To get started, educators can reflect on the following questions:
› How do you individualize routines in your program / classroom? What ideas do you have to individualize additional routines?
› What is naturally happening in your program / classroom that supports a key teacher system? What are next steps you could take to implement this system?
› Where do you fall on the continuum of family partnership? What can you do to engage and to collaborate with families?
› How does your program help infants grow in their cultural identities?
About the Authors
Jennifer M. Longley, EdD, is a professor of early childhood education in the Teacher Education Department at the Borough of Manhattan Community College( BMCC)– CUNY. Jen worked with infants, toddlers, and families for over 20 years before joining BMCC’ s faculty. jlongley @ bmcc. cuny. edu
Jennifer Gilken, PhD, is a professor of early childhood education and the early childhood program coordinator at the Borough of Manhattan Community College. Jennifer’ s research interests include supporting the development of the early childhood workforce; finding spaces for infants, toddlers, and families in early childhood curriculum; and creating spaces of belonging for teacher candidates. jgilken @ bmcc. cuny. edu
References
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36 Young Children
Summer 2025