Building Strong Readers: Childcare Resources Hosts Literacy Workshop for Early Educators

Over 120 local early childhood educators attended “Embracing the Science of Reading in Our Early Childhood Classrooms” at the Vero Beach Museum of Art.

Childcare Resources of Indian River brought together 125 early childhood educators from 36 local sites for a professional learning workshop on “Embracing the Science of Reading in Our Early Childhood Classrooms.” The session was hosted at the Vero Beach Museum of Art and led by experts Tracie Wieczorek and Lesley Jennings of Teaching Strategies.

(L–R) Childcare Resources Program Committee member and co-founder Kathy Marshall; workshop presenters Tracie Wieczorek and Lesley Jennings of Teaching Strategies; and Program Committee member and co-founder Sherry Waddell.

The program offered interactive sessions where educators reflected on how they teach literacy and explored how early language experiences and brain development lay the groundwork for reading.

“The white matter of the brain grows when you expose children to all levels of phonemic awareness because their brains develop so much more rapidly in those early years,” said Wieczorek. “We must meet them where they are developmentally.”

Participants also took part in a visual literacy scavenger hunt, exploring museum galleries to connect art observation with language and literacy development.

Center directors from across Indian River County joined Childcare Resources for their latest professional learning workshop. L–R: Stephanie Herrera (Roseland Christian Preschool), Barbara Erege (First Presbyterian), Gloria Mosier (Mosier Family Childcare), Jhoanna Gomez (Kendall Academy), Kathryn Muth (Kidtastic Family Daycare), Tara Beard (Childcare Resources), Laura Wood (Wood Family Home Daycare), Lenora Carter (Douglas Head Start), and Camilla Anderson (St. Helen’s & Douglas Head Start).

Elizabeth Laney, an early educator at Head Start at Indian River Academy, described the workshop as a rewarding learning experience. “Understanding the science behind reading gave me new ideas for supporting my students’ language growth,” said Laney. “I plan to add more exercises focused on early sound skills in my own classroom.”

“As our youngest learners build the foundation for a lifetime of learning, this workshop was a powerful reminder of how crucial early literacy is to children’s future success,” said Shannon McGuire Bowman, Childcare Resources executive director. “By equipping our educators with research-based strategies, we’re strengthening our entire early-learning community.”

This workshop was made possible with support from PNC Grow Up Great, Indian River County Children’s Services Advisory Committee and Vero Beach Museum of Art.