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When I look back and try to sum up the year I keep thinking of the words calm, confident and connected. Coach's Column Susan Roberts May 21, 2020 My third year of coaching with Childcare Resources has come to an end. And what an interesting year it has been! The year started with an exciting week of Conscious Discipline training and ended abruptly by a pandemic that took us all by surprise and changed our world. When I look back and try to sum up the year I keep thinking of the words calm, confident and connected . We have had some great professional development this year. Conscious Discipline focuses on the importance of connectedness and the need for children to feel safe in order to learn. In many cases you were the safe person a child had to go to during stressful times. Since schools closed many of you have learned new ways to stay connected. Facetime, Zoom, Teams and other forms of technology have been useful in keeping as connected as we can be at this time. Learning is a lifelong adventure. Gaining knowledge in early math concepts, developmental milestones, and learning new ways to look at the arts to encourage pre-literacy skills helps build the confidence needed to try new things. Confidence in knowing your children’s developmental level and being secure in your ability to move them forward is empowering. Then there is calmness . Easier said than done! It is hard to be calm when a child or adult is screaming at you. Changing the habit of reacting, to the habit of taking deep breathes and knowing if the person is in their survival, emotional or executive state is difficult. I struggle with this but learn so much each time I see great presenters like Becky Bailey and Kim Hughes. The world has changed and we were not prepared. It is no one’s fault. There are restrictions, guidelines and genuine concern for the health of those who we come in contact with. No one knows how things will look in the fall. Stepping back and taking in all of the information you can gather and making the best decision for yourself, your family and your business is the best you can do. Being flexible and adapting is critical because everyone is dealing with the unknown. It sounds trite, but you must take care of yourself, calm yourself, and take time for yourself so you can handle the challenges that are coming. Your job is so important. You are valued and you are needed. Stay confident, calm and connected. I will see you in the fall and look forward to helping you in any way I can. Wishing you well! Susan Back to Coaching Back to Newsletters

It can be common for kids to lose some of their learning over the summer break. Coach's Column Amanda Gooch June 1, 2025 Have you ever heard of the “summer slide?” It can be common for kids to lose some of their learning over the summer break. While it may be common, that doesn’t mean it can’t be helped. One way to keep students’ literacy skills steady and growing over the summer is to read, read, and read some more. Reading to young children is an important way to help them build language skills and develop listening and comprehension skills. It exposes them to new words and ways of using language. It also supports creativity and learning about the world around them. Remember, emergent literacy takes place within the child. It is a gradual process that takes place over time. Literacy develops from real life situations in which children are provided many opportunities to see how reading is useful and meaningful within those experiences. When thinking about emergent literacy, how can we encourage a love for reading with our early learners? Here are some fun tips to make summer reading great and help promote child engagement: 1. Letter Water Table : Create a letter water table for some fun outdoor learning. You can write letters, shapes and even a variety of colors on ping pong balls or large letter stamps. Your students can then “fish” using a small fishing net or cup. 2. Set-Up a Reading Nook : Create a fresh and new cozy reading nook in your classroom where your students can relax and enjoy reading. Fill it with comfortable cushions, blankets, and some favorite books. You can even add some fairy lights or decorations to make it more inviting. 3. Outdoor Storytelling : Take advantage of the nice weather and encourage outdoor storytelling sessions. Let your students use their imagination to create stories or retell their favorite books. You can sit in the garden, at the playground, or even go on a nature walk while taking turns telling stories. 4. Write and Illustrate a Book : Encourage your students to write and illustrate their own classroom book. Provide them with blank notebooks or paper, art supplies, and writing prompts if needed. They can create their own characters, settings, and plot. Once the book is complete, have a class reading session to celebrate their accomplishments. 5. D.E.A.R : Drop Everything and Read is a great way to create fun and excitement around reading for pleasure. It sends a message that reading for pleasure is important, and something everyone should make time for. Any school, group, family or individual can Drop Everything and Read. Choose a regular time that suits you. Let everyone know, and at the appropriate time, just Drop Everything and Read! For more information on Drop Everything and Read, click this link: Drop Everything and Read Some kids naturally have a love of reading, and some kids maybe haven’t found the right books yet. If your students aren’t running to pick up a book while they are in class or at home over summer, you can encourage them by making it a fun challenge. Looking for quick book recommendations? Of course, your local library will be the best place to have tons of books at your fingertips. If you set up a day each week to visit, it can be a fun way to stock up on books. Libraries often have free summer reading programs and events as well. For a list of 50 summer books for kids, click this link: 50 Summer Books for Kids Wishing you all the best, Amanda & Todd Back to Coaching Back to Newsletters

These team building activities provide opportunities for children to develop important character skills while having fun and building positive relationships with their peers. Coach's Column Amanda Gooch April 1, 2024 The spring season of our school year comes with high expectations. Many students are excited and motivated to learn. Several, however, need to have strategies in place that will allow them to continue to build up relationship skills and encourage them to work together. The activities below can encourage students to build their relationships with each other through team-building activities that are fun and engaging and reinforce collaboration, communication, social interaction and creativity. Here are some engaging and developmentally appropriate team building activities: Animal Charades - Children take turns acting out different animals while their peers guess what animal they are pretending to be. This activity encourages teamwork, creativity, and non-verbal communication. Obstacle Course - Set up a simple obstacle course using cones, hula hoops, tunnels, and balance beams. Children work together in teams to navigate the course, helping each other and cheering on their teammates. Group Art Project - Provide a large piece of paper or canvas and art supplies such as paint, markers, and collage materials. Children collaborate to create a mural or collage, taking turns adding their own artistic touches. Outdoor Scavenger Hunt - Create a list of natural items for children to find and collect outdoors, such as leaves, rocks, flowers, or sticks. Children work together in small groups to search for items and check them off their list. Team Challenges - Set up group challenges such as building the tallest tower using only spaghetti noodles and marshmallows or creating a bridge to span a gap using only paper and tape. Children collaborate to brainstorm ideas and work together to complete the challenge. These team building activities provide opportunities for children to develop important character skills while having fun and building positive relationships with their peers. To learn more about team building activities and games for kids, visit this link: Team Building Activities We are excited to help end the year strong with you all as we continue to be “bucket-fillers” for our students. We truly believe many of these team building activities and games are a reflection of Tammy Pawloski’s focus on how much we matter to the field of education. Our play based bucket filling activities set the foundation for our student’s futures as we help them to reach their goals and dreams every day. For more bucket filler activities that encourage kindness in your classrooms, visit this link: Bucket Filler Activities If you have an epic team building or bucket-filler activity that you do with your students please let us know. We would love to come to your centers and see the incredible work that you do for children in Indian River County. Back to Coaching Back to Newsletters

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Terms of service for the Childcare Resources of Indian River mobile messaging program. Mobile Messaging Terms of Service Last updated: November 21, 2023 Childcare Resources of Indian River, (“Childcare Resources”, “we”, or “us”) operates a mobile messaging program (the “Program”) subject to these Mobile Messaging Terms and Conditions (the “Mobile Messaging Terms”). The Program and our collection and use of your personal information is also subject to our Privacy Policy [insert link to your privacy policy]. By enrolling, signing up, or otherwise agreeing to participate in the Program, you accept and agree to these Mobile Messaging Terms and our Privacy Policy . 1. Program Description: We may send promotional and transactional mobile messages in various formats through the Program. Promotional messages advertise and promote our services and may include service opportunities and program updates. Transactional messages relate to an existing or ongoing transaction and may include registration reminders, registration confirmations, and meeting reminders. Mobile messages may be sent using an automated technology, including an autodialer, automated system, or automatic telephone dialing system. Message frequency will vary but will not exceed 12 messages per month. You agree that we, our affiliates, and any third-party service providers may send you messages regarding the foregoing topics or any topic and that such messages and/or calls may be made or placed using different telephone numbers or short codes. We do not charge for mobile messages sent through the Program but you are responsible for any message and data rates imposed by your mobile provider, as standard data and message rates may apply for SMS and MMS alerts. 2. User Opt-In: By providing your mobile phone number to us, you are voluntarily opting in to the Program and you agree to receive recurring mobile messages from us at the mobile phone number associated with your opt-in, even if such number is registered on any state or federal “Do Not Call” list. You agree that any mobile phone number you provide to us is a valid mobile phone number of which you are the owner or authorized user. If you change your mobile phone number or are no longer the owner or authorized user of the mobile phone number, you agree to promptly notify us at [insert email or other contact method]. Your participation in the Program is not required to make any purchase from us and your participation in the Program is completely voluntary. 3.User Opt-Out and Support: You may opt-out of the Program at any time. If you wish to opt-out of the Program and stop receiving mobile messages from us, or you no longer agree to these Mobile Messaging Terms, reply STOP, QUIT, CANCEL, OPT-OUT, and/or UNSUBSCRIBE to any mobile message from us. You may continue to receive text messages for a short period while we process your request and you may receive a one-time opt-out confirmation message. You understand and agree that the foregoing is the only reasonable method of opting out. For support, reply HELP to any mobile message from us. Our mobile messaging platform may not recognize requests that modify the foregoing commands, and you agree that we and our service providers will not be liable for failing to honor requests that do not comply with the requirements in these Mobile Messaging Terms. We may also change the telephone number or short code we use to operate the Program and we will notify you of any such change. You acknowledge that any requests sent to a telephone number or short code that has been changed may not be received by us and we will not be responsible for failing to honor a request sent to a telephone number or short code that has been changed. 4. Disclaimer of Warranty and Liability: The Program is offered on an “as-is” basis and may not be available in all areas, at all times, or on all mobile providers. You agree that neither we nor our service providers will be liable for any failed, delayed, or misdirected delivery of any mobile message or information sent through the Program. 5. Modifications: We may modify or cancel the Program or any of its features at any time, with or without notice. To the extent permitted by applicable law, we may also modify these Mobile Messaging Terms at any time. Any such modification will take effect when it is posted to our website. You agree to review these Mobile Messaging Terms periodically to ensure that you are aware of any modifications. Your continued participation in the Program will constitute your acceptance of those modifications.

Conscious Discipline: Brain State Model | Vicky Hepler | Conscious Discipline Conscious Discipline: Brain State Model October 2015 Vicky Hepler Conscious Discipline Handout (PDF) Workshop Photos Back

< Back Meet Alison & Sierra When her daughter was an infant, Alison realized that something needed to change. “I was a single mother struggling to find employment that would provide Sierra and I with what we needed ,“ says Alison. After learning about the early education program offered by Childcare Resources, Alison quickly enrolled Sierra when she was nine months old. “Childcare Resources helped Sierra come out of her shell ,” says Alison. During Sierra’s time at Childcare Resources, Alison made the decision to go back to school in addition to working full-time, earning an Associate’s Degree in General Education. In 2018, Sierra graduated from the Childcare Resources School and moved on to kindergarten. Alison also graduated that same summer, having earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. Today, Alison is a Certified Child Welfare case worker and works in the adoption unit of a statewide nonprofit. Sierra recently started fifth grade at a local elementary school, where she is thriving. “During her last school year, Sierra received awards for improving on math and reading skills almost each quarter,“ says Alison. “Sierra also plays softball and recently participated in the county-wide track meet .“ “Without you, I would not have been able to fully support myself and Sierra. I would not have pushed myself to go back to school at all, “ continues Alison. “Childcare Resources helped Sierra grow into the smart, independent, and loving child she is today. “ Previous Next

Together we will gain an understanding of the key factors in investigating the root causes of success or fulfillment. Coach's Column Amanda Gooch February 1, 2024 Only two more days until literacy and early education advocate by day, and multi-platinum music star by night, Coy Bowles shares some pretty exciting things with us on Saturday, February 3rd. You are going to want to dust off your vocal cords as we sing and dance along with Coy when he presents “Connect to Your Calling.” Coy Bowles is probably best known as a guitarist, keyboardist, singer and songwriter for the three-time Grammy Award-winning Zac Brown Band. However, off stage, he is a teacher and parent blazing trails in the world of early education. With five highly-praised children's books under his belt, Coy recently released an activity kit based around his hit book, Behind the Little Red Door, an unforgettable story of imagination and creativity. Together we will gain an understanding of the key factors in investigating the root causes of success or fulfillment. Participants will recognize the importance of the “Butterfly Phase/Window of Opportunity” for child development and the implications of that for teaching and learning. We will recognize the importance of an emotional and social foundation for every student and reflect on how connecting to our calling and sharing our origin story is crucial in regaining clarity, passion and purpose for being an early childhood educator. This is a friendly reminder that each organization represented at the workshop has an opportunity to receive Coy Bowles’ “Behind the Little Red Door Activity Kit” presented by Lakeshore Learning. Those organizations that will be receiving the kit are committing to follow up technical assistance that will include early childhood education coaching. The kit recipients are expected to utilize, implement and share the tools and resources they acquired from attending the workshop with their colleagues or local community. Examples might include: Lunch and learn at a staff meeting, share in professional learning communities or write a blog post to share their kit story on Childcare Resources website or newsletter. Every recipient to the workshop will go home with some coveted Lakeshore swag and one of Coy Bowles newest books. Behind the Little Red Door Kit Wishing you the best, Amanda & Todd Back to Coaching Back to Newsletters

Support the creation of a state-of-the-art campus that empowers children, families, and educators in Indian River County. Transforming Tomorrow Building a Foundation for Lifelong Success Support the creation of a state-of-the-art campus that empowers children, families, and educators in Indian River County. Make a Difference Today The Time to Act is NOW The Transforming Tomorrow Campaign addresses urgent challenges facing our community by expanding access to life-changing high-quality early education and support for working families, therapeutic and wellness services to address development needs, and professional learning resources for educators. 55% of children enter kindergarten unprepared of families earn too much to qualify for assistance but cannot afford quality childcare 45% Real Lives Transformed by Your Support Nolan spent his first year of life living in a car. When he came to Childcare Resources at 18 months old, he could not crawl, walk or talk. He was dangerously behind in meeting his developmental milestones and his mother was deeply concerned for his future. Thanks to the teachers and therapists at Childcare Resources, Nolan received therapies tailored to his needs and spent every day in a nurturing environment. Today Nolan is walking, learning and discovering the world with curiosity and joy. His mother, empowered by CCR’s support, is rebuilding their future. “Childcare Resources didn’t just help my son – they gave me hope. They showed us what’s possible.” -Nolan’s Mom A Space Built to Impact The Transforming Tomorrow Campaign is a $14 million initiative which will expand enrollment by 64%, and will feature: An early childhood learning center with classrooms to serve infants through 2nd grade. Therapy and intervention spaces to meet the growing demand for physical, speech, occupational, and behavioral services. Outdoor sensory areas designed to foster creativity, exploration, and confidence. Professional learning facilities for training educators and raising the standard of care county-wide. Parent resources center connecting families with services that foster growth and stability. Make an Impact Today When you give to the Transforming Tomorrow Campaign, you're doing more than funding a new campus. You're creating a space where: Children grow and succeed. Families find hope and stability. Educators lead with confidence. “When children succeed, families flourish, and communities grow stronger. This new campus will be a cornerstone for our community, helping children and families reach their potential.” -Katy Block Healy, Steering Committee Chair Flexible Ways to Support the Campaign We offer multiple ways to give, allowing you to choose the option that best aligns with your goals. ONE-TIME GIFTS Make an immediate impact by donating via credit card, check, or online RECURRING GIFTS Provide sustained support through monthly or annual contributions GIFTS OF STOCK OR SECURITIES Maximize your tax benefits by donating appreciated assets PLANNED GIVING Create a lasting legacy with bequests, trusts, or other estate plan MATCHING GIFTS Double your impact by checking if your employer matches charitable donations For assistance with your gift, contact Monica Cheslak FAQ's Why is this campaign important? Childcare Resources has been a trusted leader in early childhood education in our community for more than 30 years. CCR is one of only 7% of early learning centers nationwide accredited by the National Association for Education of Young Children (NAEYC). CCR’s expanded presence in Indian River County adds significantly to the quality of early childhood care available and greatly improves a child’s success in school and life. How will my gift be used? Your donation will fund the creation of classrooms, therapy spaces, and professional learning areas, ensuring that children, families, and educators have access to life-changing resources. How can I contribute? There are many ways to give—through one-time donations, recurring gifts, or planned giving. Learn more on our Ways to Give page. Can I make a recurring gift? Yes! Your monthly or annual contribution provides sustained support and is greatly appreciated. Are there tax benefits for my donation? Childcare Resources is a 501(c)(3) organization, so your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Report highlighting impacts of the 2021-2022 fiscal year 2021-2022 Impact Report Mission & Vision Childcare Resources Mission: To elevate and promote the highest quality early childhood development and education in Indian River County, focusing on economically challenged children and families. Childcare Resources Vision: All children and their families benefit from a high quality learning experience. Early Education Childcare Resources provides high-quality care at the Childcare Resources School and partnering centers. All centers are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children . Wellness & Early Intervention The Wellness & Early Intervention Program (WEIP) provides wellness and support services to program students and families. WEIP coordinates hearing and vision screenings , therapeutic services , individual care plans , assessments , and parent educational activities . WEIP also connects program families with community resources on an as-needed basis. Educator Outreach 190 educators (unduplicated) attended professional development workshops focused on intentional teaching and self-regulation. The coaching program responded to the needs of the community with a focus on quality, reaching 27 educators . The CREATE program provided opportunities for educators to achieve academic goals, serving 50 educators with a 90% course completion rate . Three director meetings provided 24 local directors with networking and educational opportunities.

So how do we discover a new approach to teaching that prioritizes play, child-led exploration, curiosity and wonder? Coach's Column Amanda Gooch January 1, 2024 How many of you are still talking about our last professional development day? For those of you who did not get an opportunity to attend, we welcomed Sally Haughey from Fairy Dust Teaching, now called Wunderled. We reset, rebooted, and refueled together as she unpacked her play-activated pathway model. Throughout the day we were able to find our true teaching heart and honor our gifts as an early childhood educator. Sally placed an emphasis on understanding brain science research around learning environments, children’s play, and why choice matters. The power of repetition and the beauty of everyday moments were explored as we learned to appreciate the small meaningful interactions in our work and reflect on the science behind care. Maitland Farms Preschool Early Educators reflected that the workshop was a “refreshing reminder that the magic of learning lies not in perfection, but in intention. When we encourage our student's curiosity by incorporating nature into our play, it sparks engagement, encourages exploration, and fuels a genuine interest in acquiring knowledge.” Together we can strive to curate new ideas, strategies and resources that will save us time and energy. If you are ready to teach with more ease and intention, click on the following link to explore more about Wunderled. Wunderled So how do we discover a new approach to teaching that prioritizes play, child-led exploration, curiosity and wonder? Discover dozens of creative Play Invitations to engage children and spark their imaginations that will: INCREASE engagement, creativity, and problem-solving skills. MORE joyful and playful learning environment. REDUCE prep time. You can learn more about play invitations by clicking on the following link: Wunderled Play Invitations It’s going to be an absolutely incredible time at our next professional development day. We welcome Coy Bowles from the Zack Brown Band as he presents “Connect to Your Calling” on Saturday February 3rd 2024. Just a friendly reminder, the workshop will be back at First Presbyterian McAfee Hall. Together we will gain an understanding of the key factors in investigating the root causes of success or fulfillment. Participants will recognize the importance of the “Butterfly Phase/Window of Opportunity” for child development and the implications of that for teaching and learning. We will recognize the importance of a social emotional foundation for every student and reflect on how connecting to our calling and sharing our origin story is crucial in regaining clarity, passion and purpose for being an early childhood educator. To learn more about Coy Bowles and how his successful musical career enabled him to create an advocacy platform for literacy, early education and teacher appreciation, click on the following link: Coy Bowles Each organization represented at the workshop has opportunity to receive Coy Bowles’ “Behind the Little Red Door Activity Kit” presented by Lakeshore Learning. Those organizations that will be receiving the kit are committing to follow up technical assistance that will include early childhood education coaching. The kit recipients are expected to utilize, implement and share the tools and resources they acquired from attending the workshop with their colleagues or local community. Examples might include: Lunch and learn at a staff meeting, share in professional learning communities or write a blog post to share their kit story on Childcare Resources website or newsletter. Within this kit, Coy Bowles, author and member of the Grammy Award-winning Zac Brown Band, promotes social-emotional competence, creativity and storytelling with an all-in-one kit based on his book, Behind the Little Red Door. Featuring beautiful illustrations and lighthearted rhymes, the book shows what might be behind an intriguing red door—from a field of red flying foxes to a room that’s upside down. Kids discover it could be anything…if they just use their imaginations! The kit is packed with engaging materials, including a CD featuring 10 original songs written and performed by Coy himself. Plus, you get a storytelling board with 10 facial features and 25 storytelling pieces, skill-building activity cards, puzzles, books and more! All components store neatly in the custom-designed box. Little Red Door Activity Kit As always 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 the best, Amanda & Todd Back to Coaching Back to Newsletters

Kimberly , Administrative Assistant, Childcare Resources School at Childcare Resources of Indian River Kimberly Martinez Administrative Assistant, Childcare Resources School Parent/Child Questions Joined Childcare Resources in Contact 772-567-3202 ext. 120 Back