In This Issue
Parent Corner
Behavior Tip Sheet
Portfolios
Training Calendar
Emergency Action Plans
Quick Links

REFERRALS FOR CHILD CARE

Remember to call Mountain Child Care Connections'

toll free number (1-877-752-5955)

to report vacancies you currently have in your facility so that they can give you the referrals you need.

INFO HUB

  

CCR&R will take short listings for Center items or equipment you need, or for those you would like to sell or donate. If you are interested in participating, please go to 

www.childrenandfamily.org

(Early Childhood Educators tab, Information Hub) for a form. Or click HERE.

  

*Note that CCR&R does not inspect condition of items sold or bought. CCR&R is not responsible for items that do not meet licensing standards*


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Parent Corner

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Partnering with parents in the education of their children is one of the joys of being a teacher. Helping parents understand developmental milestones, what is developmentally appropriate for children, and how the activities children engage in at school contribute to the development of skills is important.

One resource for helping teachers do this is
Environments Resources

Take some time to read through:
Parent Education Aids

Addressing Challenging Behavior  
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When you have a child who is demonstrating challenging behavior in the classroom there are many possibilities as to the cause of that behavior. It's important to take a look at each of these before you develop a plan to address the behavior so that you have the best chance for success.

One of the first things a parent or teacher can do is to start a Behavior Log. This simple form keeps track of behavior and lists the time it occurs, what happened before the behavior, what the behavior was, and what the result of the behavior was.

All behavior is an attempt to gain or avoid something. This behavior log will help identify a pattern to the behavior. Also consider any changes in the child's routine at home, or at school, changes in the child's health, and in the classroom environment.

Once a plan is in place, remember that once you begin, the behavior will often get worse before it gets better, so give it time. The key is to be consistent and firm. Plan to apply the strategy for at least 3 weeks before seeing results. 

For more information, see this tip sheet:
Behavior Analysis 

Portfolios
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Portfolios are a way to keep track of a child's development. Tucking away samples of artwork, pictures of created pieces, and anecdotal notes are important for creating a snapshot of the child's development through preschool.  
 
Start the New Year off with a snapshot of the child today. Consider including things about them such as:
How tall
Favorite color
Favorite food
Something about their pets
Favorite activity
Favorite book
A hand print
What they want to learn in the new year

Each week or so, select a piece of artwork, or take pictures of the child playing, to include in the portfolio. This is a great way of keeping track, and to show parents during conferences.

The new year is a wonderful opportunity to talk to the children about creating and achieving goals. A great book to read is "The Little Engine That Could" by Watty Piper; a story about a train who set a goal and then worked hard to achieve it. 
Save the Date! 

The annual

 Week

of the Young Child Conference

will be

 April 13, 2013

at Blue Ridge Community College.

Child Care Resource & Referral's 

January Newsletter & Training Calendar 

January is:

 

National Braille Literacy Month  

National Soup Month 

1st - New Year's Day 

3rd - Fruitcake Toss Day

18th - Winnie the Pooh Day  

21st - Martin Luther King Jr. Day  

31st - Backward Day    

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"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream. Discover." -Mark Twain

"Learning is not a spectator sport." -D Blocher

 

 Training Calendar 

calendar 

Please click on the training title for more information. Unless otherwise specified, to sign up for a training contact Amy Thomas at amyt@childrenandfamily.org or call (828) 698-0674 x153  

For a copy of our training policies, please click here 

 

 

Happy New Year! 

 

January Trainings

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Tuesday, January 8, 2013

TOTS: Dramatic Play and Music in the Classroom

12:30-2:00pm

Half-day Teacher Support Group

 

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Professional Learning Community

6:00-7:30pm

 

Thursday, January 10, 2013

ITS-SIDS

6:00-7:30pm

Register with JoAnne Danielson

 

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Playground Safety

9:00am-1:00pm 

 

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Lesson Planning: Preschool

6:00-7:00pm

 

Thursday, January 17, 2013

You're Invited: Teddy Bear Picnic!

6:00-7:30pm

Register with JoAnne Danielson

 

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Interview with a Tooth Fairy

6:30-8:00pm

 

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Basic School Age Care (BSAC)

9:00am-2:00pm 

 

Monday, January 28, 2013

Appropriate Guidance, Discipline and Socialization Strategies for Children Ages Birth to Age 3 - Part 1

6:30-9:00pm

Register www.childcareservices.org 

 

 

February Trainings

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Monday, February 4, 2013

Appropriate Guidance, Discipline and Socialization Strategies for Children Birth to Age 3 - Part 2

6:30-9:00pm

Register www.childcareservices.org

 

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Medication Administration 

6:00-8:00pm

Register with JoAnne Danielson

 

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Lesson Planning: Infants & Toddlers 

6:00-7:00pm

 

Monday, February 18, 2013

CHAOS: FCCERS

6:30-8:00pm

 

Monday, February 25, 2013

Introduction to the CLassroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) 

9:00am-5:00pm

 

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

CLASS Observer Training - Part 1 

9:00am-5:00pm

 

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

CLASS Observer Training - Part 2 

9:00am-5:00pm

 

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Blood Borne Pathogens 

6:00-7:00pm

Register with JoAnne Danielson  

 

 

March Trainings

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Thursday, March 14, 2013

Disease Identification

6:00-8:00pm

Register with JoAnne Danielson

 

Monday, March 18, 2013

CHAOS: Dental Program

6:30-8:00pm

 

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Bodies & Potties: Body Consciousness & Potty Training for Infants & Toddlers

6:30-8:30pm 

 

 

We are continually adding new trainings to the calendar - remember to check our website!

 

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Keeping Our Children Safe                   

In response to the horrific tragedy in Connecticut earlier this month, the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) reminds all of you in early care and education classrooms to be particularly vigilant in ensuring the safety of the young children in your care. While our hearts reach out to the families of the children and teachers in Connecticut, we are conscious of the need to prevent a similar tragedy in our state.

DCDEE has emergency preparedness materials available on their website under the Provider Resources tab. The Security Awareness Tips for Providers resource on this page is especially relevant.

Books for both teachers and young children can help you to address the emotional upheaval children may experience after such a tragedy. Examples of these include Teaching Young Children in Violent Times (2nd Ed) by Diane Levin; When Disaster Strikes: Helping Children Cope (brochure) by J.M. Farish; and A Terrible Thing Happened -- A Story for Children Who Have Witnessed Violence or Trauma by Holmes, Mudlaff, & Pillo. These additional resources offer ways to talk with children in response to a tragedy:
* NAEYC Coping with a School Shooting
* The Responsive Classroom No Ordinary Monday
* NPR How To Talk To Your Kids About the Connecticut Shootings
* The Fred Rogers Company Tragic Events in the News
Please contact DCDEE
if there is additional information or assistance they can provide as you and your children cope with this tragedy.


Also realize that an emergency situation can arise from any number of sources including domestic violence, natural disasters, incidents in the vicinity, etc and that you should be prepared with an emergency action plan in case of these events.

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Child Care Resource and Referral wants to hear from you! If you have questions, suggestions or comments, please let us know by calling our office, sending an email or writing to us. We want to ensure that we are meeting your needs so please let us know how we can better serve you!

 

Sincerely,

 Child Care Resource & Referral Staff