| New names appear on the 'choice board' in R2LP's Pre-K Classroom |
 A delegation of state officials, educators and policy makers -including the governor, the Providence superintendent of schools, the state commissioner of education, the CCRI president and state legislators - arrived at the R2LP Pre-kindergarten Classroom on February 26 just in time for the "child choice" period.
Like the 18 children, they could choose from a range of different interest areas by placing tags with their pictures next to an activity on the choice board. Governor Donald Carcieri and Superintendent Thomas Brady headed for the dramatic play area, which was set up like a clothing store. Commissioner Deborah Gist preferred the floor of the  block area, where she worked with several children assembling plastic pipes. Other visitors enjoyed the art, writing and manipulative centers. The teachers have skillfully integrated literacy, math and science into every activity.The R2LP Pre-kindergarten Classroom at CCRI/Liston Campus is one of seven classrooms participating in the state's Pre-kindergarten Demonstration Project. The group visiting the R2LP classroom stopped first at Beautiful Beginnings, a Providence child-care center also participating in the project.
The visit comes at an important time for the Pre-K project, which will finish its first year in June and is actively seeking support for a second year. Although the state oversees the project, the two Providence pre-kindergarten programs are funded by both the R.I. Department of Education and the Providence Public School Department.
You can see more pictures from the visit both on our website and on the website for RI KIDS COUNT. |
| R2LP's El Club de Proveedoras offers important network |
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 On one Saturday each month, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., you will find some 70 home child-care providers at Ready to Learn Providence devoting part of their hard-earned weekend to enhancing their professional skills. All are members of R2LP's El Club de Proveedoras de Cuidado Infantil de Rhode Island.
The club, which got started in 2004 with about 25 graduates of R2LP's HeadsUp! Reading, now provides an important network for 230 Spanish-speaking home child-care providers in Providence, Pawtucket and Central Falls. The monthly workshops, conducted in Spanish, give the providers a chance to strengthen their skills and to earn hours toward the renewal of their licensing. Equally important, according to participants, is the professional camaraderie they find at these meetings.
 The photos shown here are from the workshop held on February 6. Nearly 80 providers filled the R2LP training room to hear presentations designed to help them in their role as owners of small businesses. Typically the workshops focus on early literacy instruction, environmental issues and health.
The next workshop will be held on March 6 and will address professional ethics. For information on this session or on the club, please call Tania Quezada at (401) 490-9960 or send her an email. |
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R2LP reconvenes committee to ease transition into kindergarten |
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 A child's entry into kindergarten can be "a turbulent time for parents, children and teachers," noted a member of the reconvened Transition to Kindergarten Committee, which held its first meeting at R2LP on February 25.
Some 20 representatives from the early-care field, public and charter schools, and parent organizations attended the February meeting to discuss the role this group can play in making the transition into kindergarten a happier and more productive experience for everyone involved. The reconvened committee has expanded to include Central Falls and Pawtucket as well as Providence.
 Among its goals is to increase use of the Child Information Sheet, developed in 2006 by the initial committee. The form, which is filled out by a child's early-care provider and shared with parents, provides kindergarten teachers with specific information on the child's mastery of the Rhode Island Early Learning Standards. These standards, developed by the state, are guidelines for what a child should know before entering kindergarten.
If you would like to join this re-energized committee, please call Christine Chiacu-Forsythe at (401) 490-9960 or send her an email. | |
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