The Improving and Maximizing Professional Development for Childcare Teachers(IMPACT)
Project was developed by Jackson State University’s College of Lifelong Learning.
The College of Lifelong Learning established the IMPACT project in 2008 to
provide state approved training on the Mississippi Early Learning Guidelines
giving priority to childcare providers in the piloted areas. The purpose of
this project is to promote “Ready to Learn” . . . “Quality Early Childhood
Education and Care” through quality training and evaluation activities that
will have a measurable and observable impact on improving/enhancing the quality
of care for children in licensed and/or unlicensed childcare setting. These
training activities are designed to enhance as well as develop professional
skills of caregivers and/or improve parents’ knowledge of early childhood
development.
The IMPACT project will build childcare educators/provider’s
knowledge on the Mississippi Early Learning Guidelines in the areas of language,
vocabulary, and literacy development; mathematical concepts development; scientific
investigation; social/emotional development; and physical development. Childcare
teachers and providers will learn specific strategies to improve children’s
academic learning to prepare them for upper school environments. This project
will also teach childcare providers how to assess, create, and implement the
Mississippi Early Learning Guidelines into their classrooms. This project
will also work with center directors to learn strategies to motivate their
teacher to appropriately implement the Mississippi Early Learning Guidelines
into daily learning activities.
For more information on the IMPACT Project, call Will Jones at 601-432-6879
or email willie.jones@jsums.edu.