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Spotting the Signs Early: Using Screeners Responsively to Support Every Child’s Learning Journey
Tuesday, December 9, 2025 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EST
Presented by Nicol Russell, Ed.D., Former Early Childhood Educator, Current Chief Academic Officer, Teaching Strategies
Sponsored by Teaching Strategies
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
Early childhood educators play a vital role in recognizing and responding to children’s unique learning needs. Developmental and learning screeners—when used purposefully and interpreted effectively—help teachers, specialists, and program leaders understand where children are in their growth and identify when additional support may be needed.
In this edWebinar, Dr. Nicol Russell, Chief Academic Officer at Teaching Strategies, unpacks the purpose and power of developmental and learning screeners in early childhood education. Viewers explore how high-quality screening practices, particularly when grounded in family partnership, can help educators recognize children’s individual strengths and needs and take timely, compassionate action. The session highlights how screeners fit within a broader system of formative assessment and how results can guide responsive teaching, family engagement, and early intervention efforts.
Viewers:
- Examine the role of developmental and learning screeners within a comprehensive, strengths-based approach to assessment
- Learn how to interpret screener results to guide responsive caregiving and individualized instruction
- Explore how screening can inform early identification of potential learning differences, such as dyslexia, and be used to engage families as partners in decision making
- Discover practical ways to integrate screening into daily practice, intake processes, and family communication across infant, toddler, and preschool settings
This recorded edWebinar is of interest to PreK teachers, school leaders, district leaders, and education technology leaders.
About the Presenter
Dr. Nicol Russell is the Chief Academic Officer for Teaching Strategies, where she oversees the development of effective implementation and change management solutions for school administrators and early childhood educators who leverage their groundbreaking products. Previously, Dr. Russell has worked as an early childhood teacher, school administrator, Head Start state collaboration director, and state-level administrator for the Arizona Department of Education. Her research interests include studying the implementation practices of early learning programs and considering ways to create more equitable opportunities for all children and educators. Dr. Russell holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in early childhood and early childhood special education and a Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership.
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
Join the Early Childhood Learning Solutions community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.
Teaching Strategies is the leading provider of early childhood curriculum, assessment, professional development, and family engagement solutions. Its products, including the most widely used curriculum and assessment solutions, The Creative Curriculum® and GOLD®, are found in over 270,000 classrooms and more than 80 countries around the world and reach over 4 million children each year. A trusted partner and advocate for the early education community for 45 years, today Teaching Strategies connects teachers, children, and families to inspired teaching and learning experiences, insightful data, stronger family partnerships, and professional learning through the leading early learning platform and resources.
