This award is only given to a small number of kindergarten and pre-school educators each year whose work is an inspiring example of excellence.  We have honored a celebrated group of less than 30 teachers since 1986; adding amazing website teachers to our yearly awards in 2003.

You may enjoy knowing that our oldest daughter, Elissa, designed our award logo.  It is taken from the last page of my Read and Sing Big Book™, I Can Read Colors, which I wrote for our youngest daughter, Gina, when she was five and wanted to learn to read.  The little blond girl represents both of our Swedish daughters in the denim prairie jumpers they so often wore.  The Hispanic boy is symbolic of my first kindergarten class in Albuquerque, New Mexico. There I immersed myself in beautiful Hispanic folk songs and discovered the power of music and movement to accelerate all language and literacy skills. 

May this award bring a smile from my heart to yours.

We are proud to share our 2008 Excellence in Kindergarten and Early Literacy Awardwinners’ websites.  The philosophy and beliefs captured in these inspiring, informative, and up-to-date teacher-created sites reflects:

• A caring and responsive teacher who honors childhood.
• High expectations and joyful meaning-centered learning.
• Authentic engagement with the arts and quality literature.
• A language and play-enriched environment.
• A “Writing-to-Read” approach to literacy.
• Strong respectful parent connections.
• A focus on positive discipline and building emotional literacy.
• A beautiful and alive classroom that makes children smile, teachers smile, and parents SMILE.

For more information on our vision of best practices for young children, see:

Defining Excellence in Kindergarten and Early Literacy
The SMILE Approach to Joyful Accelerated Literacy
Photo Essay: Accelerate Literacy Through Joyful Learning
   Video Clips on Best Practices

A Copy of the Actual Excellence in Kindergarten and Early Literacy Award

Creating Schools Worthy of Our Children