Early Childhood Peek at the Week
Week of 2/26/18
Calendar
March 2018
3-1-18 March 1 count
3-1-18 Onboarding
3-1-18 Bus Monitor Training
3-5-18 - 3-9-18 Benchmark Assessment (4 year olds)
3-8-18 Policy Council Meeting
3-9-18 Benchmark Assessment due in CASCADE
3-12-18 Flexible PD Day
3-15-18 Bus Monitor Training
3-15-18 Onboarding
3-16-18 Teacher Development Plans
3-16-18 - 3-30-18 Classroom Technology Survey
3-17-18 Policy Council - Budget Sub Committee
3-19-18 - 4-22-18 ITERS Observations
3-23-18 Associate Principal Meeting
3-23-18 Teacher 2nd Home Visit/Teacher In-Service Training
3-29-18 Bus Monitor Training
3-29-18 Onboarding
3-30-18 Preschool Program Approval Form due
3-30-18 Spring Parent/Teacher Conference deadline
3-30-18 Deadline to submit transition ceremony approval forms to the EC office
Staff Recognition and Celebration
Desiree is a very energetic member of a dynamic classroom team that meets daily challenges with professionalism and a smile. I am very thankful to work with Desiree. --Tracy Yurt
Susanna Leyva: Norton Commons Early Childhood
Susanna is a very energetic member of a dynamic classroom team that meets daily challenges with professionalism and a smile. I am very thankful to work with Susanna. --Tracy Yurt
Professional Development
There are currently 11 First Aid, CPR, AED Classes on PD Central. Please check your expiration dates and find a session that works with your schedule.
Comprehensive Services
Instructional Staff,
There are new procedures for obtaining permissions to access the Early Childhood Health Tab in Infinite Campus. If you currently do not have access you must complete and pass the Early Childhood Health test. Instructions for completing the test are attached. Print a copy of the completed certificate and scan to your email. Submit a LANDesk ticket. Be sure to attach a copy of the completed certificate stating that you need access to the Early Childhood Health tab in Infinite Campus. Please give them 48 hours for you to receive access. If you have not received access within 48 hours, you can call 485-3552 to inquire about it. Do not call prior to 48 hours. We are always happy to assist you in the Early Childhood Office. If you have questions please contact Latonya Blount at Latonya.Blount@jefferson.kyschools.us or 405-2704 (Shortel).
Operations: Transportation
Instructional staff supervising buses are to step off of the bus to ensure that students are safely escorted to and from the bus. Stepping off of the bus requires the instructional staff person to place both feet firmly on the ground, and not to remain on the bus.
Post-trip inspections are to be conducted at the school or center at the end of a route, not during the route. At the end of the route, and the start of the school day, someone from the school or center must wait with the students off of the bus. The supervising instructional staff and the bus driver can then conduct their individual post-trip inspections. All seats must be checked, regardless of how many students ride the bus.
Standards of Conduct Focus: Use physical activity or outdoor time as a punishment or reward
The following list offers actions that are suitable alternatives to using physical activity as punishment:
Include students in establishing expectations and outcomes early in the year, and review those expectations and outcomes frequently.
Include students in meaningful discussions about goals and how to reach them.
Be consistent with enforcing behavioral expectations within the learning environment. Practice and reward compliance with rules and outcomes.
Offer positive feedback and catch students doing things right.
Don’t reinforce negative behavior by drawing attention to it.
Hold students accountable for misbehavior.
Develop efficient routines that keep students involved in learning tasks.
Wait for students to be attentive before providing directions.
Special Services: Classroom and Activity Expectations
This is the long haul between breaks! It is a great time in the year to remind ourselves of the importance in reviewing classroom and activity expectations.
Singing Smoothes Classroom Transitions - Seca
www.southernearlychildhood.org
14 Vol 40, No 1, 2012 Dimensions of Early Childhood Singing Smoothes Classroom Transitions Another reason that children have problematic transitions is that they
Child Development and Education
Gross Motor Is Not a Punishment or a Reward
In order for a child to be prepared for kindergarten, we must focus on the while child which includes not only academic and social emotional skills but also gross motor physical development. Working on gross motor skills helps a child gain strength and confidence in his/her body. It also helps them get exercise and physical activity, which is important for a healthy lifestyle. Developing these skills helps a child’s ability to do more complex skills in future activities, such as playing sports.
State and Federal performance standards make it clear that we are to not deny physical activity to our students. Doing so is a major disservice to the child. In many cases it may be the only physical exercise he or she receives in a day.
1302.31 of the Head Start Performance Standards state that “A program must recognize physical activity as important to learning and integrate intentional movement and physical activity into curricular activities and daily routines in ways that support health and learning. A program must not use physical activity as reward or punishment. “
If you have any questions or need guidance on integrating high quality physical activities during the day please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.
Jimmy Wathen, Child Development and Education Specialist
CLASS OBSERVATIONS BEGIN
Our official CLASS observations are just around the corner. All Head Start and Blended classrooms will receive a CLASS observation by a certified CLASS observer. Those teachers will be emailed by the observer giving them a window of when to expect the observation. In order to help you prepare, we will be focusing on a different area of the CLASS tool each week. Additional tools and resources can be found on Ready4K or by clicking here: https://spinternal.jefferson.kyschools.us/departments/ech/SitePages/Training%20Materials.aspx
- Please click the link below that will take you to a short YouTube video discussing the aspects on the CLASS and what to expect during your official observation.
CLICK HERE: What to Expect during CLASS Observations
Resources to Help Increase CLASS Scores
Attached, you will find a zip folder containing resources for redirecting student behavior. What is redirecting behavior? Redirecting student behavior is a proactive teaching strategy that a teacher can use to anticipate a child’s challenging behavior and try to prevent it before it continues or escalates into a problem. Poor behavior management practices will lead to low CLASS scores. You are always welcome to reach out to your assigned instructional coach for assistance as well. Click the link below for a short video on ideas for implementing redirecting of student behavior in your classroom.
CLASS Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFUq5qsHruM&feature=youtu.be
JCPS Early Childhood is on Twitter
Big Day for PreK Login
JCPS Voice
You are invited to apply for the next round of JCPSVoice facilitator training! 30 educators will be selected to help expanding and enhancing professional learning possibilities in JCPS. Selected educators will earn PD credit for the extensive training.
Do you get a charge out of using technology to collaborate? Would you like to lead and learn from other educators in the district? Would you like to be a part of a dynamic cohort on the forefront of expanding professional learning?
Interested? Here are the requirements:
- Participate in CTQ’s Cultivating Communities for Impact (CCI) virtual training which entails a commitment to the following time frame.
- 2 hours a week
- 9 weeks
- PD hours will be offered for this intensive training.
- JCSP educators are allowed to accrue up to a maximum of 8 hours of virtual PD every calendar year.
- Webinars will take place once a week in the evenings. Participants need consistent access to a high-speed Internet connection as well as hardware that includes video and audio capacities.
- Upon completion, plan and lead virtual learning opportunities and collaborate with other educators in JCPS for at least one calendar year.
- Receive and utilize a Pro Zoom account to lead virtual professional learning for one calendar year.
- Complete this JCPSVoice Facilitator Application 2017-2018 by 11:59 PM on Sunday, February 25th. The JCPSVoice committee hopes to notify applicants of their status no later than Wednesday, February 28th.
Want to know more? Don’t hesitate to reach out using the contact information below.
Kip Hottman
JCPS Teacherpreneur/Fern Creek HS Teacher
kip.hottman@jefferson.kyschools.us
Cell: 502-727-6429
Twitter: @KipHottmanLow Cost Internet Project
Help us spread the word about the Mayor's Digital Inclusion Project. Attached are flyers for low cost internet from the digital inclusion project in both English and Spanish. This summer there will be Technoversity sessions in July, where we will be offering a professional development session with the Mayor’s office representatives to train people at the schools on how to assist families with signing up. We will be sharing that information with our FRYSC coordinators as well.
You will receive a packet of flyers in the PONY. Please distribute to your families. Thank you!
Summer Program Resource Fair
DuValle Education Center
Saturday. March 10th
10:00am- 1:00pm
Staff Health and Wellness
Employee Assistance Program
JCPS recognizes that employees' mental health and emotional health are as important to their job performance as physical health.
To provide support, JCPS has contracted with an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for employees and their family members at no cost to the employee. The EAP is a confidential, short-term counseling program offering traditional fact-to-face or phone counseling services with a licensed therapist. To schedule an appointment, contact Stuecker & Associates at (502) 452-9227.
In addition to the JCPS-provided EAP, the Kentucky Employees' Health Plan (KEHP) offers many additional self-help resources through the Anthem MyStrength Program. For more information, visit Anthem MyStrength Program.
Head Start Corrective Action Plan
View our Corrective Action Plan.
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer Offering Equal Educational Opportunities
The Jefferson County Public School District shall not discriminate in recruitment or employment on the basis of age, color, disability, marital or parental status, national origin, race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, genetic information, religion, or political affiliations or beliefs. The District shall promote equal opportunities through a vigorous affirmative action program as an integral part of personnel policy and practice in the employment, development, advancement, and treatment of employees of Jefferson County Public Schools.