Core Body of Knowledge: New York State’s Core Competencies for Early Childhood Educators (Flashcards)

Practice flashcards covering the Core Body of Knowledge: NYS Core Competencies for Early Childhood Educators, including structure, key concepts, and crosswalks to national standards.

What is the Core Body of Knowledge in New York State’s Core Competencies for Early Childhood Educators?

A seven-area framework of knowledge, skills, and dispositions guiding professional development in early childhood education, aligned with NAEYC standards; the seven areas are: Child Development and Learning in Context; Family and Community Engagement; Observation and Assessment; Learning Environment; Curriculum and Teaching; Health, Safety, and Nutrition; Professional Engagement.

What are the seven core competency areas?

1) Child Development and Learning in Context; 2) Family and Community Engagement; 3) Observation and Assessment; 4) Learning Environment; 5) Curriculum and Teaching; 6) Health, Safety, and Nutrition; 7) Professional Engagement.

How is the Learning Environment core competency organized?

It is divided into two subsections: (1) Managing Physical Space, Time, and Resources and (2) Social-Emotional Climate.

What are the three components that detail each core competency?

Knowledge (factual/procedural understandings), Skills (technical abilities), and Dispositions (habits of mind, values, attitudes).

What are the three Primary Competencies categories?

Professional Knowledge, Professional Practice, and Professional Engagement.

What is the Core Process of Reflective Practice and the Cycle of Inquiry?

A continuous cycle of inquiry for professional growth: collect information, question/analyze/synthesize, plan, act, and evaluate; includes reflection, feedback, and adaptation of practice.

What are the Nine Practice Principles guiding early childhood practice?

1) High regard and high expectations for every child; 2) Equity; 3) Strong partnerships with families; 4) A supportive learning environment; 5) Child-led play and learning; 6) Developmentally appropriate teaching approaches integrated; 7) The science of child development informs practice; 8) Assessment practices and feedback; 9) Collaboration with colleagues and professionals.

What is MTSS in Early Childhood Education?

Multitiered System of Supports; a framework for instruction with universal screening, progress monitoring, tiered instruction, and data-based decision making to meet diverse learner needs.

What is Universal Design for Learning (UDL)?

A framework with three core principles—engagement, representation, and action/expression—for providing multiple means of learning and participation.

What is equity in the Core Body of Knowledge?

Equity means that each child receives what they need to develop to their full academic and social potential.

What is the 'opportunity gap' defined by the National Academy of Sciences (2023)?

The unequal and inequitable distribution of resources and experiences based on factors such as race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, English proficiency, disability, geography, or other factors, which contribute to inequities in well-being and education.

What is Translanguaging in early childhood education?

Using all languages a child knows in flexible, integrated ways to promote learning and connect home languages with English.

What are Emergent Multilingual Learners (EML) and key practices?

EML are children developing home languages and proficiency in English; practices include a strengths-based climate, partnering with families, multilingual ecology, language development strategies, translanguaging, and inclusive curriculum.

What is the concept of Funds of Knowledge?

The background knowledge and experiences children bring from home and community that can be leveraged to enrich curriculum and teaching.

What is Authentic Assessment?

An ongoing process of observing and gathering information in authentic contexts using multiple methods to understand development and inform planning; involves collaboration with families and teams and focuses on the whole child.

What are the steps in the Cycle of Assessment, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation (1.4)?

Gather data; determine what to teach; plan learning experiences; monitor progress; implement; evaluate and adjust; use data to inform decisions; often using a holistic progress-monitoring approach.

What are the essential skills for Observation and Assessment (S-3)?

Remain objective; use multiple data sources; document findings with low-inference notes; determine basals/ceilings; use developmentally appropriate tools; share results in accessible language with families.

What is Chronic Stress, Adversity, and Trauma (1.11) and its relevance?

Trauma-informed approaches that prioritize children’s experiences, create calm and predictable environments, teach emotion-regulation strategies, and provide individualized support.

What is Reflective Practice and why is it central to the Core?

An ongoing process of thinking about beliefs, attitudes, and practice; uses the Cycle of Inquiry to improve care and learning, inform decisions, and promote equity.

What is Emergent Multilingual Learner (EML) climate and strategies?

A multilingual ecology that embraces diversity, partners with families, uses home languages, translanguaging, and intentional language development to support learning.

What does alignment with NAEYC standards mean for the NY Core Competencies?

The NY Core Competencies are designed to align with NAEYC Professional Standards and Competencies, as well as foundational statements (e.g., DAP, ethical conduct), to support a unified, equity-focused early childhood workforce.