1. Establish the Learning Environment, Promote Language Building, and Use Visual Supports

The physical environment and arrangement in a preschool program should support best practices that focus on opportunities for purposeful play and foster meaningful learning experiences for all children. Educators in high-quality preschool programs offer a range of learning experiences to promote greater possible outcomes for the individualized achievement of children while supporting self-directed discovery. Ensuring access to the students' learning environment can promote greater opportunity for social interaction and establish an inclusive environment to meet the universal needs of students with or without disabilities. (Michigan Department of Education, Key Elements of High-Quality Early Childhood Learning Environments: Preschool)

2. Develop Social-Emotional Functioning Through Play-Based Learning

To promote happy, successful, lifelong learners, children must be immersed in developmentally appropriate practice and rich curricular learning that is culturally relevant. Play-based learning in preschool is implemented through exploring, problem solving, and active engagement in meaningful activities. This includes peer interactions while teachers maximize learning through individualizing learning goals. (NAEYC, How Play Connects to Learning)

Key Components of Facilitated Guided Play as a Powerful Pedagogical Tool:

• Provide high-quality materials
• Eliminate distractions
• Strategically prepare the space
• Give time for the children to play the active role
• Point the way without directing—“be a facilitator”
• Give opportunities for integrating new information with existing knowledge
• Let children explore

• National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
• National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER)
• New Jersey Coalition for Inclusive Education