A high quality early literacy education provides the foundation for student success.

That foundation is built by early childhood teachers. Given the importance of their task, it is critical to provide them with the tools and knowledge necessary to complete the job. Rice’s School Literacy and Culture offers three innovative short courses for early childhood teachers working with pre-kindergarten or kindergarten students.

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A well-trained teacher has the power to transform lives, campuses and communities. And well-planned training has the power to transform teachers.

With this in mind, we have developed innovative programming that not only makes it possible for early childhood teachers to meet the academic and socio-emotional needs of the children in their care but also provides opportunities for teachers to rediscover the passion and joy that brought them into this field! Additionally, participants can expect the following:

Priceless yet free.
Course participation is fully underwritten by Good Reason Houston, The Powell Foundation and the Samuels Family Foundation.

Your time is valuable.
Participants will receive a one-time $250 stipend for each course for investing time beyond the traditional workday.

Tools for your talent.
A selection of children’s books and educational supplies will be provided to facilitate classroom implementation of course objectives.

Credit and community.
24 hours of PD credit will be awarded upon successful completion gained through a transformative experience shared with passionate peers.

Course Details

These short courses have been created with the schedules of busy educators in mind and feature practical research-into-practice classroom strategies. Join a community of teachers who are committed to providing their very best to the children and families with whom they work.

Developing Oral Language

This six-week course will present research-based strategies for using quality children’s literature, dramatic play scenarios, and children’s interests throughout the classroom to get young children talking and sharing their stories. These strategies can provide both a strong foundation in children’s first language and a meaningful context for emergent bilinguals. We will address the classroom environment and how to plan for and implement language-rich, open-ended, and engaging activities for young children. We will also explore the role of extended conversation and the teacher-child relationship in promoting oral language as well as a philosophy of parent engagement that builds upon families’ strengths and diverse life experiences.

Course Structure

This course is considered a blended course (asynchronous and synchronous). We will meet in person 2 times, virtually (synchronous) 2 times, and there will be 2 asynchronous modules for participants to complete independently online. Each week participants will be assigned a module to complete, including activities such as readings, videos, reflection posts, and quizzes.

Topics Include:

Characteristics of a language-rich classroom
Importance of the teacher-child relationship; having extended conversations with children
Quality Children’s Literature: Interactive read-alouds, story dramatization, story retelling
Mature Dramatic Play: Using real-life dramatic play scenarios as a tool to develop language
Children’s Interests: Highlighting student interest in the classroom; authentic student writing
Equity/Family Engagement: Celebrating families' strengths and funds of knowledge; Diverse children's literature serving as mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors

Final Project

Putting It All Together: Meaningful teacher-child interactions in a language-rich learning environment

Supporting Second Language Acquisition in Emergent Bilinguals

This eight-week course will examine the nature of second language acquisition in very young children who are still in the process of acquiring their first language. We will look at how oral language development in these children differs from that of monolinguals and review current research highlighting the benefits and assets associated with bilingualism. Research-based strategies for working with emergent bilinguals in the early childhood classroom will be shared through online modules, virtual seminars, and in-person visits to two Rice OWL Labs where the oral language development of emergent bilinguals is a central focus. We will discuss the importance of the home language in second language learning and the many diverse linguistic and cultural strengths our dual language families bring to the learning environment.

Course Structure

This course is considered a blended course (asynchronous and synchronous). We will meet in person 3 times, virtually (synchronous) 2 times, and there will be 3 weeks when participants will practice implementing the recommended strategies and activities in their own classrooms using materials provided. Participants will be assigned a total of 4 modules to complete, including activities such as readings, videos, reflection posts and quizzes.

Topics Include:

Classroom organization and routines: helping emergent bilinguals feel comfortable and supported in the learning environment
How does the oral language development of emergent bilinguals differ from that of monolinguals?
Theories of second language acquisition; strategies to provide comprehensible input and lower the affective filter for emergent bilinguals
Asset-based view of bilingualism; translanguaging as a way to leverage children’s entire linguistic repertoire
Valuing the home language: Nurturing relationships with children and families
Creating and sustaining a language-rich environment for emergent bilinguals

Final Project

Putting it all together: Supporting emergent bilinguals in the early childhood classroom

Promoting Self-Regulation and Executive Functioning in Young Children

This eight-week course will present research-based strategies for promoting self-regulation and executive functioning in young children. These domains are not only critical to children’s successful regulation of behavior, but they also impact academic growth as children learn to sustain attention and consider multiple perspectives when comprehending texts. During this short course, we will address components of the classroom environment as well as specific strategies, learning games and activities that impact the development of these skills.

Course Structure

This course is considered a blended learning course with both synchronous and asynchronous components. We will meet in person 3 times, virtually (synchronous) 2 times, and there will be 3 weeks when participants will practice implementing the recommended strategies and activities in their own classrooms using materials provided. Participants will be assigned a total of 4 modules to complete via Rice University’s Canvas learning platform. Our final in-person meeting will be a sharing and celebration of teacher reflection projects.

Topics Include:

What IS executive functioning and why does it matter?
Routines and rituals to promote executive functioning and self-regulation
Games and activities to promote executive functioning and self-regulation
Signs of growth: “Hot” and “cold” executive functioning/ Assessing executive functioning
Trauma and executive functioning: Promoting healthy relationships
Putting it all together: Executive function and impact on academic skills

Student Reflection Project

The What, Why and How of Promoting Executive Functioning in Young Children

About Rice’s School Literacy and Culture

School Literacy and Culture (SLC), part of The Center for Education in Rice’s Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies, promotes effective teaching through rigorous professional educational initiatives that emphasize reading and writing, culture, child development and research. Through education and mentoring, SLC not only supports teachers, administrators and parents, but also ensures that Houston-area students receive the key to academic success: a high-quality early literacy education.

Next Steps

Sign up to receive the online application and more information regarding this innovative program. Check your email upon submission of form.