Long Branch Public Schools

Our Results

After one year of implementation, our assessment revealed that 80-90% of our 3- and 4-year-old children were meeting or exceeding standards related to Scaffolded Writing, counting, and engaging in positive interactions.

Many 4-year-old children were using initial sounds in writing their Play Plans; 3-year-olds were developing messages and drawing a line for each word. Children’s positive interactions were apparent during make-believe play as well as other Tools of the Mind daily activities. The self-regulatory activities threaded throughout the program influenced children’s social and emotional behaviors.

Teachers felt that the targeted professional development throughout the year was a strength that helped them provide the children in their classrooms with the individualized supports each one needed to make continuous progress. Teachers provided instructional support based on children’s developmental needs and the process became more seamless as the teachers’ confidence increased as the year progressed with regular training sessions. The teachers who worked with children with special needs benefited from the targeted professional development on accommodations and modifications in the Tools of the Mind program.

Our teachers are looking forward to continuously addressing the Tools of the Mind approach to teaching and learning in Professional Learning Communities where they will exchange ideas about teaching practices, plan, and discuss specific areas of the program. The Early Learning Centers are planning to have a Tools of the Mind event for parents, increasing families’ understanding of the program, strengthening the family and school connection.