Virginia ELDS Birth Five Learning Guidelines

GLOSSARY

Counting Saying the names of the numbers in order (e.g., one, two, three, etc.) or by groups (e.g., five, ten, fifteen, etc.). Creativity The use of imagination and original ideas to move beyond conventional thinking. Culture A unique set of values, beliefs, and behaviors shared by a group of people. Cultural competency Having an awareness of one’s own cultural identity and views about difference, and the ability to learn and build on the varying cultural and community norms of students and their families. It is the ability to understand the within-group differences that make each student unique, while celebrating the between-group variations that make our country. (National Education Association. “Why Cultural Competence?” August 27, 2020) Cultural Proficiency Environments that create opportunities for access, empowerment, and achievement by acknowledging, valuing, advocating, and empowering cultural diversity in all aspects of the educational process. (Adapted from: Cultural Proficiency, A Manual for School Leaders, 2nd Ed. Lindsey, Robins, and Terrell, 2003) Culturally Relevant Pedagogy Recognizes the importance of including students' cultural references in all aspects of learning. (Gloria Ladson-Billings, The Dream Keepers. 1994) Culturally Relevant/Responsive Teaching The behavioral expressions of knowledge, beliefs, and values that recognize the importance of racial and cultural diversity in learning. An approach that emphasizes using the cultural knowledge, prior experiences, frames of reference, and performance styles of ethnically diverse students to make learning encounters more relevant to and effective for them. (Geneva Gay, Culturally Responsive Teaching: Theory, Research, and Practice. 2000) Curiosity A desire or interest to learn something new that is characterized by a sense of inquisitiveness. Dance A means of self-expression using rhythmic movement and/or steps typically performed to music.

Alliteration The repetition of the same sounds at the beginning of words in a group words or a sentence (e.g., the /s/ in seven silly seahorses). Approaches to Play and Learning An area of children’s development that includes a set of skills and behaviors that help a child tap into the rich potential of play and playful exploration. Some of those skills contribute to the development of important cognitive controls, or executive functions, that are critical to later learning. Associative Play Playing as an individual with others based on a shared theme. Attention Ability to focus on people, objects, and/or interactions. Caregiver A parent, guardian, family member, educator or other adult who is responsible for providing direct care and/or teaching to one or more children. Cognition The mental process of learning through sensing, experiencing, and thinking about experiences. Cognitive Development An area of children’s development that includes the processes through which a child explores and comes to understand more about their world and people. Cognitive Flexibility Ability to shift between ideas and think about things in more than one way. Communication, Language and Literacy Development An area of children’s development that includes a set of skills and behaviors through which a child learns to communicate. This developmental area details the foundational skills of mastering letters, sounds and words, and using these skills to read and write. Comprehension The understanding of oral and written language and images that results from the child’s active construction of meaning. Cooperative Play Playing with others using a shared theme and coordinated and negotiated roles to carry out the play theme.

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