look what’s in this week’s edition22-24 ece summit november 2013 child safety protection month...
TRANSCRIPT
The Key Connection Week of October 14, 2013
Look What’s in This
Week’s Edition
Mark Your Calendars
Professional Development At A Glance
Did you take Director Credential Courses at Pennsylvania College of Technology?
ERS Professional Developments
Community Days Offered Monthly Throughout the Region
Director Seminar Series 2013
Attention Directors
STEM Resources
What FREE On-Sites Supports are Available for Child Care Programs from the NE Key?
Final Reminder
2013-2014 Northeast Key Exchanges
Calling All Directors
Health Link On-Line
Focus on Early Childhood Mental Health
Early Childhood Mental Health
Directions for Completing the ECMH Service Agreement
School Age Corner
Assessments
Crosswalking the Curriculum
Infant Toddler Corner
Information for Families
October is PA Promise for Children Month
Survey for Informal Education Professionals
Important Message from OCDEL, Bureau of Certification Services
Important
Mark Your Calendars!
Here are some important dates to remember
October 2013
22-24 ECE Summit
November 2013
Child Safety Protection Month
1-2 Lycoming County Conference
11 Veteran’s Day
12 Young Reader’s Day
16 Infant-Toddler Conference
28 Thanksgiving Day
December 2013
13 Ice Cream Day
25 Christmas Day
27 Make Cut out Snowflakes Day
Professional Development Corner
PENN SACCA 16th Annual Conference
November 8 & 9, 2013 Holiday Inn at Grantville (Hershey, PA)
Register Online at www.pennsacca.net
Questions? Contact: Shasta Wagner
Email: [email protected] Phone: 814-472-6341 Ext: 15
• Early Bird Registration must be received by October 5, 2013 • Conference Registration Deadline: October 26, 2013 • Note: Refunds must be requested in writing by 10/26/13 and are subject to a $35 processing fee for each individual refund.
Conference Flyer is available on the CSC website under the Professional Development section.
Lycoming County Conference
November 1 & 2, 2013
Genetti Hotel & Conference Center 200 West Fourth Street Williamsport, PA 17701
Director Day – November 1st
Director & Staff Day – November 2nd
Cost: Friday Only - $32.00
Saturday Only - $32.00 Friday & Saturday - $60.00
(Lunch Included)
Make checks payable and send to: Community Services for Children, Inc.
1520 Hanover Avenue Allentown, PA 18109
See flyer for more details and to register!
Infant-Toddler Conference
SAVE THE DATE
November 16, 2013 8:00 am to 3:30 pm
Luzerne County Community College 1333 Prospect Street, Nanticoke, PA 18634
Registration Fee: $28.00
See flyer for more details!
Professional Development At A Glance
Professional Development Events from
October 20, 2013 to December 21, 2013 are
listed in the Professional Development
Calendar.
Get a full list of events and to register by
going to www.pakeys.org.
Flyers with additional information for each of these Professional Development Events is
located on the CSC website under the Professional Development section at
http://www.cscinc.org/northeast-regional-key/resources-reference-library/professional-
development/
Professional Development Corner
Mind in the Making- 7 Essential Skills
SAVE -THE -DATES! April 7, 2014 and May 14, 2014
This is an opportunity for Directors to participate in a 2 day – Mind in the Making (MITM) experience! If you have never participated in MITM, here is your chance to do so! Register on calendar at www.pakeys.org.
Space limited!
Location: Carbon/Lehigh Intermediate Unit
4210 Independence Drive Schnecksville, PA 18078
Just for Family Child Care!
See these new opportunities! Register at www.pakeys.org calendar!
The Creative Family Child Care Home 11/18/2013 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM Northampton Community College - Fowler Campus PDO: Northeast Regional Key PD Instructor: Francyne Wharton [CI-0466000] Sparking Imagination 11/21/2013 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM Pocono Services for Families and Children PDO: Northeast Regional Key PD Instructor: Sandy Shay [CI-0335000]
PQAS Instructor Application Workgroup! Bring Your Lunch!
Have you ever thought about becoming a PQAS Instructor but not sure where to start? Or are you renewing your PQAS Certification and would like some support completing the application? Come to this interactive workgroup that will focus on the steps to completing your PQAS Application! Bring your PDR or professional development history with you! December 10, 2013- 9:30-2:30 Community Services for Children, Training Institute 1520 Hanover Ave Allentown, PA 18109 December 12, 2013- 9:30-2:00 Keystone College 602 Main Street Towanda, PA 18848
REGISTER ON CALENDAR at www.pakeys.org
Visit the PA Key Website at
www.pakeys.org for more
Professional Development
Opportunities
The Registration Form is available on the CSC website in the Professional
Development section.
COMMUNITY DAYS OFFERED MONTHLY THROUGHOUT THE REGION
Recently, STARS Managers throughout the Northeast Region have been offering a Community Day in the
counties they work in.
A Community Day is a day that the STARS Manager is available in a public meeting space (such as a library,
church, community room, etc.) to meet with Early Learning and School Age practitioners at any time
throughout the day. This is a perfect time to review grant applications, enrollment calculation tools, career
lattice, STAR level worksheets, discussing clarifications on a specific standard or documentation.
In some counties the STARS Manager will offer a Learning Community or discussion group that day as well.
You can make an appointment (to ensure you have a meeting time) to meet with your STARS Manager next
time they are in your county or you can walk in!
Check out the Community Days at-a-glance listed weekly in our Key Connection.
Did you take Director Credential Courses at Pennsylvania College of Technology? Attention students who have taken two of the Director Credential Courses at Pennsylvania College of Technology and need to complete the last course to complete their credential coursework: The registration for Spring 2014 courses opens soon at Pennsylvania College of Technology! Students are asked to meet with their advisors Oct 21- Nov 1, 2013, to discuss their academic plans for Spring 2014. The Northeast Regional Key is funding this last course, to complete the funded coursework that the Central Key funded. Act now! Contact Pennsylvania College of Technology in regards to registering for the course.
ERS Professional Developments
When you think of ERS professional developments don’t just think of FCCERS, ITERS, ECERS, and SACERS! There are now several other professional development opportunities for directors and staff to take advantages of when it comes to ERS.
The ERS Toolbox for the ITERS Teacher, The ERS Toolbox for the ECERS Teacher, ERS Perspectives, and ERS Survive or Thrive It’s Up to You. Each of these professional developments is a follow up to the main ERS Professional Developments to enhance your understand and utilization of the assessment tools and reports.
Check the PA Keys calendar at www.pakeys.org for upcoming dates for all professional development opportunities!
STEM Resources
NASA Resources Available for Afterschool Programs
Announcing two major NASA resources for your afterschool program.
NASA’s Space Place is an education website about space, earth sciences and technologies for elementary-aged children.
NASA’s Climate Kids explains basic climate change science with multimedia, games, humor and crystal clear language for the same age group.
Director Seminar Series 2013 Directors: You have requested higher competency level professional development activities on your Facility Professional Development Surveys. The NE Key is pleased to offer this series of Director Seminars that will be presented by Karen Rucker, Debra Lawrence, Melanie Wursta, and Judy Rex. Come! Join in the lively sessions and hot topic conversations!
Dates: November 7, 2013- STEM (Explore exciting science and math activities for your program!)Part 1
December 9, 2013- STEM (Explore even more exciting science, math, technology activities for your program!)Part 2
January 17, 2014- Lost Opportunities: Teaching Interferes with Learning (and a Trip To China!) Come have a rich discussion with the instructor who visited China and will lead you on an fascinating, reflective journey!
March 13, 2014- Healthy Living, Healthy Children! Discuss and reflect the current healthy living concerns for children in today’s world. What can we do and what is our responsibility? Share your thoughts and successes!
May 23, 2014- Experience Reggio! Innovative, Reflective Teaching Practice! Experience Reggio! Come be inspired and experience a reflective, innovative teaching practice!
SEE ATTACHED FLYER FOR REGISTRATION DETAILS!
Attention Directors Do you have school-age staff that are interested in continuing their education? Did you know that the Northeast Regional Key funds courses for the School Age Professional Credential (SAPC)? These courses are offered on-line to reach our 18 counties of school-age staff. Did you know that the SAPC is the equivalent to a CDA- but the coursework is targeted for school-age teachers? Did you know that your staff could take the 3 courses at a very low fee? Only $30.00 for tuition for a 3- college credit course! That is a huge savings! There are 3 courses that make up the SAPC- so only $90.00 tuition for 9-college credits! If we have enough students to fill a course, we could fund another SAPC this year! SO! If you have interested staff, please let Ivy Reynolds know by Oct 31, 2013. If you have questions, please feel free to contact Ivy at [email protected] or at 610-437-6000 or 800-528-7222, extension 2328.
What FREE On-Site Supports are available for child care programs from the NE Key?
For more details on these supports or information on how to request any of these services, contact Diane Milia at the NE regional Key [email protected], or at 800-528-7222 ext 2329
Infant Toddler Project
You can receive free on-site technical assistance for your infant or toddler classrooms if you are a STAR 2 program! Environments Resources Relationships Quality programming
Early Childhood Mental Health Project
You can receive free on-site consultation for behavior issues with young children. Social and emotional resources available for families, teachers and children
School-Age Project
Free on-site technical assistance for your school-age program! Environments Curriculum Schedules Activities and so much more!
STARS Technical Assistance
Free on-site consultants who will provide specific technical assistance for programs wishing to move or maintain Keystone STAR levels! Are you moving to a STAR 3 or 4 and need assistance with policies, environments, assessments, etc? Free STARS TA can support your journey!
FINAL REMINDER
IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT PHASE OUT OF MAIL-BASED NEW STAFF ORIENTATION & NEW STAFF ORIENTATION – REFRESHER
FROM BETTER KID CARE
Better Kid Care is phasing out mail-based New Staff Orientation (NSO) and New Staff Orientation – REFRESHER (NSO-R). NOTE: The 2-hour lessons by mail are NOT being phased out. October 31, 2013 is the last day that Better Kid Care will accept completed NSO/NSO-R lessons on paper for review. Lessons received after October 31, 2013 will not be reviewed, awarded a certificate, or returned to the participant. New Staff Orientation is currently available in Better Kid Care’s On Demand online system. The cost of NSO online remains $5.00. New Staff Orientation – REFRESHER will not be available in Better Kid Care's On Demand system.
If you have any questions, please contact the Better Kid Care office [email protected] or 800-452-9108.
2013-2014 Northeast Key Exchanges
The Northeast Key Exchanges will be held via Webinar.
Find out what is happening within the region and get your questions answered without having to travel and with NO added expense. Through the use of webinar you will not incur any long distance charges. All you
need is a computer!
To Register for these events click on the link next to the date you would like to attend. Once you have registered you will receive an email with link to the webinar.
Mark your calendar with these dates and times:
Friday, December 13, 2013 – 10:00 am – Register at: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/117507846 Friday, March 7, 2014 – 10:00 am – Register at: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/924844630
Friday, June 6, 2014 – 10:00 am – Register at: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/761087038
If you do not have a microphone or speakers through your computer system, you can participate via Conference Call at the following number.
Conference Call Number: 712-432-0390 (Please Note: New Number) Pass code: 157031#
Have a question you would like answered during the Exchange? Email your questions to Beth Gambone at [email protected] prior to the date of the Exchange and we will be sure to answer your questions.
Calling All Directors
Directors you are invited to attend the Director Advisory Team meetings. The Northeast Regional Key would like your input about new policies and procedures, Keystone STARS updates or your community needs. Come share your thoughts and suggestions. This year we will be holding the Director Advisory
Meetings via webinar.
Mark your calendars with the following dates:
Friday, November 13, 2013 at 9:00 am (Please Note the Date and Time change of the November mtg)
Register at: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/623318686 Friday, February 28, 2014 – Register at: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/828527838
Friday, May 9, 2014 – Register at: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/156050134
Time: 12:00 pm t0 1:00 pm
If you do not have a microphone or speakers through your computer system, you can participate via Conference Call at the following number.
Conference Call Number: 712-432-0075
Pass code: 521992#
There is no charge to participate in the Director Advisory Meetings.
Focus on Early Childhood Mental Health
Creating Routines The beginning of a new school year and fall remind us of the importance of routines. While we always enjoy a break from the “same-old, same-old,” getting back into the familiar routines of fall creates stability and a sense of the familiar. For young children especially, those familiar routines are important to their overall healthy social and emotional development.
Routines help children:
Make sense of the world and learn how the world is organized
Feel secure and safe when many things in their environment, including themselves, are constantly changing
Develop their ability to regulate their own emotions and behavior
Learn skills and internalize habits through repetition
Learn self-discipline and develop personal responsibility
Set their internal body clocks (e.g., by eating meals and going to bed at the same time every day)
Have a sense of independence and autonomy when much of what happens is out of their control
Engage in fewer power struggles, arguments and conflicts with parents and caregivers
Develop confidence and self-esteem as the various tasks are mastered
Anticipate and look forward to what comes next
Have continuity, consistency and predictability in their lives—all very important in a world where much is unpredictable
Tips for establishing and enforcing routines
Create visual reminders or a picture schedule for a typical day
Plan structured activity periods; e.g., right after a nap, play a game
Break routines into steps; e.g., getting ready for bed (bath, pajamas, brushing teeth, story time, singing)
Prepare the child for transitions from one activity to the next (“In 10 minutes, we will….”)
Develop regular routines for daily activities, such as meals, bed time, story time, quiet time
Be flexible and creative; try not to be rigid and unable to adjust to unusual circumstances
Resources “Structure: Why Kids Need Routines,” by Laura Markham; http://ow.ly/oBsZ1 “Love, Learning, and Routines,” Zero to Three; http://ow.ly/oBsR5 “Rituals and Routines: Supporting Infants and Toddlers and Their Families,” Young Children, September 2012; http://ow.ly/oBsJ2 “Ready, Set, Routine!! The Importance of Routines in Children’s Lives,” by Maci Elkins; http://ow.ly/oBsqj
Health Link Online
The newest issue of Health Link Online is available from a link on the home page of ECELS-Healthy Child Care PA at www.ecels-healthychildcarepa.org (Copy and paste the URL into your browser to reach the home page if the link is not active in this message.) Download, read, copy and share this issue so others can read the articles. We have also placed a copy of the Health Link Online – Fall 2013 on the CSC website under the Resources section of the Resource and Reference Library.
The topics are:
Seasonal Reminders About Influenza and Lice
Pennsylvania Healthy & Green
Choking Injures Many Children
Staff Health Warning
Asthma Prevention
Oral Health in the Early Learning Environment
Early Childhood Mental Health
Robert is playing in the block area, gets upset with another child and punches him in the stomach, again. This is the 3rd time today and it’s only 10:00. You are furious and march him over to the time out chair. You know there has to be a better way but you’re just not sure where to turn. If you have concerns like these or would like more information about where to go for help, please consider the Early Childhood Mental Health program offered at the NE Regional Key. Contact Ivy Reynolds at [email protected]. To make a referral, complete the Request for Service Form and the Parent Permission form and fax to Diane Milia at 610-432-5700.
Directions for completing the Request for ECMH Services agreement:
Page 1:
Enter date, child’s name and date of birth.
Check the appropriate box for the reason you are requesting service. It is ok to have more than one reason
Further explain your reason by writing what the child does, if you notice a pattern, etc.
Complete the facility information. Be sure to write the program MPI number on the line located to the right of the facility name.
Page 2:
Complete the classroom information and sign the facility director signature line.
Classroom staff information: the teacher should provide additional reasons and strategies in the boxes provided.
Page 3
The teacher will rate his/her knowledge in the appropriate columns.
Directions for completing Parent/Facility agreement:
Please write down the facility email address.
Obtain parent email whenever possible
** A copy of the Request for ECMH Services is located on the CSC website under the Early Childhood Mental Health Section in the Resource and Reference Library. **
Sometimes your joy is the source of
your smile, but sometimes your
smile can be the source of your joy.
~ Thich Nhat Hanh
Crosswalking Your Curriculum By MaryKay Mahar
Many programs in the process of aligning their curriculum with the early learning standards struggle with developing a crosswalk. It is important to know that there are many early childhood curricula that already have an existing crosswalk. Each program can then use the existing curricula as their framework for developing lesson plans and activities that meet the individual needs of children. This gives teachers resources and support in their planning, but also allows for freedom to allow the learning process to unfold organically with their style of teaching. For more information on these published, cross-walked curricula, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s website: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/departmental_offices/7235/p/1188258
Assessments By Amber Ruch
Fall is the perfect time to take a closer look at assessment practices. Children are transitioning into new classrooms and a new assessment year is beginning. Assessment is critical to supporting children’s development and learning in the classroom. Teaching and assessment go hand in hand. Through assessment you gain useful information about children’s knowledge, skills, and progress. Review your assessment practices and start the year off strong!
During the school day our School-Age children spend a lot of time sitting at their desks. Here is a short, high intensity activity to get them up and moving.
BOPPERS
Material needed: 2 -4 swimming noodles With a sharp knife, cut the noodles in half lengthwise and then cut slices about 1 inch wide. You will end up with many half round noodle pieces. Explain the rules: 1. Bop as many of your friends as you can on the back. 2. Count your bops. 3. Do not stand with your back to the wall or lie on the floor. Then ask your children to stand in a circle and put a noodle piece on each foot. At your signal have them pick up the boppers, pinch them together with their fingers, start moving around, and try to bop (fling) the piece on the backs of other children. They can then pick up noodle pieces from the floor and bop as many children as they can in one minute.
Have children estimate how many of their friends they can bop in one minute.
Have them count.
Have them compare results.
Have them try again and get better.
By Claudia Hunold
Creating A Responsive Environment For Infants And Toddlers
Your arrangement of the physical environment sends a very powerful message to children and their families.
1. You belong here:
At children’s eye levels, display photos of the children with their families.
Provide places for each child to store their belongings.
Makes sure that pictures and materials honor the ethnic and cultural traits of the families.
Change the environment of the basis of your observations of children.
2. You will be safe here:
Always arrange furniture with safety in mind.
Store items near the places where they will be used.
Label containers, cupboards and shelves so that adult visitors and family members can find things easily.
Limit environmental changes to help cautious children know that they can depend on the room arrangement.
3. We will take care of you:
Set up areas for routines.
Designate a crib, cot or mat for each child.
Provide a comfortable supervised space where sick children can rest until pick up.
4. This is a comfortable place to be:
Include homelike touches and familiar household objects, such as curtains, nontoxic plants, and large floor cushions.
Provide soft furniture, such as stuffed chairs and couches.
Have enough space for teachers and family members to join children in their play.
Use soft textures and furnishings to help moderate noisy sounds. Soft colors, lights, and sounds create a peaceful impression.
5. You can move freely and explore:
Set aside ample floor space for children to move.
Block off areas that are unsafe for children.
Store a variety of materials on shelves that are low enough for children to reach.
Designate areas for experiences as you observe the children’s needs change.
By Masha Levin
October is PA Promise for Children Month
I have the promise to be….
A Fire Fighter
A Doctor
An Astronaut
A Chef
Send a Thank You card to your child’s teacher. Share with them how they are helping your child reach his/her promise and what you appreciate about them.
OR
Help your child write a Thank You note to his/her teacher.
**On the next page is a card that you could use. Cut it out and make it your own.
Place your child’s picture HERE
Or
Have your child draw a special
picture for their teacher HERE
Survey for Informal Education Professionals As an informal educator or interpreter, what are your resource and professional development needs? NASA’s Informal Education Working Group has developed a survey to assess the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics resource and professional development needs of informal educators. The results of the survey will help NASA's Science Mission Directorate Education and Public Outreach community better meet those needs and plan future opportunities for the informal education community. The survey was designed with the following definitions of informal educators and informal education in mind: Informal educators offer children and adults learning opportunities outside of formal schooling. Informal education is learning that is voluntary, self-directed, motivated by personal needs and interests, and provided by a variety of organizations, such as museums, after school settings, parks, libraries, and other settings. For the purposes of this survey, interpretation is considered a particular methodology of informal education and therefore, interpreters are welcome to respond to the survey. The survey will take 10 to 15 minutes to complete: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/InformalEd Thank you, in advance, for your time! The survey will be open until October 31, 2013. For more information about NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, go to http://science.nasa.gov. For more information about the NASA Science Education and Public Outreach Forums, go to http://www.smdepo.org.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM OCDEL, BUREAU OF CERTIFICATION SERVICES Dear Child Care Provider: Beginning January 1, 2014, there will be a change in the way your Certification Representative will be scheduling your renewal inspection. When your Certification Representative contacts your Director/Primary Staff Person on or after January 1, 2014 to schedule your renewal inspection, the Certification Representative will inform your Director/Primary Staff Person that the renewal inspection will occur within a 30 day range in the future. Your inspection will no longer be scheduled for a specific date. Please note that any scheduling calls made before January 1, 2014 will use the previous method of scheduling renewal inspections on a specific date known both to the Director/Primary Staff Person and the Certification Representative. All questions should be directed to your Certification Representative in the appropriate Regional Office. To receive important updates relating to the Bureau of Certification, please sign up to receive the Bureau of Certification ListServ by using the web address below. http://listserv.dpw.state.pa.us/Scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=ocd-pa-child-care-certification&A=1 Sincerely, The Office of Child Development and Early Learning, Bureau of Certification Services