🎯 Intentional Teaching & Purposeful Planning
This type of teaching involves making thoughtful decisions about what, when, and how children learn.
What is intentional teaching?
This core consideration focuses on typical patterns of growth and learning across age groups.
What is knowledge of child development?
This Illinois system recognizes early childhood educator credentials, training, and professional growth.
What is Illinois Gateways?
This requirement ensures children have enough space to move safely and play without overcrowding.
What is required square footage per child?
This approach to teaching is based on how children develop, learn, and grow.
What is Developmentally Appropriate Practice?
Teachers use this information to plan meaningful activities that support learning goals.
What is observation and assessment data?
This consideration reminds teachers that no two children develop in exactly the same way.
What are individual differences?
This NAEYC standard focuses on understanding how children grow, develop, and learn.
What is Standard 1: Child Development and Learning?
This must be stored locked and out of children’s reach at all times.
What are cleaning supplies and hazardous materials?
These three considerations guide all DAP decisions according to NAEYC.
What are child development, individual differences, and social/cultural context?
Purposeful planning ensures activities are aligned with these three elements.
What are learning goals, children’s needs, and standards?
This core consideration emphasizes family, culture, and community influences on learning.
What is social and cultural context?
This professional standard emphasizes building respectful, reciprocal relationships with families and communities.
What is NAEYC Standard 2: Family–Teacher Partnerships?
This DCFS requirement must be posted in every classroom for emergencies.
What are emergency evacuation plans?
This DAP practice allows children to learn through hands-on, meaningful experiences.
What is active learning?
This planning practice allows teachers to adjust activities based on children’s interests and development.
What is flexible planning?
In a DAP classroom, the teacher’s primary role is to do this rather than direct all learning.
What is guide and facilitate learning?
This Illinois Gateways requirement ensures educators continue learning and improving their practice.
What are ongoing professional development hours?
Maintaining this at all times ensures children’s safety and supervision.
What are staff-to-child ratios?
This teaching strategy provides support just beyond a child’s current ability.
What is scaffolding?
Intentional teachers design environments that invite children to do this.
What is explore, experiment, and problem-solve?
This teacher action supports children just enough to help them reach the next level of understanding.
What is scaffolding?
This shared focus connects NAEYC standards, Illinois Gateways, and DCFS licensing requirements.
What is professionalism and ethical, high-quality practice?
This daily responsibility ensures outdoor environments remain safe and developmentally appropriate.
What is daily playground and outdoor space inspection?
This DAP practice requires teachers to intentionally balance child-led and teacher-guided learning.
What is intentional teaching?