Search Results

More than 100 educators joined Leading for Children’s Judy Jablon and Christine Shrader in exploring what quality means in the early childhood education landscape in a recent virtual seminar presented by Childcare Resources and funded by Indian River County Children’s Services Advisory Committee. Leading for Children is a nonprofit organization that provides guidance in developing a cohesive approach to quality childcare that involves all adults in a child’s life. The Pathway to Quality, a concept developed by Jablon, examines three dimensions that promote successful childhood outcomes: relationships and interactions, emotional and physical environment, and learning experiences. By using these dimensions as a foundation, childcare centers can work towards building quality experiences and improving outcomes for children and families. “Think about the future that you want for them,” noted Shrader. “What might that look like? What do children deserve?” Following the workshop, Leading for Children materials were distributed to participating centers. Funded by PNC Grow Up Great, these materials include literature from Leading for Children that will help centers continue to implement the Pathway to Quality. Many local center directors first began implementing the Pathway to Quality after participating in a pilot program presented by Childcare Resources in fall 2019. Facilitated by Leading for Children, directors were asked to examine quality, leadership, and how the two work together to create positive outcomes for children. Childcare Resources’ next workshop, “Getting Unstuck with Conscious Discipline” featuring Conscious Discipline Master Instructor Kim Hughes, is scheduled for April 10th. Registration is open online at ChildcareResourcesIR.org Childcare Resources of Indian River, a partner agency of the United Way of Indian River County and Indian River County Children’s Services Advisory Committee, elevates and promotes the highest quality early childhood development and education in Indian River County, focusing on economically challenged children and families. To learn more about Childcare Resources, visit ChildcareResourcesIR.org or call 772-567-3202

Nearly 100 educators spent a recent Saturday taking part in a live virtual Conscious Discipline workshop, presented by Childcare Resources and featuring Master Instructor Kim Hughes. Funded by Indian River County Children’s Services Advisory Committee, the workshop focused on how teachers can implement Conscious Discipline personally and professionally to help navigate the emotional upset of themselves and their students and work towards building self-regulation. “The missing link for success is self-regulation,” noted Hughes, “It’s our ability to put a moment between thought and action.” Developed by Dr. Becky Bailey, Conscious Discipline is an adult-first model of social and emotional intelligence used in classrooms across the country. Designed to first make changes in an adult’s life, Conscious Discipline focuses on self-regulation to increase both empathy and awareness. “Through Conscious Discipline, we are able to see conflict and behavior differently,” said Hughes, “So we have to learn to regulate ourselves first.” This most recent seminar continues Childcare Resources’ long-standing commitment to bringing Conscious Discipline training to educators in Indian River County, particularly in a year filled with the intense challenges and emotional upheaval of COVID-19. After the workshop, Childcare Resources Early Education Coaches distributed supplies including copies of Marc Brackett’s Permission to Feel: Unlocking the Power of Emotions to Help Our Kids, Ourselves, and Our Society Thrive and Mood Meter posters that help children name their emotions. Funded by PNC Grow Up Great, the supplies will help teachers and students build the emotional awareness and the self-regulation that are the cornerstones of Conscious Discipline.

It was a week of celebration and exploration as Childcare Resources honored the fiftieth anniversary of Week of the Young Child. First established in 1971 by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Week of the Young Child is celebrated across the country by NAEYC’s 60,000 members. The week was developed to publicly recognize that a child’s success is reliant on the foundation built during the earliest years of life. For the students at the NAEYC-accredited Childcare Resources School, the week was full of activity, exploration, and education. Creativity and imagination took hold with Messy Art Day, when students completed large art projects that encouraged social skills and fine motor development. For Bubble Day, students explored the science and strength behind bubbles. After staying comfortable for special literacy activities on Pajama Day, students dressed up for Wacky Day to discover critical thinking concepts like ‘same’ and ‘opposite.’ Week of the Young Child ended with a fun dance party that encouraged motor skill development and physical activity. “Our students always love the special activities during Week of the Young Child,” said School Director Tara Beard. “They get to learn big concepts in fun ways that feel like play.” Childcare Resources of Indian River, a partner agency of the United Way of Indian River County and Indian River County Children’s Services Advisory Committee, elevates and promotes the highest quality early childhood development and education in Indian River County, focusing on economically challenged children and families. To learn more about Childcare Resources, visit ChildcareResourcesIR.org or call 772-567-3202

Childcare Resources recently celebrated the continued educational success of Credentialing Program for Early Educators alumni. Barbara Erege and Priscilla Perez, the first program alumni to earn degrees in early childhood education, graduated as part of Indian River State College’s Spring 2021 class. “Graduation was very exciting,” said Ms. Perez. “Being a teacher gives me the opportunity to make a change in someone's life.” Initially established in 2017 through a grant awarded by Impact 100, the program has helped dozens of educators earn credentials in early childhood education by providing a supportive cohort learning model. “One of our initial activities in the program is for each student to imagine how it will feel when they graduate with that credential,” said Elizabeth Swann, Ph. D, Credentialing Program Facilitator. “Right from the start, both of these ladies thought long-term about what it would feel like to graduate with a degree.” Through the Credentialing Program, educators have access to dedicated study halls, special educational opportunities, one-on-one coaching, and an early education resource library. In addition to this academic support, the program also helps participants navigate registration, time management, and financial aid including T.E.A.C.H. (Teacher Education and Compensation Helps). Funded by the Florida Office of Early Learning, T.E.A.C.H. provides financial support for early childhood educators working towards earning credentials or a degree in early childhood education. “As future leaders in education, Barbara and Priscilla were able to complete their degrees through the T.E.A.C.H. program.” said First Presbyterian Preschool Director Lorie Rudolph. “Their growth as teachers in our VPK classrooms has enabled our children to benefit as well.” The Credentialing Program accepts applications year-round. For more information, visit http://www.ChildcareResourcesIR.org/advance. Childcare Resources of Indian River, a partner agency of the United Way of Indian River County and Indian River County Children’s Services Advisory Committee, elevates and promotes the highest quality early childhood development and education in Indian River County, focusing on economically challenged children and families. To learn more about Childcare Resources, visit ChildcareResourcesIR.org or call 772-567-3202

State Representative Erin Grall discussed the history and impacts of Florida House Bill 419, Early Learning and Early Grade Success, at a recent Childcare Resources event open to key stakeholders across the early education landscape. House Bill 419, co-introduced by Representative Grall and State Representative Vance Aloupis, passed unanimously in the Florida House and Senate in May 2021. The bill creates a Division of Early Learning in the state’s Department of Education, aligns early childhood education with K-12 education, and revises the standards of the Gold Seal Quality Care program for early childhood education providers. “It really should be about whether or not we view what happens from birth to five as education,” said Representative Grall, noting the fundamental shift in perception of the earliest years of life as she discussed the bill’s benefits with the event’s seventy-five attendees. A former Board chair of Childcare Resources, Representative Grall credited her time spent in the organization’s leadership with her focus on quality early education, saying “Childcare Resources showed me the importance of this time in a child’s life.” With more than twenty-five years of providing and promoting high-quality early education, Childcare Resources also collaborates with and informs the broader community, improving early childhood outcomes for all children in Indian River County. “It is our intention to continue to educate ourselves on the best practices in the early learning community and all the efforts to affect change,” said Katy Block Healy, Chair of the Childcare Resources Advocacy Committee. “We have the opportunity to provide to the community how we can affect that positive change for the early learning community together.”

More than 100 local early educators gathered to explore child development at a recent Childcare Resources workshop, “Why our children don’t need pushing and what they do need instead.” Funded by Indian River County Children’s Services Advisory Committee and PNC, the workshop provided educators with tools and knowledge to support child development in their classrooms. “Anyone who has met more than one child knows that each child is different,” said presenter Amanda Morgan, early childhood expert and creator of Not Just Cute, a whole child development resource for teachers and parents. “In a developmentally appropriate practice, we respect those differences that are inherent in human development.” In addition to reviewing common early childhood milestones, educators were asked to reflect on how their classrooms currently support student growth as well as their expectations for development in the crucial pre-kindergarten years. “Kindergarten has changed dramatically, but children have not,” Mrs. Morgan emphasized, “The developmental process is not something we can speed up.” Instead of focusing on speeding up development, attendees explored how to support their students’ growth through high-quality interactions that follow each child’s lead. As one attendee summarized, “Developmentally appropriate practice is about respect. Respect for their childhood, for their development processes, and most of all respect for children as individuals.” Registration is currently open for Childcare Resources’ next professional development opportunity, “Teaching with Intention and Powerful Play”, on February 5, 2022, again featuring Mrs. Morgan. Additionally, Mrs. Morgan will be the featured speaker at Childcare Resources’ annual two-day Starfest event featuring a dinner held February 7 and a luncheon held February 8. For the dinner, Mrs. Morgan will be joined by Meredith Egan, CEO of United Way of Indian River County, and Jeff Pickering, CEO of Indian River Community Foundation, for an intimate and robust panel conversation about both the progress to date in providing high-quality early education, and what the next steps are or should be. During the luncheon, Mrs. Morgan will focus on exploring what we as a community can do to help children reach their full potential, including highlights of Childcare Resources’ accomplishments. Both events will be held at Quail Valley River Club. More information about Starfest can be found at www.ChildcareResourcesIR.org.

“Do we have measures for how imaginative or creative a child is?” asked Amanda Morgan, early childhood expert and creator of Not Just Cute, a whole child development resource for teachers and parents, as she spoke with more than 100 local early educators. “Too often, we only value what we can measure.” As part of Teaching with Intention and Powerful Play, a professional development workshop presented by Childcare Resources and funded by Indian River County Children’s Services Advisory Committee and PNC, educators explored how to use intention to frame classroom activities and how to promote learning through the use of play. Despite an increasing emphasis on academics, young children learn best in a playful environment. Current research indicates that play can help with anxiety and depression and also promotes the practice of social skills. “Too often, there are conversations that lead people to believe they have to choose between learning and play,” Mrs. Morgan emphasized. “Research tells us that the best learning happens through play, because, in a playful learning environment, children get to construct knowledge.” When discussing the importance of intention, Mrs. Morgan asked each educator to examine the ‘why’ behind the classroom activities they plan. In small groups, educators considered how they currently support one of the eight aspects of whole childhood development, reviewing creativity, motor skills, literacy, and more. “We need to know our why, because it changes how we do what we do,” said Mrs. Morgan. “We need to be able to communicate our why so that others can see the value in what we are doing.”

"Where I am in my brain will determine how I see behavior," said Kim Jackson, Conscious Discipline Master Instructor, to nearly 150 early educators representing thirty local programs on a recent Saturday. "Until I come to terms with having anger, I can’t help my students regulate theirs." As part of the Childcare Resources Excellence in Early Education seminar series, Jackson presented aspects of Conscious Discipline, a practice that empowers teachers and other adults to help children develop the skills they need to learn how to self-regulate. This was the eighth Conscious Discipline seminar presented by Childcare Resources since 2015. Funded by Indian River County Children's Services Advisory Committee and PNC, the seminar explored how adults can create a classroom environment that fosters the relationships and connections that lead to learning. "In order for the executive state to develop, we learn problem-solving in social situations," noted Jackson. "That’s why we have to have play in classrooms." Throughout the day, educators engaged in role-playing scenarios to help students move from the survival state through the emotional state and up to the executive state, where learning occurs. As an adult-first model, Conscious Discipline emphasizes the importance of teachers modeling the behavior they wish to see in their students. "It was valuable to role-play scenarios to see how to help my students,” noted one educator. “I used some of these strategies last night with my own child and could identify as he moved from one brain state to the next."

Childcare Resources is pleased to now offer financial incentives for early educators joining the field or looking to continue their academic progress. Incentive funding is provided by the Early Learning Coalition of Indian River, Martin, and Okeechobee Counties and goes directly to early educators upon course or degree completion. Since 2017, Childcare Resources has helped local early childhood educators achieve their educational and professional goals through the Childcare Resources Education, Advancement, and Training for Early Educators (CREATE) program. With the one-on-one assistance of CREATE staff, educators are able to navigate coursework, scholarship applications, college registrations, and more. “We are thrilled to partner with the Early Learning Coalition,” said CREATE facilitator Elizabeth Swann, Ph D. “These incentives make a real difference for educators working to advance their knowledge.” CREATE incentives are offered for all educational levels, ranging from the initial forty-five-hour training required by the Department of Children and Families through a Master’s Degree. Financial incentives for successful course completion range from $150 to $300; $250 to $1,000 will be awarded for credential or degree completion. “The incentive program gave me motivation to become someone I’ve always dreamt about becoming.,” said associate degree student Katherine Hayes. “Making the difference in the eyes of our children and being able to help teach and guide them now is my dream living in reality.”

Childcare Resources recently welcomed Mary Sue Brown, David Griffis, Christine Hammarskjold, Matt McCain, and Amanda Robinson to the Board of Directors. The new members bring vast and diverse experience to the Board. Brown has a background in medicine as a registered nurse. Griffis has thirty years of experience in investment management. Hammarskjold has a background in education and software installation. McCain has over twenty-five years of public accounting experience. Robinson has worked in marketing and graphic design for more than two decades. “I think the premise of Childcare Resources is a wonderful idea, supporting working parents while providing quality childcare,” said Brown. “I look forward to serving in any capacity.” All Board members play vital roles in the strategic planning, governance, and financial management of the organization. Under the Board’s leadership, Childcare Resources provides high-quality early education at its own school and at partnering centers throughout the county. Additionally, the organization works with local teachers to improve quality through a variety of educational programs. In the 2021-2022 fiscal year, Childcare Resources impacted nearly 3,000 local children. “I am very pleased to welcome the newest members to our Board of Directors,” said newly-appointed president Jim Beindorf. “I look forward to a wonderful 2022-2023 fiscal year here at Childcare Resources.”

The Childcare Resources School recently celebrated the graduating class of 2022 with a celebration on the front lawn of the school. For this commemoration of their time at Childcare Resources, graduates were joined by their families, teachers, and other school staff. “From the school staff to the class families, I have received so much encouragement and support,” mentioned Kayeshia, the mother of one graduate. “We love the staff and the families we have grown to know over the last five years.” During the celebration, the thirteen graduates sang, danced, and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. To close the ceremony, each student received a certificate of accomplishment and announced what he or she wanted to be when they grew up. Only a few short days later, the Childcare Resources School welcomed new and returning students for the start of the school year. But students and staff were not the only familiar faces welcomed back. For the first time since spring 2020, volunteer opportunities are open in classrooms throughout the school. School volunteers read to children, conduct special projects, serve lunch, and rock babies. “We are so pleased to welcome back our volunteers after this long absence,” said Lisa Gonzalez, Volunteer Services Coordinator. “The special projects and one-on-one attention provide our students with tremendous benefits.” For more information about volunteer opportunities, please visit the Childcare Resources website: ChildcareResourcesIR.org.

“Children must be seen differently to behave differently,” said Conscious Discipline Certified Instructor Mandy Lloyd. “They will live up to the expectation we set.” To kick off the 2022-2023 Excellence in Early Education seminar series, Childcare Resources hosted Lloyd as she discussed Conscious Discipline’s Brain State Model and School Family Model with more than 125 educators representing nearly thirty local schools and organizations. In exploring the Brain State Model, which explains how the brain and behavior are linked, educators learned that when the brain’s basic needs of safety and connection are not met, challenging behavior is more likely. “We spend a lot of time and energy addressing the behavior,” noted Lloyd. “The Brain State Model helps us understand the relationship between how we feel and how we act.” In the afternoon, Lloyd strategized with teachers on how they can build a School Family. The School Family is a learning environment in which all children feel safe and that they belong. In this environment, children are able to problem-solve conflicts and self-regulate. “Children need routines as a framework so that they can explore, play, and learn,” said Lloyd. “If a child feels safe, if a child feels loved, then that child is ready to solve problems.” Funded by Indian River County Children’s Services Advisory Committee and PNC, this was the ninth Conscious Discipline seminar presented by Childcare Resources since 2015. “I have a better understanding of why some children display certain behaviors,” mentioned one educator after the training. “I will respond differently now and rethink my responses to my students.” Registration is currently open for Childcare Resources’ next seminar, The Importance of Child Engagement in Play and Learning and Emergent Literacy, featuring Alan Guttman. More information is available online: www.ChildcareResourcesIR.org