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Introducing the ROCK Toolkit and Appreciating Early Learning Professionals

6/7/2024

 
Screenshot of the Zoom screen with fifteen facilitators, interpreters, and OSSS staff who make the Early Symposium happen
This spring’s online session of the Oakland Early Learning Symposium introduced the OSSS Resilient Oakland Communities and Kids (ROCK) Toolkit to over 90 early learning professionals. These Oakland-grown ROCK tools were developed in partnership with a range of early childhood educators and administrators, additional content experts and OSSS staff. At the Symposium, members of this collaborative team discussed how these hands-on tools can help create healing-centered and trauma-responsive early learning environments. 


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Community of Practice Celebrates Second Cohort of Early Learning Leaders

6/7/2024

 
Photo features about two dozen of Oakland's early learning leaders as they hold their awards of recognition
Year 2 – it’s a wrap!

Early learning educators from East Oakland came together May 7 to celebrate completing a six-month Community of Practice centered on the 10 Promising Practices (10PP) in Early Learning for Black Boys. Promising Practices are a set of anti-racist strategies that address systemic bias, reinforce trusting relationships with children and their families, and have a positive impact on educational outcomes for young boys of color. 


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ROCK Toolkit: Lessons in Healing-Centered, Trauma-Responsive Early Education

3/9/2024

 
An educator walks with three young children on a set of beams set in a circular shape outside while other young children play in the background
​Since 2017, OSSS has been working with early childhood educators through the ROCK initiative to increase resilience and healing and to promote the healthy social emotional development of children in trauma-sensitive and trauma-responsive environments.

​​Crucially, educators are more able to offer a healing early learning environment when they are attuned to their own well-being. That’s why, over the years, we’ve crafted and honed an early childhood educator learning framework that includes in-person and virtual group workshops, Professional Learning Communities, coaching, yoga, and self-care resources.


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Bridges Into School: Supporting Kindergarten Transitions at OUSD

9/8/2023

 
Young children in OUSD's 2023 Summer Kinder Bridge program sit on a colorful carpet with their backpacks from First 5 Alameda CountyChildren in this year's SKB program were excited to receive backpacks from First 5 Alameda County. Photo courtesy of The OUSD Early Learning Department.
​Kindergarten can be a big adjustment for children and families, requiring them to adjust rapidly to new routines and expectations. Research and experience shows that making that transition as smooth as possible builds the foundation for children’s academic and social-emotional skills as well as positive family-school connections. The OUSD Early Learning Department has been intentionally building strong transition practices to support children entering kindergarten and transitional kindergarten (TK). This past summer, the Summer Kinder TK Bridge program was successfully scaled to 14 OUSD elementary school sites, where early childhood educators provided a four-week foundational program for children.


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Many of the photos on this site appear courtesy of Hasain Rasheed Photography
  • About
    • Our Purpose
    • Our Team >
      • Staff & Consultants
      • Supporters
      • Lead Planning Team
      • Committees and Task Force
      • Featured Leaders
    • Contact Us
  • Our Work
    • Racial Justice >
      • Promising Practices
      • ROCK >
        • ROCK TOOLKIT
    • Community Leadership >
      • Early Learning Symposium
      • Family Child Care Policy Program
    • Systems Change >
      • Developmental Screening
      • Strategic Plan
    • Data, Policy & Advocacy >
      • Policy & Advocacy
      • ECEcosystem Data Portal
      • Early Development Instrument
    • Collective Impact >
      • Year in Review
      • Results & Impact
  • RESOURCES
    • Reports
    • Tools
    • Presentations
    • Public Meetings
  • EVENTS
  • NEWS
    • Blog
    • Newsletter
    • Announcements
  • GET INVOLVED