The Written Edge: Toolkit Library

Strong Start: Setting the Stage for a Successful Preschool Year is a practical, research-informed toolkit created to help preschool professionals build a strong foundation in the first weeks of school. Focused on routines, relationships, and readiness, this resource equips educators with strategies to establish a nurturing classroom culture, introduce expectations with intention, and foster early learning across developmental domains. 

Rooted in Resilience is a supportive guide designed to help preschool educators nurture emotional strength, adaptability, and well-being in young learners. This toolkit offers practical tools and intentional strategies for building secure relationships, promoting self-regulation, and fostering a classroom culture where children feel safe, seen, and supported. Grounded in trauma-informed practices and aligned with social-emotional learning frameworks.

Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) Unwrapped is a dynamic guide designed to equip preschool professionals with the knowledge and confidence to apply DAP in real classroom settings. This toolkit breaks down the core principles of developmentally appropriate practice into actionable strategies that honor how young children grow, learn, and thrive. Aligned with NAEYC guidelines and grounded in whole-child development.

Creating a Unified Roadmap for a System of Schools is a strategic guide designed for school and system-level leaders seeking to align vision, values, and practices across multiple learning sites. This toolkit provides frameworks for collaborative planning, shared language development, and streamlined operational goals that honor the unique identity of each school while fostering system-wide consistency. Grounded in educational leadership best practices and informed by real-world implementation.

Blueprint for Bright Beginnings is a comprehensive guide designed to help preschool educators prepare children for a successful transition to kindergarten. Grounded in Minnesota’s Kindergarten Readiness Standards, this toolkit offers practical strategies for fostering early literacy, math, social-emotional skills, and whole-child development through intentional, developmentally aligned practices.

Blueprint for Boosting Preschool Enrollment is a practical, action-oriented guide for school leaders seeking to grow their early childhood programs. This toolkit outlines proven strategies in marketing, program design, community engagement, and operational efficiency to help attract new families and sustain long-term enrollment success.

Preschool Indicators of Excellence is a comprehensive framework designed to help Catholic preschools in Minnesota evaluate and elevate program quality. Grounded in academic standards, faith integration, and community alignment, this toolkit outlines six core indicators and seven measurable benchmarks to guide continuous improvement and mission-driven excellence.

Transitioning Preschool In-House is a strategic guide for Catholic school leaders considering the shift from third-party preschool operations to an internal model. This toolkit outlines the benefits, process, and practical considerations for aligning early childhood education with your school’s mission, values, and long-term vision.

A Strategic Guide Proposing Preschool Capacity Expansion for Stakeholder Buy-In guide provides a structured framework for proposing preschool expansion within a Catholic school setting. It includes data-informed strategies, budget planning, and community alignment tools to help school leaders build a compelling case for increasing capacity and strengthening early education offerings.