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What is Your Why? What would your children remember if it was their only day? What would be their memory of you? Coach's Column Paulette Maggiacomo November 2, 2020 Spread the news, shout it from the rooftops…..Lisa Murphy, ‘the Ooey, Gooey Lady’, will be presenting at our virtual workshop on Saturday, November 14th from 9:00 – 3:00!!! Lisa is an active and engaging storyteller, people who have attended her workshops often ask her if she is a stand-up comedian on the side. In her first session, What If Today Was Their Only Day? , she will take us on a grand tour of Miss Mary’s Nursery School which she attended when she turned 3. It was then and there that Lisa decided to become a teacher. She will identify the how, and why, that one day solidified this decision. Lisa will ask you, What is Your Why ? What would your children remember if it was their only day? What would be their memory of you? Will they take your joy and love of teaching with them? Now that Lisa has re-energized us as to why we do what we do, her next session will focus on Identifying and Creating Child Centered Environments . Lisa believes in developmentally sound, play-based, child-centered, hands-on early childhood environments that are grounded in best practice. She will lead us through the twelve principles of Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) which is needed for a high quality childhood environment – our ultimate goal. In the afternoon, Lisa will talk about a topic that is close to my heart and I am sure to yours as well, The Importance of Early Experiences: How playing IS school readiness . She will discuss how a foundation of play supports the house of higher learning and the seven things we must do with children each day. PLAY as we know is essential for children to succeed. I am hoping that Lisa will discuss how to deal with the ‘wolves’ at our door who do not see the value of play. Once we able to articulate the ‘why’ of play, the ‘wolves’ will retreat. I invite you to spend the day with us. Connect with other early educators via zoom. Sometimes we all need a reminder of just how important our jobs really are! Back to Coaching Back to Newsletters

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

Believe it or not, our mental “getaway” doesn’t need to be an elaborate vacation or expensive escape Coach's Column Amanda Gooch December 1, 2023 Are you as excited as we are for our next professional development day? We get to welcome Sally Haughey from Fairy Dust Teaching, now called Wunderled. Prepare to “Reset, Reboot, & Refuel” as she presents Saturday December 9th 2023. Just a friendly reminder, the workshop will be hosted at Indian River Charter High School. Together we will join Sally as she unpacks her play-activated pathway model. Throughout the day you will find your true teaching heart and honor your gifts as an early childhood educator. An emphasis will be placed 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 will be explored as we learn to appreciate the small meaningful interactions in our work and reflect on the science behind care. We can’t wait to see you all there! At Fairy Dust Teaching they strive to curate new ideas, strategies and resources to help early childhood educators save time and money. To learn more about Sally and Fairy Dust Teaching, click on the link below: Fairy Dust Teaching Throughout this last month we have enjoyed visiting your school sites and following up on our technical assistance from our last workshop. We have been able to see the continued evidence that you are pouring into your student’s “buckets” as you encourage positive behavior. It is incredibly rewarding to witness your classrooms express daily kindness, appreciation and love. In last month’s newsletter we explored how much we matter as educators. We discussed how when we help another person, we often become a portable source of energy for them. How sometimes we may need to provide the power or battery for them until they can handle things on their own and at other times, all we need to do is help them change their own batteries. But how can we check on our own portable source of energy, our own “battery” if you will? Sometime taking a break from technology gives us a chance to recharge our own batteries and helps us feel more mindful and aware of our surroundings. This mindfulness leads to a sense of control and empowerment. Suddenly, you feel like you can “Do The Things!” when before you might have just felt like you were running on empty. Believe it or not, our mental “getaway” doesn’t need to be an elaborate vacation or expensive escape. Here are fourteen simple ways to recharge your internal batteries without breaking the bank: 14 Ways to Recharge Your Internal Batteries We hope this holiday season allows many of you to return to the new year “recharged” 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

Jessica MA, Mental & Behavioral Health Coach at Childcare Resources of Indian River Jessica Halpin MA Mental & Behavioral Health Coach Student Wellness Joined Childcare Resources in 2023 Contact 772-567-3202 ext. 113 Back

< Back Meet Gianna Gianna began in the Childcare Resources (CCR) program when she was around 9 weeks old. From a physical standpoint, during her time at CCR, Gianna learned to crawl, walk, and run—developing fine and gross motor skills that help her both hold a pencil for writing and pedal a bicycle. From a less visible but equally important mental standpoint, Gianna’s brain built millions of synaptic connections, with nearly 85% of brain development happening before the age of five. During these first years, Gianna learned how to communicate with the big world around her through language. She practiced letters and sounds with teacher-led activities and learning experiences during her days at the CCR School. While Gianna was in school, so was her mother, Victoria. The affordable high-quality childcare provided by CCR allowed Victoria to work full-time and attend school part-time, and, as a result, she gained skills that helped her advance in her career. Victoria is now pursuing her Bachelor's in Organizational Management. “Childcare Resources helped me achieve my personal and professional goals," says Victoria. "It has also allowed my daughter to learn and grow in many aspects of her childhood. As a result, Childcare Resources has greatly benefited both of us.” Previous Next

Together we gained an understanding of the key factors in the root causes of success and fulfillment. Coach's Column Amanda Gooch March 1, 2024 We are hearing some incredible take-a-ways from our latest workshop with Coy Bowles as he presented “Connect to Your Calling.” Many of you are still singing along to his classic hit CD “Music for Tiny Humans .” Together we gained an understanding of the key factors in investigating the root causes of success and fulfillment. Coy shared his personal philosophy on the importance of the “Butterfly Phase/Window of Opportunity” for child development and the implications of that for teaching and learning. We learned the significance of a social emotional foundation for every student and reflected 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. If you would like to learn more about Coy Bowles and his mission and advocacy within early childhood education, please click here: Coy Bowles We are enjoying the excitement as we deliver Coy Bowles’ “Behind the Little Red Door Activity Kit” presented by Lakeshore Learning to those organizations represented at the workshop. Those organizations that have received the kit have committed to follow up technical assistance that includes our support as early childhood education coaches. We can’t wait to see evidence of kit utilization as you implement and share the tools and resources you acquired from attending the workshop. In addition, throughout this next month we will be visiting your school sites and following up on our technical assistance from our workshop Wunderled with Sally Haughey. We will be sharing information on Sally’s Materials Wheel as we explore loose parts play based learning in your classrooms. An emphasis will be placed on understanding brain science research around learning environments, children’s play, and why choice matters. So what are loose parts and why are they important for play? Loose parts are any collection of open-ended natural or manmade objects that children can move, combine, transform, take apart, redesign, and line up, in ways that support, extend, and further, their ideas while playing. If you want to know how loose parts help us as educators discover what is really capturing children’s engagement and what is the true play urge/schema that is driving the children’s activity, click here: Wunderled Loose Parts We hope this spring season allows many of you to embrace play based learning 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

Art is more than just a fun activity in the early childhood classroom. Coach's Column Amanda Gooch July 1, 2025 Summer is here, bringing with it longer days, warm sunshine, and a perfect opportunity to reflect, recharge, and get inspired for the upcoming school year. As we enjoy this season of growth and exploration, it's a great time to think about the creative opportunities we offer our youngest learners, especially through the power of art. So why is art important for early childhood development? Art is more than just a fun activity in the early childhood classroom. It's a vital tool for cognitive development, emotional expression, and fine motor growth. When young children engage in open-ended art experiences, they learn to make choices, solve problems, and express themselves in ways that words alone can't capture. Whether it is finger painting, sculpting with clay, or experimenting with collage materials, every mark they make tells a story of exploration, learning, and identity. Incorporating daily art experiences encourages creativity, fosters imagination, and build confidence. Art also supports early literacy and math skills, think of all the counting, measuring, patterning, and storytelling that naturally happen through artistic play. And most importantly, it gives children the freedom to be themselves in a nurturing, expressive space. Art exploration is not only fun and entertaining, but also educational. Here are some tips from Michigan State University for growing your budding artist: Educational Art Tips As you prepare your classrooms for the fall, consider how you can make art even more accessible. Stock your art centers with a variety of materials, display children's work proudly, and allow time for uninterrupted, child-led creativity. Remember, it's the process, not the product, that matters most. Together we are wishing you a summer filled with joy, inspiration, and a splash of color! Wishing you all the best, Amanda & Todd Back to Coaching Back to Newsletters

As we enter what seems to be week number 1,973 of Florida’s Stay at Home Order, stress levels are keeping us moving between our survival and emotional states. Coach's Column Paulette Maggiacomo April 24, 2020 As we enter what seems to be week number 1,973 of Florida’s Stay at Home Order, stress levels are keeping us moving between our survival and emotional states. Many remarkable educators are presenting webinars and posting tips on how to lower stress which will help us reach the executive state. Looking back on professional development workshops that Childcare Resources has presented, I immediately thought of Dr. Maryln Appelbaum who has joined us two times. Who can forget her vivacious personality and amazing laugh? Remember how we all tried to imitate her? Well, you can go to YouTube to hear her teach us that laugh. One of the topics she spoke about in our November 2016 workshop, Five Things Every Educator Should Know , was the importance of self-care and providing ideas on how to boost spirits in a snap: Start your day by setting your emotional radar. Pay attention when thoughts weigh you down. Zap those thoughts by saying – This too shall pass, I can handle it, I am not stuck at home, I am safe at home. Remember that you are not alone - we are all in this together. Don’t hesitate to reach out to friends, and family. Use Facetime and Zoom so you see each other. Slow down – give yourself time to stop, breathe, and relax. Forgive yourself if you can’t do every single thing you’ve hoped to do. You are doing your best. Enjoy nature – we are blessed to live in this beautiful state. Take a walk and really notice the beauty around you. Focus on the present – Most people spend less than 1% of their time living in the present. Enjoy the moment. End your day by reflecting on the good that you did. With apologies to Dr. Appelbaum, I modified the last two lines of the song she ended with (somehow, I don’t think she would mind). I hope it resonates with you – say each line twice: I am special Yes I am I can handle this Yes I can Back to Coaching Back to Newsletters

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.

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