Teachers can register for PLCs on the ITSN Teacher Training Calendar, which can be found on the Texas ITSN website. For questions about the ITSN Teacher Program contact [email protected]
ITSN PLCs can be incorporated into CQIPs to support professional learning for practitioners who have goals set in related Texas Rising Star standards. When assigning PLCs to teachers, we strongly recommend that mentors and directors encourage teachers to participate in all PLCs within a given series, as strategies across PLCs build on each other.
Mentors working primarily with directors also have the option to recommend site participation in the full ITSN Teacher Program, which provides teachers with ten PLC trainings.
To get the most out of PLCs, teachers should complete the online courses recommended when registering for the PLC. Instructions for accessing the courses on CLI Engage can be found here. A CLI Engage account is required and teachers who join receive a free CLI Engage account. Note: Names of standards are abbreviated for readability. For a full list/and description visit Teacher Program PLCs.
Connect with Me: Promoting Social-Emotional Development PLC series
The Connect with Me series supports classroom skills across Category 2 standards, particularly the sub-categories of Warmth and Responsiveness, Play-Based Interactions and Guidance, and Support for Children’s Regulation.
Part 1 - The strategies included in this session are Express Warmth & Affection, Comfort Children in Distress, Label Feelings, Back and Forth Play, and Use Praise to Encourage Cooperation.
Texas Rising Star Standard: Warmth and Responsiveness
- P-WRS-01 Warm, safe, and nurturing environment
- P-WRS-02 Frequent positive nonverbal behaviors
- P-WRS-03 Patient, relaxed style
- P-WRS-04 Attends to children’s signals
- P-WRS-05 Responds promptly and sensitively
- P-WRS-06 Adjust one’s own behavior
Texas Rising Star Standard: Language Facilitation and Support
- P-LFS-02 Positive verbal responses
Texas Rising Star Standard: Play-Based Interactions and Guidance
- P-PBIG-01 Supports a playful attitude
- P-PBIG-02 Expands on play
- P-PBIG-04 Facilitates social interactions with peers
Texas Rising Star Standard: Support for Children’s Regulation
- P-SCR-01 Models/encourages emotional expression
- P-SCR-07 Assists in communication with peers
Texas Rising Star Standard: Instructional Formats and Approaches to Learning
- P-IFAL-06 Classroom uses child progress monitoring tools to guide their instructional planning for the children in their class
Part 2 - The strategies included in this session are Be Predictable, Redirect Undesired Behaviors, Follow Consistent Daily Schedules & Routines, Help Children Share Space, and Support Turn-Taking.
Texas Rising Star Standard: Warmth and Responsiveness
- P-WRS-01 Warm, safe, and nurturing environment
- P-WRS-04 Attends to children’s signals
Texas Rising Star Standard: Play-Based Interactions and Guidance
- P-PBIG-04 Facilitates social interactions with peers
Texas Rising Star Standard: Support for Children’s Regulation
- P-SCR-04 Encourages self-regulation with rules/routines
- P-SCR-05 Demonstrates flexibility and tolerance for mishaps
- P-SCR-07 Assists in communication with peers
Part 3 - The strategies included in this session are Talk about Connections between Feelings, Actions, and Events, Encourage Children to Talk about Feelings, Engage Children in Activities to Promote Positive Interactions, Engage Children in Activities to Build Emotional Understanding, and Offer Prompts for Peer Interaction.
Texas Rising Star Standard: Warmth and Responsiveness
- P-WRS-01 Warm, safe, and nurturing environment
- P-WRS-04 Attends to children’s signals
- P-WRS-05 Responds promptly and sensitively
Texas Rising Star Standard: Play-Based Interactions and Guidance
- P-PBIG-01 Supports a playful attitude
- P-PBIG-02 Expands on play
- P-PBIG-04 Facilitates social interactions with peers
Texas Rising Star Standard: Support for Children’s Regulation
- P-SCR-01 Models/encourages emotional expression
- P-SCR-02 Provides explanations about feelings
- P-SCR-06 Recognizes rising tensions
- P-SCR-07 Assists in communication with peers
Part 4 - The strategies included in the session are Model Prosocial Behaviors, Provide Verbal and Physical Cues for Self-Control, Offer Opportunities for Children to Make Choices, Explain What Comes Next, and Help Resolve Peer Conflicts.
Texas Rising Star Standard: Warmth and Responsiveness
- P-WRS-01 Warm, safe, and nurturing environment
- P-WRS-02 Frequent positive nonverbal behaviors
- P-WRS-03 Patient, relaxed style
- P-WRS-04 Attends to children’s signals
- P-WRS-05 Responds promptly and sensitively
Texas Rising Star Standard: Play-Based Interactions and Guidance
- P-PBIG-01 Supports a playful attitude
- P-PBIG-04 Facilitates social interactions with peers
Texas Rising Star Standard: Support for Children’s Regulation
- P-SCR-03 Explains logical consequences
- P-SCR-05 Demonstrates flexibility and tolerance for mishaps
- P-SCR-06 Recognizes rising tensions
- P-SCR-07 Assists in communication with peers
Part 5A - Covers five of the challenging behaviors presented in the course (Infant Distress, Separation Anxiety, Stranger Anxiety, Tantrums, and Saying No).
Texas Rising Star Standard: Warmth and Responsiveness
- P-WRS-01 Warm, safe, and nurturing environment
- P-WRS-03 Patient, relaxed style
- P-WRS-04 Attends to children’s signals
- P-WRS-06 Adjust one’s own behavior
Texas Rising Star Standard: Support for Children’s Regulation
- P-SCR-03 Explains logical consequences
- P-SCR-06 Recognizes rising tensions
Part 5B - Covers three of the challenging behaviors presented in the course (Hitting, Kicking, Pinching or Pushing Others; Biting; and Not Sharing Toys).
Texas Rising Star Standard: Warmth and Responsiveness
- P-WRS-01 Warm, safe, and nurturing environment
- P-WRS-03 Patient, relaxed style
- P-WRS-04 Attends to children’s signals
- P-WRS-06 Adjust one’s own behavior
Texas Rising Star Standard: Support for Children’s Regulation
- P-SCR-03 Explains logical consequences
- P-SCR-06 Recognizes rising tensions
Talk with Me: Promoting Early Language Development PLC series
The Talk with Me series primarily supports items in the Language Facilitation and Support subcategory.
Part 1 - Covers instructional strategies including labeling, describing, comparing, and explaining.
Texas Rising Star Standard: Language Facilitation and Support
- P-LFS-04 Communicates throughout the day
- P-LFS-05 Uses descriptive language
- P-LFS-06 Provides frequent opportunities to talk
Part 2 - Covers instructional strategies including linking, narrating, thinking aloud, rephrasing, and extending.
Texas Rising Star Standard: Language Facilitation and Support
- P-LFS-03 Uses language to add meaning
- P-LFS-04 Communicates throughout the day
- P-LFS-06 Provides frequent opportunities to talk
- P-LFS-08 Engages children in conversations
- P-LFS-09 Expands on children’s understanding
- P-LFS-10 Extends children’s language
Part 3 - Covers instructional strategies, including asking questions, pacing, encouraging conversation, inviting participation, and scaffolding.
Texas Rising Star Standard: Warmth and Responsiveness
- P-WRS-04 Attends to children’s signals
Texas Rising Star Standard: Language Facilitation and Support
- P-LFS-01 Listens and responds
- P-LFS-04 Communicates throughout the day
- P-LFS-06 Provides frequent opportunities to talk
- P-LFS-07 Allows time to respond
- P-LFS-08 Engages children in conversations
- P-LFS-09 Expands on children’s understanding
- P-LFS-10 Extends children’s language
Texas Rising Star Standard: Play-Based Interactions and Guidance
- P-PBIG-02 Expands on play
- P-PBIG-03 Provides guidance when children are working
Learn with Me: Promoting Cognitive Development PLC series
The Learn with Me series supports items in Play-Based Interactions and Guidance and Language Facilitation and Support. It is perfect for teachers who are ready to use more sophisticated language and play strategies.
Part 1 - Covers professional strategies, including promoting sensory exploration, encouraging observation, encouraging effort and persistence, maintaining children’s attention, and encouraging imitation.
Texas Rising Star Standard: Language Facilitation and Support
- P-LFS-04 Communicates throughout the day
- P-LFS-05 Uses descriptive language
- P-LFS-06 Provides frequent opportunities to talk
- P-LFS-08 Engages children in conversations
- P-LFS-09 Expands on children’s understanding
Texas Rising Star Standard: Play-Based Interactions and Guidance
- P-PBIG-01 Supports a playful attitude
- P-PBIG-02 Expands on play
- P-PBIG-03 Provides guidance when children are working
Part 2 - Covers professional strategies, explaining and demonstrating how things work, talking about sequence, engaging children in math activities, and model and join in pretend play.
Texas Rising Star Standard: Language Facilitation and Support
- P-LFS-03 Uses language to add meaning
- P-LFS-05 Uses descriptive language
- P-LFS-06 Provides frequent opportunities to talk
- P-LFS-08 Engages children in conversations
- P-LFS-09 Expands on children’s understanding
Texas Rising Star Standard: Play-Based Interactions and Guidance
- P-PBIG-01 Supports a playful attitude
- P-PBIG-02 Expands on play
- P-PBIG-03 Provides guidance when children are working
- P-PBIG-04 Facilitates social interactions with peers
Part 3 - Covers professional strategies, promoting flexibility in thinking, modeling problem solving aloud, scaffolding children’s learning by simplifying and scaffold children’s learning by adding challenge.
Texas Rising Star Standard: Warmth and Responsiveness
- P-WRS-05 Responds promptly and sensitively
- P-WRS-06 Adjust one’s own behavior
Texas Rising Star Standard: Language Facilitation and Support
- P-LFS-01 Listens and responds
- P-LFS-03 Uses language to add meaning
- P-LFS-05 Uses descriptive language
- P-LFS-08 Engages children in conversations
- P-LFS-09 Expands on children’s understanding
Texas Rising Star Standard: Play-Based Interactions and Guidance
- P-PBIG-02 Expands on play
- P-PBIG-03 Provides guidance when children are working
In addition to the PLCs previously described above, ITSN offers several PLCs that reinforce quality practices related to Texas Rising Star standards. These PLCs can be used in the development of individualized staff training plans.
Read with Me: Promoting Early Literacy Development (2 PLCs)
Part 1 PLC covers five strategies to promote children’s early literacy skills: Read with Enthusiasm, Share Control, Invite Interest, Talk about Pictures, and Encourage Active Participation. Part 2 covers six additional strategies: Practice Fine Motor Skills, Point Out Print and Alphabet, Model Writing, Use Rhythm and Rhyme, Use Props and Extenders, and Link to Experiences. Completion of each related course is required. The courses are part of the CIRCLE Infant and Toddler Teacher Training: “Play with Me” series.
Texas Rising Star Alignment: Although we do not explicitly align the Read with Me strategies to Category 2 standards, early literacy activities are an excellent way to facilitate language, vary instructional formats, extend playful learning, and foster warm relationships between teachers and children.
Family Engagement Series (2 PLCs currently)
Part 1, Partnering with Families, explores broad-based partnership and communication strategies. Part 2, Play-Based Learning, is focused on promoting play-based learning at home through incorporating home-based activities into lesson plans. Completion of each related course is required. The courses are part of the Family Engagement Series on CLI Engage.
Grow With Me: Using Developmental Assessments (1 PLC)
This PLC supports best practices in developmental screening and referral for infants and toddlers using content from the Grow with Me course and CLI’s Developmental Milestones Checklists. Completion of the related course is required. The course is part of the CIRCLE Infant and Toddler Teacher Training: “Play with Me” series.
Texas Rising Star Alignment: The Grow with Me PLC may be helpful for teachers who need support understanding and using assessment tools, particularly if they are using developmental milestone checklists (P-PM-05).
Texas Infant, Toddler, and Three-Year-Old Early Learning Guidelines (4 PLCs)
The ITSN provides four PLCs that correspond to the domains of the ITELGs: Physical, Social Emotional, Language, and Cognitive. Completion of each related course is required (Texas Infant Toddler and Three-Year-Old Guidelines Training).
Texas Rising Star Alignment: These PLCs are a great way to engage teachers in facilitated discussion around the ITELG training, which is required for directors and recommended for teachers.
Circle Activity Collection: Infant and Toddler (1 PLC)
The activity collection is a free online resource that provides a wide range of activities and video demonstrations across domains. This PLC discusses the importance of play-based learning and helps teachers become familiar with navigating the activity collection and selecting activities to incorporate into lesson plans. There is no related course for this PLC.
Texas Rising Star Alignment: Using the activity collection may help teachers implement skills within Category 2: Instructional Formats and Approaches to Learning. For example, the collection includes ideas for both teacher- and child-directed play and how to use routines and transition times for incidental learning.
