Educational
and teaching methodology “Step by Step is implemented in 51 kindergartens
and 86 primary schools. For the educational and teaching teams
from kindergartens and primary school Step by Step Master teacher
Trainers organize seminars, educational workshops and working
meetings on regular base with aim successful implementation of
all Step by Step premises into educational process with the children.
Seminars and workshops
Ongoing trainings for the educational and teaching staff from kindergartens;
Ongoing training for the educational and teaching staff from primary schools;
Seminars for parents and other beneficiaries.
Monitoring and mentoring
Monitoring and mentoring educational work in kindergartens.
Monitoring and mentoring educational work in primary schools.
Standards and Certification
Evaluation of the standards for implementation of Step by Step preschool
methodology;
Evaluationof the standards for
implementation of Step by Step primary school methodology;
Certification for kindergartens and primary school teachers;
Certification for Mentors and Master Teacher Trainers.
The Infant and Toddler initiative offers
center based programs information and strategies for supporting
infant and toddler development in all areas through planned interactions
and daily routines. Through hands-on training and accompanying
program and activity manuals, caregivers learn how to observe
children, create a safe and responsive environment, and develop
close communication with parents and other professionals to ensure
a quality program.
Preschool
The Preschool initiative, which is
designed for children ages 3 to 6 years, emphasizes family participation,
individualized teaching, and how to create a classroom environment
that supports children’s choices. Through interactive training
and accompanying program and activity materials, teachers learn
how to arrange activity centers, observe children, use authentic
assessment, and encourage parents’ active involvement in the program.
Primary
School
Primary School initiative for grades
1 through 8 introduces new teaching methods while working with
existing curriculum standards to promote cooperative learning,
integrated teaching based on themes, and the development of children'’
communication and critical thinking skills. Family participation,
assessment and evaluation, classroom management, including children
with special needs, and character development are stressed in
our training workshops and program manuals.
Higher
Education
The
Higher Education initiative supports faculty in collages and universities
in restructuring early childhood teacher preparation programs
for child-centered teaching. Through a series of seminars, facultylearns how to use interactive teaching methods and how
to implement the following fully developed courses:Learning Through Play, Individualized Teaching in Early Childhood
Education, School and Family Partnership, Child-Centered Curriculum,
The Study of the Child Through Observation and Recording, Preparing
Teachers to Teach in Inclusive Classrooms, and Teachers as Researchers:
Using Applied research in the Classroom.
Minority and
Refugee Children
Minority and Refugee Children initiative
promotes the right of all children to a quality education. It
reaches out to children of minority families, children with disabilities,
Roma and refugee children, and children of families living in
poverty. Children and their families are encouraged to participate
in preschool programs, which help lay the groundwork for their
successful transition to primary school. They receive free school
materials and books, language assistance, and living skills. Roma
or refugees teaching assistants are included in the classrooms
to ensure that children and families have a safe, respectful and
nurturing environment in which to learn. Children in the program
are more likely to attend school regularly and to achieve higher
rates of success.
Inclusion of
Children with Disabilities
The Inclusion of Children with Disabilities
initiative brings schools and parents together to address the
educational needs of young children with special needs. Teachers
in regular classrooms learn how to adapt the classroom environment
and modify instructional practice to enable children with disabilities
to learn successfully alongside their typically developing peers.
Both our training workshops and inclusion manual provide support
for the classroom teacher throughout this process.
Parent Advocacy
and Empowerment
Throughout each of our initiatives,
ISSA has placed a strong emphasis on the involvement of families
in their children’s education. After serving over 500, 000 children,
our teachers report that our program has not only benefited the
children academically, it has strengthened their relationship
with parents, and has even empowered those parents to advocate
on behalf of their children. As one teacher from Moldova explained,
“Parents’ attitudes towards kindergarten have changed. They are
more aware of their rights and are ready to defend them.” ISSA
has now launched a separate initiative focusing on parent advocacy
and empowerment, and has created a guide to help parents become
effective advocates for their children in school and in their
communities.
NGO Development
ISSA offers training and technical
assistance, to governmental organizations (NGOs) in 26 countries.
ISSA provides new NGOs in emerging democracies with the critical
skills and knowledge needed to ensure sustainability and to participate
effectively in the public arena. These NGOs include new parent
associations, parent/teacher association, teacher training organizations,
and education foundations.
Standards Development
ISSA develops quality standards foe
early childhood programs and teachers. These standards help teachers
and administrators’ plan, implement, and assess their early childhood
programs. The goal is to create a child-centered program in which
the teachers facilitate learning in ways that are consistent with
children’s developmental levels, individual needs and interests,
and differing learning styles. Checklist, systematic observation,
and detailed implementation guides are used in conjunction with
the standards to make implementation easy to carry out.
