Early Childhood Education Matters

Volume 1, Issue 3 - February 2023

(Pictured above - Kaitlyn Boal and daughter Kinsley at Welcome Winter)

It's hard to believe we are already half-way through the school year!

I hope you are enjoying our new newsletter/format. Look below for Welcome Winter highlights, save-the-date for the Parenting Matters Conference, information on what makes a preschool "high quality", sensory play and a teacher meeting highlight! We've also added a new Quick Survey feature that gives you the opportunity to win a basket of children's books by sharing a funny story about your little one from the holiday season!

Kerenda Applebey, Berrien RESA Early Childhood Education Director

kerenda.applebey@berrienresa.org

Welcome Winter was attended and enjoyed by at total of 308 people (105 families, 164 children, 144 adults)! Ninety-One percent (91%) rated it as EXCELLENT and 76% of families who attended completed the evaluation form. When asked, "What did you like best?", the most popular response was how engaging the event was thanks to the variety of activities offered. Respondents also commented about how well organized the event was for families.

Everyone had so much fun! Guests could warm up to Santa and Mrs. Clause (as slowly as they wanted to), enjoy many activities with their parents/guardians, entire families could listen to music, eat snacks and socialize, select a free book to take home, meet Olaf; and, of course play in the room filled with paper snow! Fun was had by everyone in spent time at the event.

Thank you to all the families who attended and the to staff who kept the activities organized. A special thank you is being shared with Laura Robinson, Family Engagement Coordinator, who put it all together!

Be sure to look for Welcome Winter event information next year on Facebook and the Berrien RESA website.

READY FOR RE-LAUNCH on Saturday, May 6, 2023!

Save the date and plan to join in on the upcoming Parenting Matters Spring 2023 Conference!

If you are a parent, care for a young child or are preparing to welcome a new baby, this spring’s Parenting Matters Conference is a great way to get connected, informed and inspired! The conference is a way to bring people together to support and encourage each other as we nurture the growth and development of babies and young children. This year’s conference will feature guest Cindy Williams Schrauben, and her presentation: The ‘I CAN’ Family: Parenting With a Growth Mindset. Learn how practicing a Growth Mindset can help you empower your family with confidence, perseverance and a hopeful outlook.

The conference will also offer a wide variety of workshops on key topics and opportunities for participants to engage in self-care experiences. Registration for this event will open in March.

Stay tuned for updates!

In Berrien County, there are many preschool options - especially for four-year-olds. Berrien RESA works with community partners to offer the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) which is a high quality preschool program. What makes this program "high quality"?

Key Elements:

In learning settings for young children, certain elements must be present to create an environment that ensures robust development and fosters ideal learning experiences. The Key Elements of High-Quality Early Childhood Learning Environment Preschool (Ages 3-5) identifies and articulates the characteristics of five Key Elements that are fundamental to achieving high-quality experiences and strong outcomes for preschool children: the learning environment, daily routine, adult-child relationships, teaching practices, and family engagement.

The Elements are not unique to any one type of setting, specific program, or curriculum, but apply in center-based and home-based programs, with mixed-age and age-specific groupings of children ages 3-5, in part-day or full-day programs. Each Element is defined and described through bullets that detail hallmarks of the Element providing guidance for adults working with children as well as those supporting, administering or evaluating a program. The Elements draw from national and state standards for early childhood and are based on research in child development that exemplifies proven practices in early education. In particular, these Key Elements are aligned to Michigan’s Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Prekindergarten (ECSQ-PK) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children From Birth Through Age 8 and the NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards. A bibliography is provided at the end of the document listing additional sources supporting these Key Elements.

Throughout the document, adults and their critical role are described. Adults who interact with children are referred to with the terms “adult” and “teacher” interchangeably as context dictates, however all adults interacting with children are truly “teachers.” Every interaction provides the opportunity for teaching and learning.

Children in the Early On classroom are having fun with sensory play! Digging hands into a sensory medium can be calming, regulating and encourages kids to explore a variety of textures. If children are reluctant at first, we offer a tool such as a roller, scoop or paintbrush so they can ease their way into play. Resistive mediums such as Playdough, kinetic sand, putty and floam all have the added bonus of strengthening the muscles in the hands. There are endless mediums that can be put into small sensory bins such as dried rice, beans, pasta, oatmeal, snow, leaves, water beads, shaving cream/whip cream, tinsel, slime and more...add in animal figures, cars and small toys to practice language and learning concepts too!

On December 16, 2022, all of the GSRP Lead and Assistant Teachers from across Berrien County gathered for a data review meeting. Since the school year started, each teacher has been observing and documenting how each of their students are doing on the Growth and Learning Indicators that show how they are progressing.

At this meeting, each classroom/school gets an opportunity to take a closer look at the what the data tells them about the how their students are doing in the context of all GSRP students. They work together to identify strengths and share successes. They also identify the next instructional focuses, goals and strategies they will incorporate into their teaching to support that learning.

Each classroom has an Early Childhood Specialist who will follow-up with any additional information, resources and/or supports the teachers needs as they work to meet those next learning goals.

What is the funniest thing your toddler/preschooler did over the holidays? Click on this link and share the story. We will share a few in the next newsletter. Also, all those who choose to include their name/email will be entered to win a basket of children's books. One entry per family please.

This month's featured playgroup book is The Napping House by Audrey Wood. Be sure to check out this month's playgroup calendar to learn how you can receive a free book plus enjoy some wonderful playtime activities!

Through high quality programs, leadership and expertise, we partner with families, schools, and community agencies to ensure that all children, birth through third grade, thrive and reach their potential. For more information please visit our website!