SAN FRANCISCO, CA (August 1, 2017) — San Francisco State University’s College of Health and Social Sciences recently highlighted their partnership with Jumpstart in their program newsletter. This unique pilot places early childhood education students in a practicum that combines on-campus learning opportunities with real-world teaching experience. The curriculum is based largely on Jumpstart’s model for training college students to serve in preschool classrooms, but is unique in its focus on early literacy and math-based activities, and for the hands-on experience it provides to education students.
SF State’s pilot is unique both for its focus on early literacy and math-based activities, and, just as importantly, for the experience it provides students.
Christine Nevarez, a Jumpstart Site Manager at San Francisco State University, plays a crucial role in the program, supporting the students in the college and preschool settings, co-teaching, and enlisting new recruits.
The program also gives students options: after completing the practicum they can work towards their bachelor’s degree in Child & Adolescent Development (CAD) while also still working in the classroom, or they can just go directly into the early childhood workforce.
“It’s not just about helping young children with their literacy skills. It’s about creating the workforce, supporting the [preschool] teachers and the students they work with, and doing it all with a wider developmental view,” Linda Platas, assistant professor in the Department of Child & Adolescent Development (CAD) and the pilot’s main architect.

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