Region 1&2 ECSE Snippets
FEBRUARY 2023
The Region 1&2 ECSE Snippets purpose is to provide monthly communication with practitioners regarding regional happenings, upcoming trainings and resources. It is each practitioners responsibility to check with their district/supervisor regarding use of the resources and participation in professional development opportunities.
If you have any suggestions for resources, trainings, or regional happenings to spotlight please send them to Wendy Carter at wcarter@bric.k12.mn.us.
Region 1&2 Spotlight
Upcoming Professional Development
Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI)
Resource Highlights
Equity
Autism Resources
Family Engagement (NEW!)
Housekeeping
Onward Book Study
Cultivate Compassion
Region 1&2 leaders and educators have had the opportunity to participate in a book study, “Onward; Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators” by Elena Aguilar. This ongoing study meets once a month to discuss and reflect on ways to cultivate resilience within the education profession. In January, the topic was Cultivating Compassion. In the discussion, participants shared words they had chosen to set the tone for the year. Some of the words shared included: balance, strength, gratitude, grace, and joy. These words can help guide and prioritize our intentions in how we show compassion to ourselves and others. Elena says, “After more than two decades of work in schools, I believe that one of the primary challenges we face is a shortage of empathy and compassion - for each other, for students, for their families and communities, for our bosses, and for ourselves. Cultivating compassion is like taking a really good multivitamin: It addresses many needs, prevents problems, repairs systemic imbalances, and makes you stronger.”
MDE Open Office Hours - Early Learning Sessions
Thursday, February 16, from 11 a.m. to noon
Minnesota’s Preschool Development Grant – There is a lot Happening! Since 2019, Minnesota has been awarded a Preschool Development Grant across the departments of Education, Health, Human Services and the Children’s Cabinet. The grant aims to make it easier for children and families to get what they need to thrive. Join the grant team to learn what the state has been doing to support program navigation, the early childhood workforce, kindergarten transitions, community solutions, eligibility and services, and more. Register for the February 16 session.
Friday, March 17, from 10 to 11 a.m.
Transition Practices to Support Successful Learners. The transition from prekindergarten to kindergarten is one that needs a comprehensive approach as described through the Successful Learner Equation. Given our focus on making sure that schools and programs are ready for students, Early Learning Services is working with ACET to facilitate the review, adaption, and creation of Minnesota-specific transition planning resources. Local level transition teams, led by school districts, Head Start programs, community agencies and other local leaders from across the state, have come together to identify what their communities need to support transitions and be ready for all children and their families. This session will provide an overview of the project, initial findings, and anticipated resources available to support local level transition action planning. Register for the March 17 session.
2022/23 Early Learning Nature Webinar Series
Monday, February 6, 2023 | 6:30-8 p.m.
Adventure One: Exploring Nature as a Teacher for Social Emotional Development and Social Systems
Cost: Free
Early Learning and KEP Assessment Trainings
The Early Learning Services Division is running a variety of trainings that support best practice in early learning assessment, whether your program uses a Kindergarten Entrance Profile (KEP) assessment or a non-KEP assessment. Please visit the KEP Assessment Trainings website to see the current list of scheduled trainings. These FREE trainings are available to all early learning professionals (i.e., child care, school-based, and Head Start providers, teachers, and administrators). Early learning programs can also choose to contract directly with KEP Trainers to run trainings. Please contact Jon Vaupel with direct questions about early learning assessment trainings.
There is More to Play Than Fun and Games: Adapting Play for Early Childhood
Friday, March 3, 2023
12:30–3:30 p.m.
Delivered remotely via Zoom
Play is crucial for child development. But how do children learn through play? Young children with disabilities may require support and specific interventions to facilitate play. Adapting play materials and environments based on an individual child’s interests and needs enables young children with disabilities to be successful learners. Participants will learn evidence-based practices, including assistive technology (AT) supports that can be used during play.
Presenter: Ellie Hamilton, M.A.Ed., Autism Specialist for Southwest, West Central Service Cooperative (SWWC), and ASD Representative for Regions 6 and 8.
Cost: Free
All Children Learn: Understanding Multimodal Literacy Learning Channels
This free three-part series, presented via Zoom, has a focus on literacy service providers (general, special education, teachers of the visually impaired, speech/language pathologists, and others) to expand their knowledge of various learning channels that impact the ability of students of all abilities to learn to read and write. For each channel, the presenters will share information on decision-making factors, effective instructional strategies, implementation, and evaluation support. Examples and resources will be shared to efficiently access tools and materials and create multimodal materials.
When:
• Session 1, February 9, 2023, 2:00–3:30 pm, Introduction to Literacy Learning Channels and the Auditory Learning Channel
• Session 2, February 16, 2023, 2:00–3:30 pm, The Tactile Learning Channel: Including Braille & Tactile
Representations
• Session 3, February 23, 2023, 2:00–3:30 pm, The Visual Learning Channel and Wrap Up
Cost: Free
Register Here: Register for All Children Learn: Understanding Multimodal Literacy Learning Channels
SAVE THE DATE!
MN DEC 2023 Annual Spring Practitioners’ Conference. March 9-10, 2023, Bloomington, MN
More information will be shared as soon as it is available.
Minnesota Low Incidence Areas
- Who are the low incidence specialists in our district?
- What is the protocol for reaching out to the low incidence specialists?
- How might the low incidence specialists and myself best collaborate together?
For further information on the Minnesota Low Incidence Projects you can check out: https://www.mnlowincidenceprojects.org/
Deaf/Hard of Hearing (DHH)
Here are three resources where you can find more information to support your work with DHH students.
Department of Health - DHH website - This website gives statistics, partnership resources, the why, how and next steps.
Parents Guide - This resource from Hands and Voices helps parents understand best practices for Early Intervention (EI), helps assess the EI services based on the standards recommended by the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH), empowers families to advocate for appropriate EI services and improves partnerships between families and professionals to help children receive best practices in EI Services.
MDE Deaf and Hard of Hearing webpage - This webpage from the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) is a statewide resource center providing information and resources to help families and educators meet the educational needs of Minnesota children and youth who have a hearing loss.
BEGINNINGS for Parents of Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
BEGINNINGS for Parents of Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing is a non-profit that helps parents and families understand hearing loss, and the diverse needs of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Our impartial support helps families make informed decisions and empowers them to advocate for their child’s needs. We support deaf parents who have children who are hearing and collaborate with the professionals who serve all of our children. NC BEGINNINGS website
Talking to Young Children About Race
Current events remind us of the necessity to discuss race with young children. To engage in these conversations, adults must address their fears and discomfort in discussing race. This begins with normalizing racial conversations. These conversations should become a pattern during the early childhood years and not a single event.
Children watch and listen to adults for racial cues. Get conversation going with this age-appropriate guide from the National Center for Pyramid Model Implementation (NCPMI), for talking to very young children about race, and for reading time, choose a culturally responsive book.
Talking to Very Young Children About Race
This children’s book list from the NCPMI includes diverse examples of books that can be used to promote social-emotional skills such as feelings and emotions, friendships, kindness, and problem solving. NCPMI Children's Book List
Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI) Resources
OCALI - Center for the Young Child - The Center for the Young Child (CYC) is dedicated to giving children with disabilities the best possible start in life because early experiences impact lifelong outcomes. OCALI Center for the Young Child
OCALI - Autism Center Grab and Go Resource Gallery of Interventions - Explore these interventions to support all learners, including those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Completed and blank templates are free and available to download. Each intervention has a how-to explanation and demonstrates how it may be used in the school, home, community and work settings. It is important to keep in mind that interventions need to address the underlying needs of the individual. Therefore, select the interventions that address those specific needs. Autism Center Grab and Go
Parent Favorites from Zero to Three
From biting to stuttering to divorce, our most popular resources for parents cover it all and get real about parenting children 3 and younger.
Seeing My Child's Strengths
Family members are an important part of the team and are the most knowledgeable about their child, family, and what they want to see happen to help their child learn and grow. Here is a short video and practice guide from the Early Childhood Technical Assistance (ECTA) Center for teaming and collaboration with families.
Seeing My Child's Strengths Practice Guide