The Hatch Early Learning Blog

In today's digital age, incorporating technology in early childhood classrooms has become increasingly common. However, not all digital learning tools are created equal. It's essential for educators to choose high-quality resources.

In today's rapidly evolving world, where technological advancements are transforming every aspect of our lives, it is imperative to equip young learners with skills that will enable them to thrive in the future. As educators, it is essential to recognize the significance of incorporating diverse learning approaches that stimulate children's curiosity and problem-solving skills. One such approach that has gained recognition in recent years is the integration of engineering concepts and principles into early childhood curricula. 

The summer months provide children with a break from the daily schedule in the classroom. Children need time to engage in playful activities that pique their curiosity, allow for more freedom, and, especially, provide more hands-on time in the great outdoors.

At Hatch, we believe every week should be Teacher Appreciation Week. But next week is officially Teacher Appreciation Week — so we hope you’re planning an even bigger “thank you!” for all your amazing teachers.

Whether you plan on decorating classrooms or loading up on your teachers’ favorite treats, there’s no better time than Teacher Appreciation Week to show your teachers how much they mean to your learning program.

It has long been established that in the early childhood classroom, learning is best approached as playful business. And why not? The joyful practice of learning how to assemble healthy meals with pretend food, or the rhythmic expression of acting out the lifecycle of a butterfly presents the opportunity to spark excitement for even the most reluctant of learners. In fact, encouraging our youngest students to develop a lifelong love of learning must be initiated in a fun, carefree way — especially considering their minimal attention spans. Throughout the literature on early childhood education, best practices for learning through play in offline learning environments are well-substantiated. However, in our increasingly digital world, researchers are suggesting it is time we make space for innovation.

Happy Week of the Young Child! Hosted by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), this week is dedicated to honoring the unique needs of young children and recognizing the early learning programs that meet those needs. Hatch™ is proud to support this important initiative and help teachers and parents inspire a lifelong love for learning!

English language learners are an important segment of the early childhood population to consider when designing supplemental instructional tools. The complexities of addressing children’s native languages within curriculum primarily designed for English-speaking students presents teachers with a challenge. However, some supplemental instructional tools can save teachers valuable time, boost confidence and overall feelings of efficacy for children attempting to learn a new language, and further unlock levels of proficiency for English language learners.  

Children love to play games, from hopscotch to Go Fish. Games are fun, engaging activities—and early childhood educators can utilize children’s love of games to help them learn.   

What a difference a summer makes! For the second summer in a row, pre-K students in Georgia utilized Ignite by Hatch™ to jump-start their learning and ignite school readiness. Ignite is a developmentally appropriate and research-backed digital learning tool for early learners.

Early childhood leader, Kathy Hollowell-Makle cites a leading reason for her interest in early learning was the fact that time and time again, children were entering DC kindergarten classrooms “unprepared,” even though they had exposure to preschool programs. 

Data collection and analysis is inherent to teaching and learning. Whether or not educators intentionally collect data, they are constantly using information about the children in their class to inform instruction. However, how educators collect, analyze, and use that data when broken down can be formalized in a process that can lead to more powerful results for all children. Plus, at the end of the day can ultimately help save educator’s time in planning and reporting out information to families and administrators.

Educators continue working to close learning gaps resulting from school interruptions as they celebrate children’s growth along the way. While many learning programs have helped children make enormous strides in literacy and math, closing the gap in social-emotional learning has proven more difficult. 

Ignite by Hatch™ has earned the Research-Based Design for Instructional Learning Products: Product Certification from Digital Promise. This product certification serves as a rigorous and reliable signal for district and school leaders, educators, and families looking for edtech products with a confirmed basis in research about learning. 

“Relevant learning outcomes must be well defined in cognitive and non-cognitive domains, and continually assessed as an integral part of the teaching and learning process. Quality education includes the development of those skills, values, attitudes, and knowledge that enable citizens to lead healthy and fulfilled lives, make informed decisions, and respond to local and global challenges.” – Incheon Declaration for Education, 2016

Each spring, The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) publishes its annual The State of Preschool yearbook. These yearbooks provide a deep analysis of where the United States stands on its journey towards access to high-quality early childhood education for children ages 3 to 5. Last year, the NIEER report The State of Preschool 2021 yearbook illustrated how the pandemic’s impact had set that progress backward. There were plenty of thought pieces written in response to last year’s report, sounding the alarm on the dire need to get back that decade of lost progress, including our own here at Hatch. This year’s NIEER report, The State of Preschool 2022 yearbook, was highly anticipated to see how the country could come back from last year’s decline.

When it comes to your teachers’ professional development, there’s so much to consider. Not only do you have to think about you’re their individual learning styles, but you also have to remember just how difficult professional growth can be when time is so limited. Even with those constraints aside, there’s always another looming barrier to overcome — funding.

At Hatch Early Learning, we understand how important supporting your teachers with high-quality professional development programming and tools really is. That’s why we’re here to help you identify funding sources available outside the typical ways you find funding and how you can apply it to support your teachers.

Here are two more funding resources to tap to help take your teachers to the next level in professional development:

Every year, for the past two decades, the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) at Rutgers University releases their State of Preschool report. Over that time, we have seen incremental progress in state preschool enrollment, spending per child, and quality initiatives; however, this year’s report for the 2020-2021 school year illustrated the pandemic impact has set us back.

Introducing your children to mindfulness is one of the most effective ways to ensure their success both inside and outside of the classroom. Whether you want to help kids improve focus, enhance their social-emotional learning, or help them stay on track academically, the benefits of mindfulness will have a lasting impact on their health and well-being. All you have to do is practice!

If you’re looking to add a mindfulness practice to your teaching toolkit, here are a few proven strategies to effectively incorporate it into your learning program:

Ignite by Hatch™ earns nod from industry leaders

[Winston-Salem, North Carolina] (April 25, 2022) Hatch Early Learning today announces that Ignite by Hatch™ was named a 2022 SIIA CODiE Award finalist in the Best PreK / Early Childhood Learning Solution category. CODiE finalists represent the best products, services and people in the education and business technology industries. 

When you look at the education funding you receive as separate layers that can be blended, or braided, together, you can provide even stronger support for your learning program.

Nurturing a child’s cultural identity is foundational to supporting social-emotional learning and development. When cultural identities are nurtured, you’ll not only build trust and stronger relationships with children, but you’ll also ensure that they experience a sense of belonging in your classroom.

While Black History Month is a terrific time to reflect on the accomplishments of America’s Black leaders — especially those who transformed education for our country’s youth — we believe it’s important to celebrate their lasting impact throughout the year.

Family and parent involvement is a crucial part of any child’s early education. Caregivers may not think of themselves as teachers, but they play an important role in their child’s lifelong learning. While schools provide rich learning environments for children, we know that parents and families are a child’s first and most important teacher. 

With Ignite by Hatch™, we’ve seen children experience two levels of growth in just six months. And much of that progress is owed to those behind the scenes, like Kylie Rymanowicz, a content developer at Hatch, who works on Ignite.

When it comes to incorporating a digital platform into your early learning program, there are a few important things to keep in mind.

Seeing a child grow in their learning is one of the most rewarding experiences for a teacher. But when it comes to helping early learners achieve success in the classroom, there’s one important tool that’s often overlooked: actionable data.

When it comes to helping children in your learning program achieve academic success, strong partnerships are incredibly important. And there’s no partnership more valuable than the one you build with families — but you may have to make the first move!

National Family Literacy Month ends today, but that doesn't mean we have to stop reading together! When it comes to instilling a lifelong love of reading among children, families play a critical role. That’s why it’s so important to encourage parents to read aloud to their children at home during — and beyond — National Family Literacy Month.

Like most early childhood educators, the main goal of Lola Vallaire-Thomas, a preschool administrator in Louisiana’s Vermillion Parish Early Childhood Network, is to prepare her early learners for kindergarten. But it’s not always easy, especially when there’s a disconnect between city, district, and state standards, and the Gold objectives her program is expected to meet.

Understanding where a child’s strengths lie — and where room for improvement may exist — is critical when it comes to academic success. While assessments will shine a light on the skill areas that need more attention, it’s more effective to identify where additional support is needed before test time. This way you can tailor classroom experiences that not only boost learning, but make it even more enjoyable!