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Pathway to Quality | Judy Jablon | Leading for Children Pathway to Quality March 2021 Judy Jablon Leading for Children Explore how to provide the best early learning experiences to young children. Discover how to help you and your students thrive. Handout (PDF) Workshop Photos Back

Nurturing Young Children in Nature Coach's Column Amanda Gooch March 1, 2025 What an absolutely incredible time it was at our professional development day this past Saturday! We will welcomed Dr. Michele Lucia from Walden University as she presented “Nurturing Young Children in Nature.” Together we gained an understanding of the key factors in how to implement nature-based play and why it matters. We were also encouraged through outdoor play as a way to improve young children’s physical abilities, develop strategies for teamwork, emotional regulation, and fostering independence. Finally, we explored how outdoor play boosts cognitive growth such as problem-solving and curiosity. Let’s review our three buckets of learning that the workshop supported: Physical Development - Outdoor learning provides numerous opportunities for young children to enhance their physical abilities. By playing and exploring outside, children can develop their fine and gross motor skills along with encouraging a healthy lifestyle. Cognitive Growth and Environmental Awareness - Outdoor settings offer a wealth of sensory experiences and learning opportunities that foster cognitive development. Social Well-Being and Emotional Intelligence - The outdoor environment is an ideal backdrop for developing teamwork with social interaction, independence and confidence. To learn more about how you, as an early childhood educator, can incorporate nature into indoor spaces along with providing a learning culture through play and creativity; where children can develop the skills and confidence to connect with the natural world; visit Childhood by Nature: https://www.childhoodbynature.com/7-ways-to-bring-the-outdoors-inside/ “Play is the highest form of research.” - Albert Einstein Wishing you all the best, Amanda & Todd Back to Coaching Back to Newsletters

Monica , Director, Outreach and Philanthropic Services at Childcare Resources of Indian River Monica Cheslak Director, Outreach and Philanthropic Services Professional Development | Educator Outreach | Starfest Joined Childcare Resources in 2014 Contact 772-567-3202 ext. 104 Back

The start of a new year is a great time to set a positive tone and build strong foundations. Coach's Column Amanda Gooch January 1, 2025 Welcome to a Fresh Start in the New Year! As we embark on this exciting journey into another year, let's take a moment to reflect on our shared mission of fostering curiosity, creativity, and growth in our young leaners. A new year is an opportunity to refresh our classrooms, reset goals, and reinvigorate our passion for early childhood education. The start of a new year is a great time to set a positive tone and build strong foundations. Here are some strategies to kick off the year on the right foot: Revisit Routines : Reinforce familiar routines while introducing new ones that align with your goals for the year. Consistency helps children feel secure and ready to learn. Collaborate Goal-Setting : Engage children in setting simple, achievable goals. For example, ask them, "What is one thing you want to learn or do this year?" Celebrate progress along the way! Family Partnerships : Reach out to families with a friendly update about the classroom's plans for the New Year. Include suggestions for how they can support learning at home, as reading together or engaging in creative activities. Create a New Year's Wish Wall : Invite children or write their hopes for the year. Display their wishes as a reminder for their aspirations and as a way to foster a sense of community. As we step into this New Year, let's continue to nurture our young learners with care, creativity, and enthusiasm. Thank you for your dedication and commitment in the lives of children. Together, we can make 2025 a year of growth, joy, and discovery for all! Wishing you all the best, Amanda & Todd Back to Coaching Back to Newsletters

Can we teach based on the research of how children grow and learn and still comply with all of the requirements of our center? Coach's Column Susan Roberts December 1, 2020 After attending Lisa Murphy’s webinar on Saturday my reasons for spending my career in Early Childhood Education was confirmed. If we are in this field, we believe children are our first priority . We believe we should teach at their pace and to their interests, and that having a rich, stimulating environment is very important. The challenge has always been how to do what directors and child care teachers know is best for children within the constraints of lesson plans, pacing expectations, standards and other rules and regulations. Can this be done? Can we teach based on the research of how children grow and learn and still comply with all of the requirements of our center? Yes. But we need to know the “why” behind the “what” of what happens in our classroom. Dr. Peg Oliveira, from the Gesell Institute for Child Development, reviewed the milestones of child development at a Childcare Resources workshop in 2019. If you went to the workshop you were provided, Foundations of Child Development Birth – Age 5. Most curriculum programs and standards are based on similar child development milestones. The milestones indicate what your children should be practicing and doing by age. You will probably have a span of development from one year before and one year after the age you teach, i.e., if you teach 3’s you will probably have children who are developmentally from 2 1/2 to 4. You may be doing a unit on winter. That’s a challenge here in Florida. Here are some ideas to a provide stimulating, language rich, environment for learning. Read any book that has snow. How is the winter in Florida different from the book? Encourage discussion. Ask questions about experience with snow: How do you think it feels like, looks like, texture? What happens to it? How do the characters prepare for being in snow? How do animals move, and what do they eat when it snows on everything? Compare and contrast with Florida winter. For responses that are not on topic re-ask questions, “I see, but what do you think about?” Or use “Hmmm”, “Interesting!”, “I see!”. (Open ended questions, feedback loops, self-talk, vocabulary development, parallel talk, repeat and extend) Investigate cold and melting using a dollar store white table cloth or shower curtain and ice cubes. Do this outside. In a small group have each child put an ice cube on the plastic. What do you think will happen? Why? Will all the water puddles look the same? Relate melting ice cube to what happens to snow. Trace around the puddle made by the cube with a permanent marker. When you come back together as a large group compare sizes and shapes of puddles. Count children and count puddle shapes. Are the numbers the same? Color puddle shapes in with paint. You have a work of art! Or you can sort buttons, bean, animals, etc on the mat. It also makes a great mat for messy activities. This activity can also be done on the sidewalk with chalk. No shower curtain needed! (Language development, states of matter (solid to liquid), science inquiry, math concepts of number, size, shape) On a messy mat put a tray of Oobleck (made by the children). Put out a collection of cranberries, small pine cones, small branches, pine branches, leaves, tweezers or tongs. Let the children put the items in and out of the Oobleck and experience the textures. Where do all of these things come from? How would you describe how they feel? (Fine motor skills, states of matter, and language development) Bring in children’s summer hat, winter hat, sandals, boots, coat, swim suit, scarf, etc. and have children discuss if items would be worn in cold weather or warm weather. (Language development, critical thinking, textures/materials) These are just some examples of providing an exploratory and stimulating environment for children. Think beyond your given curriculum. Are these experiences potentially messy? Yes! Is it worth it? Yes! If you are having fun and being inquisitive and creative the children will feel it and be excited in their learning also. You are setting up their environment for them to learn and advance in their development. They are getting their cognitive, physical, language and social/emotional needs met and will have a memorable time doing it! Lucky children, successful you! If you need any of the resources below or assistance with planning your environment contact Susan for further information. Dr. Peg Oliveira, Gesell Institute, Foundations of Child Development Birth – Age 5 handout Lisa Murphy, Even More Fizzle, Bubble, Pop and WOW! Ooblick, pg 69* https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/pine-tree-evergreen-oobleck-science-winter-sensory-play/ Oobleck sensory tray * If you participated in Lisa's November workshop, this book was provided to your center as part of technical assistance. Back to Coaching Back to Newsletters

Starting Strong: Creating a School Family | Mandy Lloyd | Conscious Discipline Starting Strong: Creating a School Family August 27 2022 Mandy Lloyd Conscious Discipline The first six weeks of school is a time to build your School Family with: Brain Smart Start Routine Safekeeper Ritual Visual Routines Connecting Rituals Friends and Family Board Handout (PDF) Workshop Photos Back

Visual Schedules Coach's Column Amanda Gooch October 1, 2024 This has been such an incredible start to our school year. Over the last few weeks, we have been focused on providing follow up technical assistance from our Empowering Educators the Conscious Discipline Way training with Cheryl Cotter. Our biggest take away has been the multiple interactions on the importance of visual schedules and routines in the classroom. Together we learned about the importance of soothing the lower centers of the brain for learning. We compared and contrasted tools and strategies for maintaining and regulating off task behavior. We also constructed a school plan in which we implemented structures, rituals, and routines that build a classroom founded on safety, connection and problem solving. We are really enjoying hearing more and more success stories of how you have used our follow up technical assistance in the field. We are looking forward to hearing more success stories of how you have used our follow up technical assistance and see how your students have responded to those resources. If any of you need additional assistance in implementing the material provided, we are available for you in enhancing your practice. It's going to be an incredible and interactive time at our next professional development day. We welcome Dr. Angela Eckhoff, Professor of Teaching and Learning at Old Dominion University as she presents Reggio Emilia - Make Learning and Teaching Visible in Early Learning Spaces on Saturday, October 5. Together we will investigate the nature of learning in early childhood environments; discover what your image of the learner is and what your role is as the teacher; and learn what it means to document learning and how documentation can help you become a more effective educator. We can't wait to see you all there. We thank you for your dedication and willingness to pour into the next generation through education as we elevate and promote the highest quality early childhood development and education in Indian River County. Wishing you all the best, Amanda & Todd Back to Coaching Back to Newsletters

Exploring density with Dancing Raisins Coach's Column Paulette Maggiacomo July 23, 2020 For this fun density experiment, you will need: 2 Clear Glasses Water Seltzer Raisins Back to Coaching Back to Newsletters

Shannon MA, M Ed, CFRE, Executive Director at Childcare Resources of Indian River Shannon McGuire Bowman MA, M Ed, CFRE Executive Director Donor Support | Agency Collaboration Joined Childcare Resources in 2012 Contact 772-567-3202 ext. 106 Back

Lisa , Assistant Director, Wellness and Early Intervention at Childcare Resources of Indian River Lisa Gonzalez Assistant Director, Wellness and Early Intervention Enrollment Joined Childcare Resources in 2019 Contact 772-567-3202 ext. 113 Back

The Power of Mistakes: Creative a Positive CLASSroom Climate | Dr. Maleka Donaldson | Smith College The Power of Mistakes: Creative a Positive CLASSroom Climate November 16, 2024 Dr. Maleka Donaldson Smith College Educators: Join us Saturday, November 16th to discover The Power of Mistakes: Creating a Positive CLASSroom Climate with Dr. Maleka Donaldson, Assistant Professor of Education and Child Study, Smith College. Encourage children to embrace mistakes that lead to new learning experiences Develop strategies for a positive and supportive classroom culture Reflect on personal experiences as learners and teachers to connect theory with practice Available at no cost to early educators in Indian River County Certificate of in-service provided/CEUs available from FLAEYC Breakfast and lunch will be provided Workshop will be held at First Presbyterian Church Handout (PDF) Workshop Photos Back

Sponsorship opportunities for Starfest, Childcare Resources' signature fundraiser. Thank you for being a part of Starfest 2026! Please scroll through the available sponsorship opportunities below.