| To meet the goal of building in-house expertise and establishing model classrooms, McREL will provide intensive instruction to teachers whose classrooms will serve as modeling, coaching, and interactive teaching classrooms (e.g., for room design, activities, curriculum, and instruction). These “model classrooms” will become demonstration sites that other teachers will visit to learn more about the program and their own practice. Visits to model classroom sites will be facilitated by consultants and supplemented with activities to increase their efficacy. A combination of teacher education, hands-on implementation, coaching in the classroom, modeling, and reflection provides a connection between theory and practice, opportunity for extended study and collaboration, expert mentors, and grounding in research and participants’ inquiry — what we know works in professional development. This comprehensive professional development program will help districts build capacity and become self-sustaining providers of professional development for their early childhood educators. | 
