Promoting Quality in Home-Based Child Care: The Curriculum and the Environment
Presenters: Crystal McClendon-Gourdine and Diane Harkins
April 17, 2019
The second part of the webinar series focuses on how the guidelines and companion videos explain and visually illustrate the components of a home-based curriculum, as well as considerations for creating a high-quality, nurturing environment for mixed-age groups. The webinar provides examples and ideas for using these resources to support professional development activities.
Powerpoint Presentation (PDF)
Crystal McClendon-Gourdine is a Senior Program Associate at WestEd with more than 20 years of experience in caring for young children and families and providing professional development for early childhood educators. McClendon-Gourdine works with WestEd’s Center for Child & Family Studies developing and facilitating resources that support ECE professional development. She also consults with state and local organizations offering assessment, design, coaching, and training on early childhood quality improvement indicators specializing in equity-related issues.
Prior to joining WestEd, McClendon-Gourdine owned and directed a large family childcare. With a focus on Spanish-language immersion and community empowerment, she engaged local programs to increase participation in local Quality Improvement activities. In addition, she consulted with First 5 California as a Quality Improvement coach and assessor.
McClendon-Gourdine holds a BA in psychology from Spelman College, an MA in leadership in early childhood education from Mills College, and an MA and Ph.D. in human development/educational psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Diane Harkins is a Senior Program Associate at WestEd with more than 25 years of experience in the design and delivery of professional development services for early childhood educators and other helping professionals. Harkins works with WestEd’s Center for Child & Family Studies developing resources that support ECE professional development. She also works with the California Inclusion and Behavior Consultation (CIBC) Network, bridging support for the inclusion of children with special needs and challenging behavior in early care and education (ECE) programs.
Prior to joining WestEd, Harkins directed the Center for Excellence in Child Development at the University of California, Davis. With a focus on adult learning and early childhood issues, she developed and directed a statewide training program for family child care providers. In addition, she consulted with child protection centers in Central America and other organizations addressing the needs of young children.
Harkins holds a BA in child development from the California State Polytechnic University at San Luis Obispo, an MSW in social welfare from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Ph.D. in education from the University of California, Davis.