Tools program gets high marks: Red Bank Preschool recognized

“The first thing you see when you walk into a classroom is happy kids,” says Red Bank Borough Public Schools Preschool Instructional Coach Danielle Yamello. The children in Red Bank’s Tools classrooms are developing the underlying skills they need to be lifelong learners, she goes on, in a fun, relaxed environment. 

Yamello isn’t the only one noticing. The Red Bank, New Jersey, Superintendent recently highlighted the program in the local paper, where he applauded their high scores on the state’s program quality evaluation tools.

Why is the preschool performing so well?

Children are getting just what they need, says Yamello. And, in her view, what really strengthens the program is the system of support its educators have access to. Through professional development workshops, customized feedback through the Tools TREE video coaching app, and a variety of resources available on the Tools of the Mind portal, emphasis on teacher development contributes significantly to success in the classroom.

Self-regulation as a foundation

Tools teachers learn to support children’s self-regulation development by ensuring children are appropriately challenged and creating a positive classroom community. Because self-regulation development is woven throughout the Tools day, children build self-regulation not only through activities like fingerplays and songs, but at all times, even during meals and transitions. 

Through participation in training workshops and personalized feedback from Tools trainers, Red Bank’s Tools teachers are prepared to choose and provide appropriate scaffolds and gradually increase the challenge of activities so that all children are appropriately engaged, keeping self-regulation high at all times for every learner.

Flourishing in a language-rich environment

Tools promotes high-quality verbal interactions between adults and children, as well as between peers. Teachers provide appropriate scaffolds for children based on their developmental levels and foster an atmosphere of peer scaffolding during all activities, including during the time children spend playing in Tools centers. Yamello calls centers “naturally motivating” for high-quality verbal interactions between children because children want to talk with each other about what they’re doing.

“The children are in a fun, relaxed environment where they’re developing the underlying skills they need to be lifelong learners.”
- Tools Preschool Instructional Coach Danielle Yamello

Reaching all learners

Tools teachers scaffold within a child’s Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)—the gap area between what a child can do independently and what they can do with support. Once teachers identify a child’s ZPD, they can adjust the level of support or challenge that child needs using Tools scaffolding (and de-scaffolding) suggestions to choose appropriate supports. 

Yamello notes that creating an environment of peer scaffolding reinforces the role each child plays in the classroom community. Rather than children learning solo, they support one another, strengthening their social bonds and contributing to a positive classroom environment. 

“[Children] learn best in an emotionally safe environment. Part of learning is risk-taking and children will learn when they’re comfortable taking the risks.”
- Tools Preschool Instructional Coach Danielle Yamello

When teachers feel supported, children thrive

Tools level of support for educators in the classroom is unique—we don’t just consider how children learn, but also place a high value on the adult learning of the teachers in our classrooms. Ensuring that teachers have what they need to support children’s self-regulation, language, and social development throughout all activities is key to the positive outcomes we see in Tools classrooms, in Red Bank and elsewhere.

“Tools support is unmatched. Nobody out there does it like Tools.”
- Tools Preschool Instructional Coach Danielle Yamello

Congratulations to Danielle Yamello and the wonderful teachers of the Red Bank Preschool Program for receiving the recognition they so deserve. We are honored to partner with you in enabling every child to reach their full potential.