Tools of the Mind is a research-based early childhood model combining teacher professional development with a comprehensive, innovative curriculum that helps young children to develop the cognitive, social-emotional, self-regulatory, and foundational academic skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.

Tools of the Mind is designed to support the development of all young children. Tools currently serve over 30,000 children in PreK and K classrooms that run the gamut from small rural school districts to large urban ones, including Washington, DC, and from elite private schools to publicly funded programs serving children from low-resource families.

 

The Approach 

Tools of the Mind gives teachers the tools to ensure every child becomes a successful learner, developing the underlying cognitive, social, and emotional skills needed to reach their highest potential. Melding Vygotskian theory with cutting-edge neuroscience research, Tools is a unique teaching and learning approach with research demonstrating outcomes for children and teachers.

Tools of the Mind is based on specific beliefs about children’s development and learning. Tools instructional interactions are designed to help teachers be more effective in identifying teachable moments, assessing children’s stories, and differentiating instruction. In addition, teachers focus on assisting children to become intentional and reflective learners, creating a classroom where literacy, mathematics, and science instruction reflect children’s learning capacity rather than age-level expectations.

Tools combine a comprehensive early childhood curriculum with an innovative approach to teacher professional development to effectively transform early childhood teaching and learning and improve child outcomes.

 

 

https://toolsofthemind.org/learn/what-is-tools/