Attentive and Attuned: Knowing and Serving in the Early Education Program

Children are vulnerable, precious, and being formed in our classrooms daily. Children matter both as individuals and as members of our classroom community and teachers have the weighty joy of stewarding this growth. Though children are the priority, they are not the only relationships we serve. Designed to equip those that work with young children, Attentive and Attuned: Knowing and Serving in the Early Education Program explores the key relationships of children, staff, and parents and how to serve each group with attentiveness and attunement. Key relationships are explored through common components that include reflection questions, discussion questions, and journaling activities. Aspirational covenants to focus service to the key relationships are included. Thoughts and insights from early educators and directors working in the field are included in each section. Early education directors will find this a rich training resource and a must read for every staff member in the program. A bonus section includes devotions for reflection and discussion among the staff. Each section includes practical resources for implementing the principles both in the classroom and in the entire early education program: tools for self-evaluation, goal-setting, and program evaluation; Scriptures for personal study and written prayers for reflection; resources for connecting with parents, including forms and content for newsletters.