NC ELSSP-VI Newsletter
December 2016
Each child will be honored, respected, and empowered to achieve success in school and life.
Josie
Teacher, Sandy Bryant
Lilli
Teacher, Heather Bradford
Jude
Jude inspecting Santa's beard.
Teacher, Marcia Rollings*Photographer Pam Griffin
North Carolina Early Learning Sensory Support Program for Children with Visual Impairments
Office of Early Learning
Email: bethany.mayo@dpi.nc.gov
Website: earlylearning.nc.gov
Location: 6371 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699
Phone: (919) 733-0533
December's Quote
I have a heart with room for every joy.
-Philip James Bailey
Contents
Student Pictures Submitted by NC ELSSP-VI Staff
Professional Development Submitted by Lin CauseySave the Date
Teacher Training Submitted by Sandy Bryant
Teacher Talk 101 Submitted by Kim Sawyer
Keeping Your Cup Full Submitted by Karen Beijer
Welcome New Staff
Student of the Month Submitted by Becky Lowrey
Staff Birthdays for December
Photo/Video Credits
Professional Development Opportunities
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Shared by Krystal Davis, Public Health Consultant with the NC EI Branch
Please find the professional development opportunities from Pennsylvania Early Intervention below. Click on the link provided for more information about the Foundations for Infant/Toddler Services in Early Intervention modules. The contact hours from these modules can be used towards maintenance of the ITF certificate. Pennsylvania Early Intervention may have other professional development opportunities of interest as well. Keep in mind the differences in practices when viewing trainings from another state.
Title: Foundations for Infant/Toddler Services in Early Intervention modules
The content and resources of these modules align with the standards of national organizations for personnel preparation programs and performance indicators related to early childhood outcomes developed by the Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP).
- Module 1: Family-Centered Interventions provides standards for Early Intervention professionals that include employing family-centered principles and practices in a culturally responsive manner, establishing effective partnerships, and working to build family capacity.
- Module II: IFSP Development provides guidelines in IFSP development based on Early Intervention policies and regulations and built upon family-centered principles that keep the child and family as the focus for services.
- Module III: Routines-Based Interventions provides concrete strategies for supporting primary caregivers, emphasizes the importance of natural environments and discusses monitoring routines-based interventions.
Credits: Varies
Intended Audience: Early Intervention staff, Early Childhood teachers, home visitors and parents
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Early Intervention (Part C)
Registration:
Registration for the three courses, Family-Centered Intervention, IFSP Development and Routines-Based Intervention is currently open. Each course is available by registering on the PaTTAN online registration Training Calendar. Choose the month you would like to take the course then click on the course title listed on the 1st day of that month. Note: course registration is only available during the month preceding the course opening date. You cannot pre-register for a course more than a month ahead of time. You need to register before the 25th day of the month to enroll for the following month. Please use the following registration keys: Family-Centered Intervention: FEISON1 (ALL CAPS) IFSP Development: FEISON2 (ALL CAPS) Routines-Based Intervention: FEISON3 (ALL CAPS)
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SAVE THE DATE
We are delighted to share some exciting news about our annual VI conference. Mindy Ely, a national presenter who specializes in early intervention and visual impairments, will be presenting at our North Carolina Conference on Visual Impairments and Blindness (NCCVIB). The conference will be held on March 9th and 10th, 2017 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Winston-Salem, NC. Mindy will be presenting on a variety of topics throughout the conference including CVI, social skills and students with multiple needs, etc. Her training style is one of collaborative conversation which will offer fun, interactive sessions. This is a wonderful opportunity to receive CEUs and Infant Toddler credits in addition to learning new strategies for working with your students. Information regarding registration will be forthcoming. I hope you will save the date and plan to attend our awesome conference.
Pam Bye and Paula Roten
New (and not so new) Teachers Receive Training
Teacher Talk 101
Quotes, Quotes, Quotes
by Kim Sawyer
The topic of this month’s article came to me in a very “If You Give A Mouse A Cookie” kind of way. I began gathering information about how the jobs of teachers compare around the world, which led to how educational systems around the world compare, which led to how teacher education and preparation of teachers around the world compares. This all became too much! Somehow, I began looking up quotes from history’s greatest educators and thinkers. But, because I am “the mouse”, it didn’t stop there. It is December after all, so I included Christmas quotes that I like. I hope they will make you think and smile.
“People seldom see the halting and painful steps by which the most insignificant success is achieved.” -Anne Sullivan
-famous companion and teacher of Helen Keller
“The greatest sign of success for a teacher is to be able to say, “The children are now working as if I did not exist.”” -Maria Montessori
-born in 1870’s in Italy and developed the educational philosophy that is the foundation of thousands of schools all over the world bearing her name
“I think I have learned that the best way to lift one’s self up is to help someone else.” -Booker T. Washington
-born into slavery in mid 1800’s, put himself through school to become prolific teacher and founded what is today’s Tuskegee University
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” -C.S. Lewis
-author, lecturer and inspirational educator at Cambridge and Oxford Universities
“Nothing will work unless you do.” -Maya Angelou
-taught people much about love, forgiveness, acceptance and the value of a strong work ethic
“Loving a child doesn’t mean giving in to all his whims; to love him is to bring out the best in him, to teach him to love what is difficult.” –Nadia Boulanger
-gifted teacher and musician, first female conductor ever for both the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra
“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” -Albert Einstein
-scientist, theorist and teacher
“Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal greater benefit.” -Napoleon Hill
-thinker, lecturer, author and advisor to 2 US presidents
“If kids come to us from strong, healthy, functioning families, it makes our job easier. If they do not come to us from strong, healthy, functioning families, it makes our job more important.” -Barbara Colorose
“I just like to smile, smiling’s my favorite.” Elf (2003)
“Look Daddy. Teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings.”
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
“If we don’t fail sometimes, our successes don’t mean anything. You must be strong.” The Bells of St. Mary (1945)
“The best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing louder for all to hear. Elf (2003)
“I once bought my kids a set of batteries for Christmas with a note on it saying, toys not included.” Comedian, Bernard Manning
“Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won’t make it white.” White Christmas (1954)
“My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?”
-Bob Hope
“God bless us, every one!”
A Christmas Carol (1843)
“Love the giver more than the gift.”
-Brigham Young
“Christmas gift suggestions:
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.”
-Oren Arnold
“The only real blind person at Christmas-time is he who has not Christmas in his heart!” -Helen Keller
Keeping Your Cup Full
As we go from one holiday to another in the next few months and we take in an enormous amount of calories and holiday cheer - try to remember to sneak in some healthy foods too! It will help the alkalinity in your body which will ward off sickness. Here's two green recipes to keep you on track:
Green smoothie -
Kale or spinach (handful)
Tablespoon or two of peanut or almond butter
Tablespoon of honey
One frozen banana
10-12 oz of almond milk (depends on how thick or thin you like your smoothies)
Add ice if needed and blend and enjoy!
Kale salad -
Use a whole bunch of Kale and chop it up.
Take the juice from a whole lemon and pour it over the Kale.
Using your hands - scrunch the Kale for a few minutes. This will help tenderize it and take the bitterness out.
Add 1/2- 1 cup of craisins
Add 1/2- 1 cup of toasted sliced almonds
Add 3/4 cup Shredded parmesan cheese
Dressing: 1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup honey
Salt and pepper
Mix and pour over salad and toss and enjoy!
Welcome Maryam Griffin!!!
Maryam Person Griffin joined our team on November 21st. Maryam is the mother of a 7 year old and 13 month old twins and says that she "LOVES working with young children". Maryam earned her BA in Psychology from East Carolina University and is currently enrolled at NCCU working towards her masters in Visual Impairments. Maryam spent two years volunteering with Pitt Memorial Child Life Program where she was trained in the care and development of preemies and medically fragile babies. Maryam also worked as a lead teacher in an inclusive classroom for 2 year olds. For the past 10 years, Maryam has worked in the early intervention field as both a Service Coordinator and a CBRS Provider. In her spare time (when not learning Braille or chasing behind her little ones) Maryam enjoys travel, going on walks, and riding bikes with her older child. Welcome Maryam!
November's Student of the Month...Kinsley
Kinsley is a little package who packs a powerful punch. Becky Lowrey has "had the honor of being Kinsley’s teacher since she was 5 months old". Shonda Page also sees Kinsley for OT. Kinsley was born at almost 24 weeks with retinopathy of prematurity, as well as vocal chord paralysis. Now an active 20 month old on the verge of walking and beginning to babble, Kinsley doesn’t let much slow her down. Whether it’s walking with her push toy or digging out toys from her “toy box”, Kinsley is on the move. Kinsley now enjoys activities such as carving pumpkins (scooping out the insides) and coloring on puffy paper with markers and on her front glass door with window crayons. But one of her favorite activities is to explore her egg carton of objects made by Ms. Becky. Kinsley’s family is so proud of her progress, especially her wonderful mother who keeps up with all of Kinsley’s services and many appointments. Here’s to courageous Kinsley, our student of the month!
December Staff Birthdays
December 14th Pam Bye
December 24th Heather Lister
December 29th Nancy Kirby-Sauls
Photo/Video Credits
NC ELSSP-VI Staff