Competency tools articulate the key teaching and caregiving competencies that result in high quality learning experiences for young children.
The CIRCLE Infant & Toddler Teacher Competencies include high-quality caregiving and instructional behaviors that support language and communication, early literacy, cognitive skills, social and emotional development, and physical development for infants and toddlers. Teachers can work toward the implementation of these behaviors with support of the CIRCLE Infant and Toddler Teacher Training: Play with Me professional development series (free for all teachers).
Online Competency Observation Tool (Infant and Toddler COT)
The online Infant and Toddler COT provides a digital interface for recording observations of teachers’ use of the competencies. The system also allows specialists to set specific competencies as goals for teachers to work toward and includes an “action planning” feature to record how the specialist and teacher will work together to practice goals. Finally, a reporting feature allows the specialist to track teachers’ progress in demonstrating new competencies across time. View the How-To Guide below to get started using the tool!
Paper-Pencil Tools
Two paper-pencil forms can be used to support use of the competencies in quality improvement efforts. The Observation and Notetaking Form is best used by coaches and specialists when conducting observations as it provides space to record specific evidence that can be used in communications with the teacher. The Goal-Setting Form can be used by coaches, specialists, and teachers and includes columns to record when goals are set and met.
Download Observation and Notetaking Form Download Goal-Setting Form
Implementation Guide
This guide is for coaches and specialists who would like step-by-step guidance to using the tool in continuous improvement cycles with teachers.
Alignment of the CIRCLE Teacher Competencies with the CIRCLE Activity Collection: Infant/Toddler
Teachers and coaches can use this resource to identify activities to view and practice specific strategies in the classroom. The document below aligns teaching strategies from the CIRCLE Infant & Toddler Teacher Training: Play with Me Series with classroom activities from the CIRCLE Activity Collection: Infant/Toddler.