to any other search engine on a website. It can be used for a specific key word or phrase. Although the search may be helpful and is provided, the more robust filter tool may ultimately be more helpful in focusing and narrowing your search for resources.
-
Naturally, broken links will occur. Sometimes the resource has been moved to a new web address and other times it has been temporarily or permanently removed. We welcome you to report any broken links you find here. We will do our best to replace the link when possible or remove the resource if it is no longer available.
**As of Feb. 2025, certain webpages and resources, particularly from agencies/organizations/projects that receive federal funds, have been at least temporarily removed in order to comply with federal mandates related to the Trump Administration’s Executive Orders. We will continue to monitor these resource links and update them if and when new links are available.
Start Your Search--Resource Library
*
Start Your Search--Resource Library *
Sort quickly through the hundreds of available resources by using the filter tool on the left to populate the specific resources you need!
A Creative Adventure
This 13-minute video encourages classroom staff, teachers, and families to use visual and performing arts techniques to support learning and creative expression. Filmed in classrooms and home-based settings, the video demonstrates activities that allow children to use their imaginations and experience creative adventures.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
Type of Resource: Video
Publication Date: 2024
Inviting Creativity: The Teacher's Role in Art
Inviting Creativity: The Teacher's Role in Art
This article identifies and critiques teacher-directed, teacher-guided, and child-centered approaches and provides guidelines for determining the creative merits of an activity or approach to art.
Organization/Author: Rober Schirrmacher, Community PlayThings
Type of Resource: Article
Publication Date: 2006
CONNECT Module 6: Dialogic Reading Practices
CONNECT Module 6: Dialogic Reading Practices
These modules are designed for faculty and professional development providers to use in their professional development. Instructor Guides, in the form of dashboards, are included. Students learn about the purpose, use and potential benefits of dialogic reading practices when working with young children.
Organization/Author: CONNECT: The Center to Mobilize Early Childhood Knowledge and DEC
Type of Resource: Module
Publication Date: unknown
Creative Arts with Young Children Video Collection
Creative Arts with Young Children Video Collection
The videos and resources illustrate strategies and ideas for supporting young children's developing interest in and understanding of science.
Organization/Author: Center for Early Childhood Education at Eastern Connecticut University
Type of Resource: Video Collection with Reflection Questions
Publication Date: unknown
Science with Young Children Video Collection
Science with Young Children Video Collection
The videos and resources illustrate strategies and ideas for supporting young children's developing interest in and understanding of science.
Organization/Author: Center for Early Childhood Education at Eastern Connecticut University
Type of Resource: Video Collection with Reflection Questions
Publication Date: unknown
Circle Time Magazine: Season 1- Math Edition
Circle Time Magazine: Season 1-Math Edition
Circle Time Magazine is a professional development web series for early childhood educators created and produced by Gail Joseph, PhD, founding director of Cultivate Learning at the University of Washington. Join our hosts as they discuss topics related to the work you do with young children every day. Each episode features guests sharing tips and expertise, trying out materials, highlighting their favorite books, and showing video examples so you can see learning in action. Season 1 includes videos and an e-magazine with four episodes focusing on preschool math.
Organization/Author: Circle Time Magazine, Cultivate Learning, University of Washington
Type of Resource: Web-based Talk Show, Magazine, and Online Resources
Publication Date: unknown
Mathematics with Young Children Video Collection
Mathematics with Young Children Video Collection
The videos and resources illustrate strategies and ideas for supporting children's early mathematical development.
Organization/Author: Center for Early Childhood Education at Eastern Connecticut University
Type of Resource: Video Collection with Reflection Questions
Publication Date: unknown
Investigations Curriculum Videos Series
Investigations Curriculum Videos Series
Investigations is the curriculum used by Eastern's Child and Family Development Resource Center (CFDRC). The curriculum was developed by CFDRC teachers and administrators in partnership with Dr. Jeffrey Trawick-Smith. The curriculum is centered around engaging projects - called "investigations" - on topics that are selected by children, teachers, and families. As children investigate a topic in learning centers, small collaborative groups, whole group activities, movement and music experiences, outdoor observation, or field trips, they acquire critical competencies. Videos include interviews with preschool and toddler teachers about how children engaged in literacy, math, science, art, and other activities through the three- or four-month investigation.
Organization/Author: Center for Early Childhood Education at Eastern Connecticut University
Type of Resource: Video Collection
Publication Date: unknown
Using a Universal Design for Learning Framework to Enhance Engagement in the Early Childhood Classroom
This article from the Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship offers ideas for using UDL in inclusive settings that align with both NAEYC and DEC practices.
Organization/Author: Marla J. Lohman, Katrina A. Hovey, and Ariane Gauvreau
Type of Resource: Article
Publication Date: 2018
Take a Look! Visual Supports for Learning
Take a Look! Visual Supports for Learning
With pictures and words, this article defines visual supports and shows how they help all children to understand rules and expectations, engage in daily routine, navigate transitions, communicate thoughts, feelings and needs, and increase independence in child care routines and activities.
Organization/Author: Bonnie Blagojevic, Mary Ellin Logue, V. Susan Bennett-Armistead, Billie Taylor, and Erika Neal, Teaching Young Children
Type of Resource: Article
Publication Date: unknown
Highly Individualized Teaching and Learning
Highly Individualized Teaching and Learning
This training series focuses on individualizing, including curriculum modifications and embedded learning.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
Type of Resource: Training
Publication Date: 2020
Serve and Return
Links- https://developingchild.harvard.edu/science/key-concepts/serve-and-return/
A two part series about the what and how of serve and return interactions.
Organization/Author: Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University
Type of Resource: Toolkit
Publication Date: unknown
NAEYC’s Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) Position Statement
NAEYC’s Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) Position Statement
These sections of NAEYC’s DAP Position Statement focus on creating a caring, equitable community of learners, engaging in community relationships and teaching practices to support development and learning.
Organization/Author: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
Type of Resource: Position Statement
Publication Date: 2020
NAEYC’s Advancing Equity in Early Childhood Education Position Statement Recommendations for Early Childhood Educators- Focus: Caring, Equitable Community of Engaged Learners
The Recommendations for Early Childhood Educators section of this Position Statement includes eleven practices related to creating a caring, equitable community of engaged learners.
Links-
Create a Caring, Equitable Community of Engaged Learners
Organization/Author: NAEYC
Type of Resource: Position Statement
Publication Date: 2019
Additional Resources
