1. Who Are You?
1.1. A Parent
1.1.1. Are you interested in finding a Tools of the Mind program for your child, learning how to support self-regulation and executive functions development at home, or finding out how your child’s Tools of the Mind’s program supports your child’s learning and development?
1.1.1.1. I’m interesting in finding a Tools program for my child
1.1.1.1.1. We’re so glad you’re interested! We have many great Tools PreK and K classrooms across the country. Click on this link to find a program near you––and if there’s not a program near you, we encourage you to print and share some of the articles about Tools on our Resources page or send the link to our website to your local school administrator–-parents have led the initiative to bring Tools to several of our great programs!
1.1.1.2. I’m interested in learning more about how to support executive functions at home
1.1.1.2.1. We have some resources for you––click here (Links to Parents Page and Resource Page
1.1.1.3. I’m interested in learning more about how the Tools program my child is in supports my child’s development
1.1.1.3.1. LINK To parents of Tools page
1.2. A Program Director or School Administrator
1.2.1. Are you looking for a model that combines intensive professional development for your teachers with a comprehensive curriculum?
1.2.1.1. Yes
1.2.1.1.1. That’s great! Tools of the Mind is a model that combines intensive, multilayered professional development designed to meet the needs of a wide-range of teachers––from those who have not completed a college degree to those with a Masters plus. Our comprehensive curriculum includes literacy, math and science, with a unified pedagogy that is woven across classroom practices, schedule, environment and all activities. Do you have funding available to for teacher training and classroom materials?
1.2.1.2. No
1.2.1.2.1. 6. Tools of the Mind is a model that combines intensive multilayered professional development with a comprehensive curriculum in PreK and K. Of course we’d like to encourage you to consider what we have to offer–-we’ve been refining our model for over 20 years and have the ‘right’ recipe now for sustainable capacity building transformation for programs, with strong impact on teachers and children. We encourage you to learn more about our model, and see if it might be something you’d consider in the future! Sometimes people come to us looking for an ‘add on’ self-regulation focused curriculum or a single-day professional development opportunity. While we don’t have a separate curriculum, because we’ve learned that integrating pedagogy across all areas of the curriculum and classroom practices is the most powerful way to influence the development of self-regulation and executive functions, we may expand our professional development opportunities for programs that want to learn more in the future. If this is what interests you, please let us know -- and in the meantime, if you’re interested, read our case studies, research articles about Tools and executive functions development and learn more about our work. Which of these resources would be helpful?
1.2.1.3. I’m not sure yet - I need to understand more.
1.2.1.3.1. We’ll try to give you the information you need to help you explore whether Tools is right for your program. Our training model is designed to support teacher learning of Vygotskian theory that will provide a unified approach to teaching and learning across classroom practices and management and all activities. Teachers learn to assess children’s development in daily dynamic assessment and diversify and individualize instruction. Our activities are designed to support children’s underlying development of self-regulation and executive function skills at the same time as developing core academic skills–- we embed pedagogy into our curriculum which is a key ‘lever’ in impacting teacher and child development. For this reason, we partner with programs who are ready for a comprehensive curriculum in PreK or K, offering one variation of this model in Kindergarten, in which we can integrate and work with most district math programs. Our training for teachers is spread across the year, and combines in person training with live webinars, eLearning modules and our innovative ‘coach in your pocket’ iPad app iScaffold––so that teachers can learn in the way they learn best and have all the support they need. We also recommend that an administrator or coach from the district attend training workshops with teachers. Does this model seem like a good fit for your needs––would you like to continue this virtual conversation to find out if Tools is a good fit for your program?
1.3. Someone Else
1.3.1. Are you interested in learning more about Tools of the Mind’s approach for your professional knowledge, in research partnership opportunities with Tools of the Mind or as part of your academic learning and development?
1.3.1.1. I’m interested in Tools approach for my professional knowledge
1.3.1.1.1. Thank you for your interest! Many professionals outside the field of early childhood education express interest in our approach. We have some resources that we think might be right for you––which of these would you like to explore? (CASE STUDIES, Resources)
1.3.1.2. I’m interested in researching more about or with Tools of the Mind
1.3.1.2.1. Thank you for your interest! We have some resources that we think might be right for you, or you can get in touch with us if you’re a researcher who wants to discuss prospective studies––which of these would you like to explore? (CASE STUDIES, Resources, Get in touch with us)
1.3.1.3. I’m interested in Tools as part of my academic learning and development
1.3.1.3.1. That’s great! We have links to journal articles and academic research that may interest you. Which of these resources would you like to explore? (Link to Case Studies, Resources)
1.3.1.4. I’m interested in learning more about Tools and sponsoring or funding Tools development projects or partnering with Tools in some way
1.3.1.4.1. Thank you for your interest! Our partnerships with sponsors, funders and friends have been instrumental in getting us to where we are today. Click here to be in touch with us––we look forward to exploring possible partnerships with you!
1.4. A Teacher
1.4.1. Are you teaching in a program that wants to adopt a new curriculum?
1.4.1.1. Yes - we’re looking for a new program.
1.4.1.1.1. That’s great! We’ll help you think through whether Tools is right for you. Do you have assistant teachers in your classrooms (or very small class size)?
1.4.1.2. We’re beginning to think about it.
1.4.1.2.1. That’s great! We’ll help you think through whether Tools is right for you. Do you have assistant teachers in your classrooms (or very small class size)?
1.4.1.3. I’m personally interested, but the discussion hasn’t been initiated at the program level.
1.4.1.3.1. We’re so glad you’re interested! Many of our Tools programs began with the interest of a single teacher! You’ll want to share information about Tools with your colleagues and program administrator - we’ll help you connect with more information to share but first we’ll help you think through whether our program is a good fit. Are you a Pre-K or K teacher?