NC ELSSP-VI Newsletter
November 2016
Each child will be honored, respected, and empowered to achieve success in school and life.
Huntlee exploring a pumpkin!
Joshua enjoying building with blocks.
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
November's Quote
-Alexander Den Heijer
Contents
Student Pictures Submitted by NC ELSSP-VI Staff
Professional Development Submitted by Lin CauseyFoundations Training Submitted by Dr. Vivian James via Bethany Mayo
Save the Date
Teacher Talk 101 Submitted by Kim Sawyer
Keeping Your Cup Full Submitted by Karen Beijer
KinderMusik Submitted by Lori Blaney
Staff Birthdays for November
Professional Development Opportunities
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Shared by Krystal Davis, Public Health Consultant with the NC Early Intervention Branch
Quality Interactions Between Professionals and Families to Enhance Child Learning Webinar
Sponsor: University of Illinois
Objectives:
- Explore strategies for helping families understand early communication attempts of children before language is developed or in the presence of a delay or disability
- Explore how adult-child interactions change to promote children’s learning
- Explore the role of the environment in the interaction between parent and child
Date and time: November 3, 2016, 11:00 a.m.
Contact hours: 1 hour 30 minutes
For more information and to register: https://learn.extension.org/events/2648
Making Strides in Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships Webinar
Sponsor: Office of Head Start
Summary: Explore how grantees are individualizing their approaches with diverse child care partners. Find out how they support infants, toddlers, and their families through EHS-CC Partnerships.
Date: Anytime
Contact hours: 1 hour
Fee: Free
Watch Now On-Demand!
The Impact of Trauma and Toxic Stress on Infant and Toddler Development Webinar
Sponsor: Office of Head Start
Summary: Early Head Start caregivers, teachers, and parents are central in the lives of infants and toddlers who have experienced toxic stress. In this webinar, panelists discuss the impact of trauma and toxic stress on brain and social-emotional growth. Strategies for adults to use in supporting very young children are also discussed.
Date: Anytime
Contact hours: 1 hour 30 minutes
Fee: Free
Partnering with Families Who Are Coping with Adversity Webinar
Sponsor: Office of Head Start
Summary: Many families are struggling with and experiencing increased levels of adversity. Understanding the challenges and locating resources within the community is key in order to lessen any negative impact.
Date: Anytime
Contact hours: 1 hour 30 minutes
Fee: Free
***************************************************** 5th Annual NCIMHA Conference and Annual Meeting - Science of Resilience: Building Adult Capabilities to Promote Early Childhood Mental Health 11/7/2016 Friday Center, Chapel Hill, NC
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2016: 66th Conference on Exceptional Children
November 8 – 10, 2016
Koury Convention Center, Sheraton Greensboro Hotel at Four Seasons
http://ec.ncpublicschools.gov/conferences-profdev/annual-conference
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“I Just Need a Day Away”: Taking Care of Yourself So You Can Take Care of Others
11/8/2016 and 12/6/2016
The Education Center at Eastern AHEC
2600 W. Arlington Blvd.
Greenville, North Carolina
http://easternahec.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/e49990.pdf
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Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute
Professional Development Center
Workshops and Online Learning
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Foundations Training!!!
Go to the Early Learning Network website and then:
Click on Training Modules
Click on Foundations
Click on Self-Paced Modules on the blue bar
The direct link http://modules.nceln.fpg.unc.edu/self-paced-modules .
SAVE THE DATE
Save the Date! Our annual VI conference (NCCVIB) will be held on March 9th and 10th, 2017 in Winston-Salem, NC. This will be another great conference and professional development opportunity for all of us. We will be sending out more information in the near future regarding the presenter and topics for the early childhood/preschool strand. You will not want to miss it!
Pam Bye and Paula Roten
Teacher Talk 101
By Kimberly Sawyer
“Evaluating Ourselves”
Several years ago, my neighbors gave me several old magazines and books. They were an older couple that were the kind of people that buy something new and keep the box and owners manual, then them many years later know right where to find them. Do you know anyone like this? I’m not sure why they were getting rid of some things but I appreciated their generosity. Among the books were How to Win Friends and Influence People and Ivanhoe. Both books are probably 1st editions. The magazines were a 1938 McCalls, a 1965 Saturday Evening Post with President Kennedy on the cover and two The Grade Teacher dated May 1950 and April 1948. The magazines are in great shape and now that I think about it, I have had them about 20 years now! Anyway….
This brings me to our topic, an article from that 1948 The Grade Teacher. The title is: Evaluating Ourselves An Article for the Teacher Herself . It was written by, Beatrice Ford Parker. Did you catch the wording? “Herself”. Beatrice Parker begins, “The teacher’s first duty is to herself. Physical health and a well-adjusted, mature personality are prerequisites to the guidance of others toward achieving the same qualities, to the end that they may build noble useful lives.” I just love this. Our society has lost its way toward nobility and usefulness. According to Beatrice Parker, teachers are an integral part in that achievement.
Beatrice Parker asks teachers to take stock of her stature as a professional worker and a person by answering these questions: “(a) How do I look to a vitally interested school board, to patrons, and to pupils? (b) What extras am I putting into my work that may justify a raise in salary? (c) As a person, do I appear to my students and colleagues as “nice to know”?” These questions are still good for us today. Our presentation, hard work and attitude are important in representing our profession.
Some requirements of the profession explained by Beatrice Parker are for teachers to take time for study in order to grow professionally. She says that a teacher must keep abreast of new educational methods applicable to her needs. The last requirement stated is that a teacher should engage in a wide variety of experiences and pursue interests outside of the realm of education.
Beatrice emphasizes that a teacher owes it to herself to safeguard her health. She notes that teachers are constantly threatened with overwork. Teachers must make time for exercise, fresh air, unhurried meals, adequate sleep and personal grooming. She explains that a teacher who possesses all-around health is likely to have enthusiasm, which in turn stimulates a child’s confidence and best effort. Teachers are to be positive roll models for their students.
Beatrice Parker recommends that teachers seek friends from all ages and walks of life. Recreation and hobbies are valuable investments of time. Beatrice Parker ends with, “Only by way of mental and physical health can she attain the happiness she owes herself and those around her. Happiness is an obligation in the schoolroom.”
This was written in 1948 but how applicable it is for us today! We would do well to heed these words of wisdom from Beatrice Ford Parker.
Keeping Your Cup Full
By: Karen Beijer
“If you don’t do things to keep your cup full, you have nothing left to give or share with others.” (unknown author- I grabbed it from an article on line)
During our regional meeting last week, we talked about stress. We all have work related stress, even though our job brings us all joy and perspective and much gratitude. But we also have outside stressors from our lives including family issues, friends being sick, dogs needing surgeries – just to name a few. We had the idea of creating a new section to our newsletter to help with some of these stressors.
I will be sharing exercises, meditations, essential oils, mantras, and even some healthy recipes to keep us going when we are stressed. Please know- that just because I am sharing these ideas, does not mean I am stress free and that I don’t have meltdowns. I have had many in the past few weeks. But this was a great reminder to try to keep things in balance and to remember to breathe and take ONE DAY AT A TIME. You can only control yourself and your words and your actions…moment by moment.
So take some time today to move. We sit for so many hours in the state cars, that we often don’t give ourselves the time to exercise. “An average person has a stride length of 2.1 to 2.5 feet. That means that it takes over 2000 steps to walk one mile; and 10,000 steps would be about 5 miles. A sedentary person may only average 1000-3000 steps a day. For these people adding steps has many health benefits.”
So go for a walk, and try to make it a gratitude walk. Say aloud or to yourself all of the things you are grateful for. It can be small things or big things. But keep it positive. Try not to focus on the negative in your gratitude statement ex: I am glad I didn’t get a speeding ticket today in my state vehicle.
Try to set a goal of walking at least 20-30 minutes 3-5 times a week. That is the recommendation from the American Heart Association. Get a Fit Bit or a Garmin Vivofit to help track your steps. I would love to hear any feedback to see if anyone started this practice and what results you see!
-Karen Beijer
KinderMusik
KinderMusik
KinderMusik
KinderMusik
By: Lori Blaney
Miss Susan Eriksson at Kindermusik Village on Kildaire Farm Road in Cary, NC has been so generous to the students and families of the ELSSP-VI program in the Raleigh area. She volunteers her time each summer for our kiddos to participate in a music therapy class. This year we were privileged to have two music therapy opportunities. The staff and parents from the ELSSP-VI Program want to send a shout out to Miss Susan! Our time with you was fabulous and we want to thank you! We hope you know what a wonderful thing you are doing for our families and we are so grateful. It is wonderful to see such caring and generosity.
Kindermusik Village provides a delightful environment unlike any other. Through a unique blend of multi-level activities that include creative movement, vocal play, object & instrument exploration, and a colorful literature component, a young child’s growth and development are stimulated and all of the senses engaged. The classes incorporate the most current research on early childhood development and provide families a special place for learning and connecting with other parents and babies through music and movement. High quality, professionally created sessions and At Home materials are provided at each class and include Kindermusik Foundations of Learning (insights based on current research that educate parents about their babies' unique development). Several of our families have enjoyed this experience so much that they have registered and enrolled their children in future music therapy classes.
Again, thank you so much Miss Susan for this awesome opportunity!
November Staff Birthdays
November 1st Maureen Walsh
November 19th Juliet MauldinNovember 26th Karen Huffman
Photo/Video Credits
NC ELSSP-VI Staff