EYI e-newsletter June 2012

Summer's near - Father's Day is here -- Let's play!

Dad and daughter EYI New Logo

As we travel around Long Island, visiting new outdoor classrooms being created in schools, libraries, parks and child care programs, we found one that truly inspires because of the heart and soul, rather than the money, that went into it. This outdoor classroom is at the Mid Island JCC in Plainview and is the result of extraordinary efforts of a few teachers and parents and cost less than $5,000. They couldn't afford fencing, so they painted a white picket fence around the perimeter of the brick wall. When a volunteer noticed that the faux fence wasn't perfect, the teacher responded, "Well, nature isn't either." The music and movement area, often built as a stage, was made of 20 fake wood tiles from Home Depot they laid on top of the grass at the JCC. It worked perfectly. All of the other areas of the outdoor classroom - messy area, art area, climbing, etc., were all done with imagination and very limited resources. The purpose of the outdoor classroom is not just to connect children and nature, but also connect children to the community. This outdoor classroom is a wonderful example of that.

- Dana Friedman, president The Early Years Institute

In The News - Hot Topics

Study: Pediatric Early Literacy Effort a Boon to Latino Children
Latino children who come from low-income households where English is not the primary language and who participate in the early literacy program, Reach Out and Read, have average or above average literacy skills by the end of kindergarten, and good home literacy environments. Read more

As School Districts Compete for Federal Race to the Top Dollars, It's Time to Think Beyond School Walls School districts concerned with improving outcomes for children would do well to look to kids' earliest years.

Wasting Time Is New Divide in Digital Era
In the 1990s, the term "digital divide" emerged to describe technology's haves and have-nots. It inspired many efforts to get the latest computing tools into the hands of all Americans, particularly low-income families... Read more

Children and Nature - Being active in nature makes kids healthier

National Environmental Education Foundation has released an infographic showing how being active in nature can make children healthier. Read more

How ed policy is hurting early childhood education

A coalition of national leaders in the field of early childhood education are becoming increasing concerned about the impact of recent federal education policy reforms on early childhood education and care around the country. Read more

Strengthening Early Education on Long Island

The Early Years Institute, the Alliance for Childhood and Nassau BOCES are working together to create an early childhood Long Island UPK School Leadership Project. This collaborative effort will strengthen early education programs and create an exciting partnership with the Alliance for Childhood and Nassau BOCES. The primary goal of the Project is to create a strong learning environment and provide professional training that is aligned with pre-K curriculum development. EYI was awarded $50,000 in support of a $150,010 project grant by the JP Morgan Chase Foundation.

Little boy School leaders and districts, teachers and directors of community-based organizations (CBOs) will be provided with in-depth coaching on curriculum alignment, as well as updates on the new state pre-K and Head Start standards and QualitystarsNY program. Teachers and administrators will recognize the vital role of play and play-based education in the early years, child development and parent engagement.

LI People on the Move

Early Year's Institute Dana Friedman Honored by Nassau BOCES In recognition as one of the most influential people in Nassau County based on her contribution and impact on early childhood education. Read more

BOARDS/ASSOCIATIONS

Helen Dorado Alessi has been elected vice president of The Long Beach Latino Civic Association. She is a senior vice president at The Early Years Institute in Plainview and lives in Long Beach. (Newsday, May 29, 2012)

Screen-Free Week Updates

Thank you for your participation in this year's Screen-Free Week campaign! We look forward to hearing your input on what you learned and enjoyed about finding new ways to engage and enjoy family time screen-free. Visit EYI's Facebook and Twitter pages to share your stories and upload your photos.

kids playing tag

Congratulations to the prize winners and all of you for taking the pledge! Click here to see if you are one of the winners! Remember, to print your Certificate of Achievement, which is located on the screen-free webpage.

Your input is important so please remember to complete the Screen-Free Week online survey as it will help us improve and make next year's event even better!

Happy Father's Day!
Take Dad outside by using PickAPark.org!

The essence of childhood, of course, is play, which my friends and I did endlessly on streets that we reluctantly shared with traffic.

Bill Cosby

At PickaPark.org, you can pick your park by zip code or amenities such as bathrooms, wide pathways for strollers, refreshments, playgrounds and benches in the shade. Explore EYI's online database of over 700 parks throughout Long Island.

Through your generosity, EYI improves early learning opportunities for all

children in our region to help them achieve success in school and life.