Project REEL
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the statewide Childcare Resource and Referral Network, Signal Centers, and the Siskin Children’s Institute have formed a partnership to design and implement Project REEL (Resources for Early Educator Learning). Project REEL will directly address the training and informational needs of regional early childhood educators and parents. Childcare providers across the state of Tennessee will learn strategies to foster children’s language, literacy, numeracy and social skills as they implement the Creative Curriculum in their setting. These early childhood educators will receive intense professional development sessions, expert coaching and mentoring, and classroom materials to implement the strategies learned.
Project REEL is one of five ECEPD grants funded in 2005 and will bring $3.6 million to UTC for implementation of grant activities. ECEPD grants have a dollar for dollar match that will be provided primarily by the grant partners.
Highlights
- Involves a partnership with Signal Centers, Siskin Children’s Institute, and the Child Care Resource & Referral Network
- 120 total hours of training for early childhood educators 220 early childhood educators served over three years
- 80+ programs served across the state
- 2,500 children directly served
- 374,880 children served in dissemination/extension experiences
- Early childhood educators receive training through Child Care Resource & Referral Network--11 regions
- One specialist per CCR&R region will train 10 early childhood educators per year
- Training from Project REEL involves:
- training sessions for participants on oral language, literacy, numeracy, and social skills (12-14 sessions)
- training manual
- classroom support through CCR&R specialists
- support in writing Individual Teacher Plans and enacting new strategies
- critical friends groups to sustain growth
- books and other literacy materials for $1,000/participant
- 11 CCR&R districts each receive $2,500 for materials
- Three lead demonstration sites each receive $2,500 for materials
- Creative Curriculum materials provided for each program
