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
-
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.
-
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!
Culturally Responsive Teaching in Early Childhood Education
Culturally Responsive Teaching in Early Childhood Education
This article explores four ways to validate and affirm young students’ cultures in meaningful ways, which can boost their engagement and motivation.
Organization/Author: Amanda Armstrong, Edutopia
Type of Resource: Article
Publication Date: 2020
Rocking and Rolling. Promoting Inclusion in Infant and Toddler Settings
Rocking and Rolling. Promoting Inclusion in Infant and Toddler Settings
Rocking and Rolling, edited by Rebecca Parlakian and her colleagues from ZERO to THREE, focuses on supporting infants, toddlers, and their families. Each column offers instructional insights and suggestions that are grounded in research yet presented through real-life examples.
Organization/Author: Rebecca Parlakian, Young Children, NAEYC
Type of Resource: Article
Publication Date: 2021
Implementing a Curriculum Responsively: Supporting Children’s Development and Learning
Implementing a Curriculum Responsively: Supporting Children’s Development and Learning
This suite describes how education staff can implement a responsive curriculum. It also highlights the importance of understanding children's development and learning. Explore the ways a curriculum guides the learning environment, learning experiences, and adult-child interactions. Consider ways to use a curriculum's guidance to support children's development and learning and promote positive child outcomes.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
Type of Resource: Training
Publication Date: 2024
Early Learning Professional Development Packages: Individualized Teaching and Learning
Early Learning Professional Development Packages: Individualized Teaching and Learning
This is a curated professional development package. The content can be used for professional learning, presentations, and coaching opportunities. Topics focus on individualized teaching and learning.
Organization/Author: Cultivate Learning, University of Washington
Type of Resource: Training
Publication Date: Various
Teacher Time Series: The Joy of Teaching and Learning in Preschool
Teacher Time Series: The Joy of Teaching and Learning in Preschool
These episodes highlight the joy of teaching and learning with preschool children and their families:
Playful Learning and Joyful Teaching in Preschool
Plan, Observe, Tinker, and Teach in Preschool
Highly Individualized Teaching and Learning in Preschool
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
Type of Resource: Videos
Publication Date: Unknown
Teacher Time Series: The Joy of Teaching and Learning with Infants and Toddlers
Teacher Time Series: The Joy of Teaching and Learning with Infants and Toddlers
These video episodes highlight the joy of teaching and learning with infants, toddlers and their families:
Joyful and Engaging Environments for Infants and Toddlers
Plan, Observe, Tinker, and Teach with Infants and Toddlers
Highly Individualized Teaching with Infants and Toddlers
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
Type of Resource: Videos
Publication Date: Unknown
Visual Supports
This high-quality collection of visuals and supports can be printed and used immediately to support young children's development and learning. Each visual support includes a guide that explains what the support is, why it might be used, and how to increase the participation, engagement, and learning of children in your learning environment.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
Type of Resource: Toolkit
Publication Date: Unknown
Individualizing
Learn about individualizing to support individual learning outcomes and goals for children with disabilities. Materials include Adapting the Curriculum: Supervisors Tool, a guide for observations in the classroom; the Classroom Quality Indicators Checklist—a checklist to help supervisors determine that foundational elements of a quality classroom are in place; and Supervisor’s Guide: More About the Quality Indicators.
You’ll find practical strategies for educators and other caregivers in the Classroom Quality Indicators Checklist; Individualizing Within a Group Activity; and the Planned Instruction Form—to use when planning for an individual child in your program. The Arts & Crafts signs can be posted throughout the learning spaces to give staff ideas about what to work on while engaging with children.
Organization/Author: Head Start Center for Inclusion
Type of Resource: Training
Publication Date: Unknown
Inclusion Basics: Membership
Embedded Learning Opportunities for Infants and Toddlers
Foster belonging for young children with disabilities in inclusive early childhood settings, with support from this range of resources for educators and supervisors. Materials include a video presentation, presentation slides, video clips for asking a friend to play, print and go materials, and handouts.
Organization/Author: Head Start Center for Inclusion
Type of Resource: Training
Publication Date: Unknown
Embedded Learning Opportunities for Infants and Toddlers
Embedded Learning Opportunities for Infants and Toddlers
The purpose of this module is to provide trainers and participants with information about Embedded Learning Opportunities for Infants and Toddlers. Other common terms that refer to this practice include “activity-based intervention,” “naturalistic instruction,” and “incidental teaching.” This training module provides examples and suggestions for using embedded learning opportunities (ELOs) in inclusive, home-based family child care, and center-based early care and education settings.This set of materials includes presentation slides, presenter notes, and related handouts.
Organization/Author: Head Start Center for Inclusion
Type of Resource: Training
Publication Date: Unknown
Curriculum Modifications for Infants and Toddlers
Curriculum Modifications for Infants and Toddlers
Curriculum modifications are changes to the environment, activity, or materials that promote infant or toddler participation in planned activities, interactions, and routines. This set of materials includes presentation slides, presenter notes, and related handouts.
Organization/Author: Head Start Center for Inclusion
Type of Resource: Training
Publication Date: Unknown
A Guide to Teaching Practices
Teaching strategies are practices used by adults (e.g., family members, practitioners) or, in some instances, by other children to help facilitate children’s participation in everyday routines, learning experiences, and activities. Using these strategies engages children in activities, maintains their interest, and provides opportunities for them to learn concepts and thinking skills that support STEM learning when using adaptations (see STEMIE’s A Guide to Adaptations resource for more information) is not a sufficient support.
Organization/Author: STEMIE: Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education
Type of Resource: Toolkit
Publication Date: 2023
A Guide to Asking Open-Ended Questions
A Guide to Asking Open-Ended Questions
Interacting with children in sensitive and responsive ways is foundational to fostering all children’s learning (DEC, 2014). Using open-ended questions can be a powerful way to foster positive interactions between you and your child.
Organization/Author: STEMIE: Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education
Type of Resource: Toolkit
Publication Date: 2023
A Guide to Adaptations
The inclusion framework is informed by evidence-based inclusive practices (e.g., Campbell & Milbourne, 2007; DEC, 2014) and focuses on the supports adults can implement to facilitate STEM learning for children with disabilities.
Within the hierarchy, adaptations to the environment and materials are aligned to the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) Recommended Practices on environment while instructional adaptations are aligned to the Recommended Practices on instruction.
1. Environment (e.g., room set-up, equipment, how an activity is done, length of time)
2. Materials (e.g., adaptations to toys, materials, assistive technology devices)
3. Instruction (e.g., add information, reduce steps)
Organization/Author: STEMIE: Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education
Type of Resource: Toolkit
Publication Date: 2023
A Guide to Book Adaptations
Find examples of adaptations based on functional needs/skills that can be used before or during dialogic reading and other shared book reading experiences. The related blog post includes additional information such as an introduction to dialogic reading including a tip sheet, and a video demonstration of dialogic reading using an augmentative communication device.
Organization/Author: STEMIE: Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education
Type of Resource: Toolkit
Publication Date: 2023
MicroLesson: Learning Trajectories
MicroLesson: Learning Trajectories
This microlesson provides a quick overview of research-based learning trajectories and each of the components.
Organization/Author: STEMIE: Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education
Type of Resource: Toolkit
Publication Date: 2020
Early Childhood Environments: Designing Effective Classrooms Module
Early Childhood Environments: Designing Effective Classrooms Module
This multi-media module offers information on how to set up effective inclusive early childhood classroom environments for young children. It also provides details about the interrelated physical, social, and temporal components of those environments, as well as adaptations to help teachers meet the needs of children with disabilities (est. completion time: 1 hour).
Organization/Author: Iris Center, Vanderbilt Peabody College
Type of Resource: Module
Publication Date: Unknown
Brain Building in Process: Resources for Early Learning Set of Professional Development Trainings for 3-5 Years
Explore best practices in early education of children ages 3 to 5 years. These twelve engaging, content-rich, video-based trainings are organized by topic. Take the online 45-minute self-paced version, or download the Facilitator’s Guide to lead family child-care and center-based educators in a 1.5–2 hour training. Topics include:
Creating the Learning Environment
Engaging Children in Meaningful Conversation
Integrating Media and Technology into Curriculum
Engaging Children in Math
Providing Developmentally Appropriate Learning
Individualizing Instruction
Honoring Diversity
Getting Families Involved
Building a Community of Readers and Writers
Leading Children in Hands-on Exploration
Engaging Children in STEM
Having Fun with Phonemic Awareness
Organization/Author: Massachusetts Department of Early Education (EEC)
Type of Resource: Trainings
Publication Date: Unknown
Brain Building in Process: Resources for Early Learning Set of Professional Development Trainings for Birth-33 Months
These five engaging, content-rich, video-based trainings are organized by age. Take the online 45-minute self-paced version, or download the Facilitator’s Guide to lead family child-care and center- and school-based educators in a 1.5–2 hour training. Topics include:
The Roots of Early Learning
Supporting Young Infants’ Learning
Supporting Older Infants’ Learning
Supporting Young Toddlers’ Learning
Supporting Older Toddlers’ Learning
Organization/Author: Massachusetts Department of Early Education (EEC)
Type of Resource: Trainings
Publication Date: Unknown
Fostering Engagement Within Inclusive Settings: The Role of the Physical-Social-Temporal Environment in Early Childhood Settings
This article introduces three young children and their early learning environments, including their common routines and learning experiences. After introducing each child and learning situation, the authors identify research-supported modifications to the physical-social-temporal environment that their teachers used to build on a child’s interests, experiences, and strengths to support growth in particular areas. These modifications illuminate how early childhood educators in any setting can encourage more active child engagement and more inclusive contexts for learning.
Organization/Author: Alissa Rausch et. al, Young Children, NAEYC
Type of Resource: Article
Publication Date: 2021
Additional Resources
