HSPMC: Training Guide-Individualizing: A Plan for Success (Preface)

Training Guides for the Head Start Learning Community:
Individualizing: A Plan for Success
Preface

Head Start: An Individualized Kind of Place

Conversation Overheard on the Bus

Foster grandparent: "Hello. Where are you two going?"

Worried-looking mother: "We're on our way to enroll in Head Start."

Foster grandparent: "Oh, you must be very excited."

Worried-looking mother: "Actually, I'm more worried than excited."

Foster grandparent: "What are you worried about?"

Worried-looking mother: "Where can I begin? This will be Haki's first time spending time away from me. Will they know what he likes to eat? Will they know how to help him fall asleep? Will they know that he likes to play with trucks? Will they see how special he is? Will they know that he's a little shy with new people? Will they know that he insists on putting his coat on by himself? Will they know how much I'm going to miss him?"

Foster grandparent: "No wonder you look so worried! You have a lot of information to share about your child, but I know everything will work out."

Worried-looking mother: "How do you know?"

Foster grandparent: "I'm a foster grandparent and I volunteer at the Head Start program. We will work hard to get to know you and Haki. We know we need your help to encourage Haki to grow and learn at Head Start."

Less-worried-looking mother: "I'm glad to hear that. I want him to try new things and play with other children."

Foster grandparent: "Well, Head Start's the place for you two. And, Haki, we have lots of trucks at Head Start. Oh, here's our stop. I'll show you where to go."

Smiling mother: "If everyone at Head Start is as nice as you, I know Haki will be in good hands!"

Haki: "Let's go, Mom. I want to see their trucks."

Individualizing is basic to the philosophy of Head Start. It is a key principle that guides all Head Start staff, regardless of their role in the program. Each grantee designs a program that reflects the community's needs, interests, and resources and the program is appropriate for the children and families enrolled. Head Start's approach to supporting families is based on an individualized family partnership agreement that describes a family's goals, responsibilities, timetables, and strategies for achieving these goals. Head Start staff are encouraged to pursue their own professional goals, and training is based on the results of individual needs assessments.

The Head Start Program Performance Standards require each Head Start program to have a curriculum--a written framework that is consistent with the Performance Standards and is based on sound child development principles about how children grow and learn. By definition, the curriculum should include:

Education staff and families use the curriculum as a guide for implementing an individualized child development and education approach in family child care, center, and/or home-based settings. After identifying each child's unique characteristics, they set goals and develop plans for offering experiences, interactions, and materials that will encourage the child's development and learning. As soon as a child is enrolled, staff and families begin sharing information about the child's:

Head Start believes that the most effective way to foster achievement of the curriculum's goals for development and learning is to respect, and respond to, the interests, skills, language, abilities, culture, and other characteristics of each child and family. Staff tailor the child development, education approach, and family partnership strategies to fit the children and families enrolled. The Head Start program design is flexible, and capable of adapting to individuals.

The benefits of an individualized approach are easy to see. Children get fully involved in activities, actively explore their environments, feel proud when they can do things for themselves, and enjoy playing and learning with others. Staff find their days go more smoothly and are excited to witness the children's progress. Families feel confident of their parenting abilities and positive about their children's potential. Individualizing gives each child the capacity to grow and learn now and in the future.