Early childhood educators play a crucial role in promoting the development of young learners in all developmental domains. To this end, early childhood educators collaborate with other stakeholders, including paraprofessionals, to meet a wide variety of needs of young learners with and without exceptionalities, particularly in social-emotional development. Together they identify students who may require additional support to be successful in the learning environment due to certain developmental delays. These may be specified in an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) or Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

For this assignment, review the “Social-Emotional Scenarios.” The teachers in the scenarios have come to you for feedback and insight on what further interventions they should implement to help the students achieve their goals, and how they can utilize and communicate with paraeducators, tutors, and volunteers in the process.

In a 150-250 word response for each scenario, provide feedback to the teachers that includes the following:

• Brief summary and analysis of the classroom teacher’s challenges including student behavioral, developmental, and academic challenges and student data that identifies behavioral or academic needs of the student.
• Select 1-2 executive function skills that the student needs assistance to develop.
• Identify at least two play-based learning strategies/activities to support the development of the selected executive function skills.
• Summarize the guidance and direction you would need to give to paraeducators, tutors, and volunteers that is appropriate to support the development of executive function skills with the activities. Guidance provided should be culturally and linguistically responsive, taking into consideration the environment and delivery approach to support individual student needs.
• Explain the communication and collaboration with families about goals and next steps to promote positive outcomes. How can you demonstrate compassion and caring when communicating with families and students and how can this help students reach their goals? 

In addition, select two of the following instructional methods and write 100-150 words explaining each, including examples of how they could be implemented to meet the needs of young learners with and without exceptionalities:

• Cooperative/Collaborative learning
• Experiential learning
• Independent study
• Project-based instruction

Support your work with 2-3 resources

While APA Style format is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite Technical Support Articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.

Benchmark Information

This benchmark assignment assesses the following programmatic competencies and professional standards:

MEd Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education (ITL/NITL)

3.8: Recognize and utilize play as a core teaching practice and a foundational learning strategy designed to support and respond to the unique learning trajectories and support the development of executive function skills critical for young children. [EI/ECSE 6.5; NAEYC 4b; InTASC 1(b), 7(b), 7(j), 8(a)]

6.3: Provide guidance and direction to paraeducators, tutors, and volunteers that are appropriate to the task, culturally and linguistically responsive, and take into consideration the environment and delivery approach. [EI/ECSE 3.2, In TASC 10(i), 10(n); MC1, MC3, MC4, MC5]