Arizona Division for Early Childhood

08/12/2026

🌟 Pyramid Model Practice Spotlight: Visual Schedules 🌟

A classroom schedule is more than a way for adults to keep track of the day—it’s a powerful support for young children!

One Pyramid Model practice is to provide a daily schedule that is accessible at children’s level, is reviewed throughout the day, and includes visuals such as photographs, drawings, or picture symbols to represent each activity.

A helpful visual schedule can:

📸 Show children what is happening now and what comes next
👀 Make the routines and expectations of the day easier to understand
🧠 Help children prepare for transitions and changes
💬 Give children a way to talk about their day and what they can expect
✅ Provide a concrete way to see that an activity is finished

There are lots of creative ways to show that an activity is complete! Children might turn a picture over, remove it, move it to a “finished” spot, or move an arrow to the next activity.

The possibilities are endless—and the schedule doesn't have to be fancy! The key is to make something you can use frequently throughout your day!

How do you make your daily schedule accessible and meaningful for the children in your program? Share your ideas and photos in the comments! 💚

08/12/2026

For decades, I have advocated for Head Start because every child deserves a strong start in life. Today, I stand with the more than 100 civil rights and child advocacy organizations opposing efforts to dismantle the program from within.

Head Start is more than preschool. It supports healthy babies, working parents, and stronger families. You don't build a stronger nation by starving its children of opportunity.

Protect Head Start.

08/08/2026

As many early childhood programs prepare to welcome children and families for a new program year, it's the perfect time to think about how families are represented in your classroom.

When children see photos of the people they love, it helps them feel safe, connected, and like they truly belong. Whether it's an "All About Me" book, family photo frames, a classroom family wall, or soft photo blocks for infants, these simple touches help strengthen the connection between home and school.

💚 How do you represent children's families in your learning environment? We'd love to hear your ideas and see photos of your family displays in the comments!

08/08/2026

Check out the latest family handout in our Resource Library, Reading Your Child’s Cues. A handout to help families better understand the communication cues of young children using weather categories as a guide.

To download it today, visit: https://www.challengingbehavior.org/document/reading-your-childs-cues/

08/08/2026

A child who feels safe makes different choices than a child who doesn't. Not because they're a different child, because they're in a different state.

Safety isn't a reward for good behavior. It's the condition that makes good behavior possible.

08/08/2026

Lhamon and Young: Moving special education services and civil rights complaints to other federal agencies weakens protections for students https://bit.ly/3TXoC0Z

08/08/2026

Finding quality childcare in Arizona just got easier 💙 Did you know SandboxAZ has an online childcare search platform to help Arizona families find the care that works for them? Whether you're heading back to work, starting a new fall schedule, or just exploring your options, we've got a tool to help. Simple, free, and built for YOU 🔍 Tap the link to learn more: https://sandboxaz.org/

08/08/2026

08/08/2026

"Meghan Whittaker, a former chief of staff in the Education Department’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, said that moving various federal K-12 programs across different agencies could make it harder for districts and states to comply with federal education laws affecting services for students."

Learn more about what occurred at SELS: https://www.k12dive.com/news/special-educators-oppose-education-department-breakup-interagency-agreement-Health-Human-Services/825821/