California Teaching Pyramid
Welcome to the CA Teaching Pyramid for Early Elementary Educators!
Our Team
Nicole has over 20 years of experience teaching children in general education classrooms, grades TK-8th. She enjoys supporting teachers and collaborating on the implementation of the CA Teaching Pyramid for Early Elementary (and Preschool), across the counties of California. She is deeply passionate about the social and emotional development of children and promotes inclusive environments in which all children thrive.Nicole Loftus
Jennifer has over 20 years of experience in public school elementary education as a kindergarten and fourth grade teacher. She then worked as an assistant principal at a dual immersion TK-5 school. Her passion for social-emotional learning and inclusive practices led her to WestEd where she trains and supports teachers in providing a multi-tiered system of support for young learners.Jennifer Andrews
Elia has been working alongside and supporting teachers, early educators, and communities for over 30 years. She values opportunities to partner and collaborate with those who share a vision for building more responsive, equitable, and accountable communities for all.Elia Dominguez
Taryn has been working in early childhood and early elementary for several decades. She enjoyed being a classroom teacher, spending time with children, and working with families. In her current role as a CA Teaching Pyramid trainer and coach, she enjoys supporting educators with their implementation of social-emotional strategies that benefit all children and families.Taryn Roselli
Vision
Social-emotional development is foundational for learning and development in young children, and California is committed to promoting and supporting healthy social-emotional development in all its children.
All children benefit from responsive relationships, a high-quality learning environment, and support in developing social and emotional skills so they may mature into thriving members of our communities.
Research and experience continue to show us children learn when regulated. Therefore, it is up to us, the adults, to model and practice regulation as well as provide the environment within which children are encouraged to practice the skills they need to develop meaningful relationships and successfully manage themselves within differing environments. These are life skills.
WestEd’s CA Teaching Pyramid offers opportunities to reflect on current practices and empower the workforce in our school systems by providing evidence-based strategies and tools that have been shown to increase social emotional skill development and decrease behavior adults find challenging.
We began piloting the Early Elementary framework in 2021. Working within the elementary system, we have found it important to show the alignment with PBIS/MTSS systems in place. As we say in our training, CA Teaching Pyramid for Early Elementary, is PBIS for young children, birth to 8 years old.
PBIS & MTSS
There is great overlap in the key characteristics of the CA Teaching Pyramid and PBIS.
- Both are a multi-tiered framework comprised of a continuum of evidence-based practices that are organized in three-tiered continuum of prevention, promotion and intervention.
- The principal difference between the CA Teaching Pyramid and PBIS is that the CA Teaching Pyramid is uniquely designed to address the needs and contexts of programs serving younger children by taking into account brain-based learning needs, developmental ranges, and differences in school experience.
I would mention that this is the foundation for PBIS and it was very eye opening and helpful.
Authorization of Trainer and Cadre Facilitators
T4T: Training for Trainers
Purpose: The purpose of the Trainer Apprenticeship process is to help individuals with knowledge and skills related to child development and early childhood education develop the specific skills and attain the knowledge they need to successfully train on the CA Teaching Pyramid for Early Elementary Modules. Authorization of Trainers will ensure that California has quality training across the state and oversight by CA Teaching Pyramid staff will promote fidelity.
Overall Teaching and Training Activities: The training process will follow an apprenticeship model. Once accepted, each Apprentice Trainer will work with a WestEd Mentor Trainer. The Mentor Trainer will lead the Apprentice Trainer through a process that begins with an initial period of formal instruction, modeling, and guided participation. The next stage includes co-training, feedback, and support.
Process: Typically, the process for training toward Authorization for Training on the CA CSEFEL Teaching Pyramid for Early Elementary is a two-year process. The first year (Apprentice 1) focuses on learning the content and observing experienced trainers, and the second year (Apprentice 2) allows for co-training with support from a mentor trainer while having multiple opportunities to debrief, reflect, and further deepen understanding of the principals. A condensed process is offered based on approval.
T4F: Training for (Cadre) Facilitators
Purpose: The purpose of the Facilitator Apprenticeship process is to help individuals with knowledge and skills related to child development and early childhood education develop the specific skills and attain the knowledge they need to successfully facilitate Reflective Practice Cadres for CA Teaching Pyramid for Early Elementary implementation. Authorization of Facilitators will ensure that California has quality implementation coaching across the state with oversight by CA Teaching Pyramid staff for promoting fidelity.
Overall Teaching and Facilitating Activities: The facilitation process will follow an apprenticeship model. Once accepted, each Apprentice Cadre Facilitator will work with a WestEd Mentor Cadre Facilitator. The Mentor Facilitator will lead the Apprentice through a process that begins with an initial period of formal instruction, modeling, and guided facilitation. The next stage includes co-facilitation, feedback, and support.
Process: Typically, the process for training toward Authorization for Cadre Facilitator on the CA CSEFEL Teaching Pyramid for Early Elementary is a one-year, slow-release process. The Cadre sessions begin with learning the content and observing experienced facilitators and end with the Apprentice fully facilitating the cadre with ongoing opportunities to debrief, reflect, and further deepen understanding of the principals.
