The Reasons We LOVE Spring in Early...

In this issue:

We All Have to Learn Self‐Control 2

Not getting along with a co‐worker? Read this! 4

Strategies for Early Childhood Administrators 6

Professional Development Calendar 8‐9

Notice the Little Things 11

T.E.A.C.H. WV in the New Year 12

Recent Changes to the WV STARS PD Record 14

A Newsletter of Connect Child Care Resource and Referral

www.connectchildcare.org Spring 2012

The Reasons We LOVE Spring in Early Childhood Top row from left to right:

Kitty Cox‐Coleman, Behavior Consultant

Courtney Casto,

TRAILS Early Childhood Specialist

Brooke Masters, Early Childhood Specialist

Bottom row from left to right:

Hallie Swift, Infant Toddler Specialist

David Lebsack,

TRAILS Associate

Olivia Gregorich, Supervisor of Training Services

Not pictured:

Rachel Brown, Early Childhood Specialist

Child Care Connections Spring 2012

We All Have to Learn Self‐Control by Kitty Cox‐Coleman, Behavior Consultant

We had some small children at the house a few weeks ago for a birthday party. It has been a few years since we’ve had small children running around. Of course, there were a few temper tantrums before the day was over and even a few spankings (not by me)! I found the whole ordeal very interesting. For starters, the children were very tired, had been to several houses over the past few days, and I’m sure, the expectations were different at every home. I remember my mother would allow my son to get away with a lot more than me, or any of my cousins. Imagine that! I noticed different people were telling them different things to do or not to do. I found it confusing and frustrating, and believe me, the children’s actions at times let us know they were feeling the same. I tried to focus on what I expected them to do. For example, when you pick up the papers and throw them in the trash you may play with the toys or when you sit at the table you may have some more cake. Who do you think had more success and no tantrums? My point is we need to learn the “rules” and we need opportunities to practice them, just like anything else we do—like learning numbers, the alphabet, etc. It is very helpful when the rules are consistent. We pick them up much quicker. Those opportunities to practice the rules help us build self‐control. Think back to how we learned self‐control. Hopefully, we all have! I bet even we still make mistakes. Ask my husband or my boss and they’ll tell you I don’t always have self‐control. I personally have not met anyone who has it 100% of the time in every situation and we’ve had years of practice. Remember the key is we need to learn self‐control and we learn through practice. We can start with young children by helping them understand and learn to control their body with such games a Simon Says, Freeze Tag, and Red Light/Green Light. We can help children recognize their feelings and find appropriate ways to express them, by giving them words to express, allowing them to pound play dough when frustrated, and journaling or illustrating their feelings. I’m amazed sometimes at all the time and materials we use to teach such concepts as math, literacy, or science and then we punish to teach behavior. I would be so thrilled if we could use some of that time and resources to teach children how we want them to behave and give them the opportunity to practice learning that good behavior.

For more information on this article or any other behavior topic, contact Kitty at (888)595‐8290 ext. 336 or at

[email protected].

Save Paper, Save Trees!

To do our part in saving the environment, Connect CCR&R would like to offer child care providers the opportunity of receiving the quarterly newsletter electronically. The electronic edition would be in place of receiving a hard copy through the mail. If you are interested in this option, please contact Olivia Gregorich, Supervisor of Training Services, at (888)595‐8290 ext. 332 or at [email protected].


Springtime After‐School Activities by Rachel Brown, Early Childhood Specialist

You’re almost all the way through the school year! Congratulations! Are you struggling for new activity ideas to keep your after‐school students engaged? I’ve compiled some fun ideas for you to try in your program. Frisbee—Frisbees are a cheap and easy way to keep your children entertained. You can have Frisbee throwing contests or just practice throwing them at different distances. Encourage children to play a game of ultimate Frisbee! Play exactly like soccer, but use a Frisbee instead of a ball. Flower Prints—Make beautiful prints with flowers you find after your nature explorations. Frame them or use as cards to invite others on your next nature adventure! Helpful Tips 1. Collect flowers and trim the stem as close to the head as possible. A flower with a defined center and petals work best. 2. Cut and fold a piece of paper in half, about the size of a greeting card. 3. Place flower inside the folded paper, then gently tap the paper with a hammer. 4. Peel the paper back to look at your pretty creation! The Dragon Egg—A dragon only has an egg once every 500 years and this spring’s egg has been accidentally lost! (After a hard‐boiled egg has been hidden in the woods) each player chooses whether they are a wizard or an elf. Wizards need to find their magical wands (twigs) and elves need magical dust (leaves) to help them ward off the evil creatures in the forest while they search for the dragon’s egg! Helpful Tips 1. Make this adventure as long of an activity as you want, and enjoy making wizard and elf costumes to play in. 2. To add more fun and fantasy, decorate the “dragon” egg with dyes and glitter. Grow a Plant or Even a Garden—Purchase some seed packets and some potting soil. Encourage children to plant the kinds of vegetables or flowers they would like to grow. If you have space when their plants get large enough, plant them in a garden. Spring Rubbing and Collage Project 1. The Rubbing Hunt: Set off on a walking tour of your neighborhood, or another location you haven’t walked in a

while, like a local park or a downtown shopping area. Keep an eye out for interesting surfaces. You might see tree bark, a park bench, cobblestones, or signs. Anything with texture will do. Place your paper over the textured surface and rub over with a crayon or colored pencil until the image starts to form. Don’t hold back—get as many rubbings as you can on your walkabout, it will make for a more successful collage.

2. The Collage: When you get back, spread your work out and admire your collection. Choose the most interesting looking ones and break out the scissors. Cut out shapes from your rubbings and glue them to your poster board. You can arrange them in order, making a rubbing map of your walk or you can glue them at random for a more abstract effect.

For more information on this article or any other school‐age topic, contact Rachel at (888)595‐8290 ext. 334 or at

[email protected].


Not getting along with a co‐worker? Read this! by Brooke Masters, Early Childhood Specialist

Communication problems and conflict due to misunderstandings are the most common causes of workplace trouble. The following steps will give you tips on how to “get along” with your co‐workers and have a more productive/positive day while working with young children. If you are currently struggling with co‐worker communication, please read the following tips and refer back to them when you need help. 1. Don’t always involve your superiors. First, make an effort to solve a problem with a co‐worker alone. If you are

constantly going to a director/administrator you will quickly make the impression that you are unable to resolve minor difficulties.

2. Be specific. Tell your co‐worker how you feel and try to be forward and state your concerns in a positive manner. For example, instead of saying, “You never let me help with lesson plans!” you could say, “I believe I have some great ideas to contribute to our lesson plans, would you mind if I help you during planning time next week?”

3. Try to depersonalize conflicts. Instead of taking a “me versus you” mentality, visualize an “us versus the problem” scenario. In other words, come up with a plan of action in terms of balancing each other’s concerns. For example, maybe your co‐worker feels she needs more help getting children ready to go outside and you feel that you need more time to clean up the bathroom after “potty time.” You could use “us versus the problem” and agree on a time limit for helping and a time for cleaning in your schedule.

4. Be open and listen. Please listen to your co‐worker’s point of view and restate what you hear them saying. If you validate a co‐worker’s concern it will likely result in a more positive outcome because he or she will feel more appreciated and understood. Also, if you clarify another person’s statement you will leave less room for misunderstandings.

5. Consider a mediator. If the problem gets out of control, or if the issue is too emotional to resolve during a basic discussion, you may need to ask for help. If this is the case, your supervisor should be involved.

For more information on this article or any other early childhood topic, contact Brooke at (888)595‐8290 ext. 335 or at

[email protected].

Connect’s Spring Super Saturday will be on May 19, 2012 from 8:00am—5:30pm at the Connect office. All providers are welcome to attend!

Pre‐registration is encouraged—registration opens Monday, April 2, 2012 at 8:00am. Please call Brooke Masters, Early Childhood Specialist at (888)595‐8290 ext. 335 to register.

Being a PROFESSIONAL in Today’s World (Tier II; 2 hours P/8.1, 8.2, 8.3; WV ELSF—Not Possible): This session will help participants to identify the characteristics of a professional. We will discuss professional dress, attitude and language in the field of early childhood education. Additionally, we will address the issues of using today’s social media and the responsibilities and issues that providers should understand as a professional educator. Participants will also have an opportunity to create some professional development goals Communicable Diseases (Tier II; 2 hours HSN/2.3; WV ELSF—Not Possible): This two hour training will provide basic information about infection control and universal precautions, as well as information on how to prevent, recognize, and manage infectious diseases in early education and child care settings. How to be a S.T.A.R. (Tier I; 2 hours P/8.2, 8.4; WV ELSF—Not Possible): This training is an introduction to the WV State Training and Registry System (STARS). It will cover the benefits of being in the system, the application process and resume writing. An incorporation of fun and learning all about the Career Pathway application process and what is a professional resume. You will be amazed at the amount of “tips” you will bring back with you to share. The Importance of Literacy in Early Childhood (Tier II; 2 hours C/4.6; WV ELSF—Language and Literacy): Participants will learn how to plan literacy activities for different early childhood age groups. Participants will also gain a better understanding of the importance of literacy in early childhood through video and small group activities.


The Transition to Child Care by Hallie Swift, Infant Toddler Specialist “Parents are extra‐vulnerable to new tremors from old earthquakes. When we leave our children in child care or in preschool for the first time, it won’t be just our child’s feelings about being separated from us that we will have to cope with, but our own feelings as well—from when we were children and struggling with our own feelings of being away from loved ones.” ~~Fred Rogers The transition to child care is not only difficult for the child but also for parents. It’s easy to overlook their distress as they are so much better at hiding their emotions than the children are! Remember you are not only building relationships with children but their parents as well. Here are some tips to get you started: Assure parents they can visit or call at any time to check on their child. Provide parents with a detailed daily report that goes beyond diaper changes and meals. Something that allows

you to comment on a fun activity, a special moment or an exciting experience that helps the parent connect with the child’s day.

Take pictures of the children at play and post where parents can see them. Check in with new parents frequently in the first few weeks in child care. Find out how things are going, if they

have any questions or concerns. If they do, work hard to figure out a solution that both sides can agree to. Discourage parents from “slipping out” and not saying goodbye to their children. Even infants deserve a hug and

kiss goodbye in the morning. More information on this topic can be found at: http://www.fci.org/new‐site/par‐child‐care3.html.

For more information on this article, any other infant toddler topic or WVIT, contact Hallie at (888)595‐8290 ext. 326 or at [email protected].

WVIT Class—Summer 2012 Schedule Location: Connect Child Care Resource and Referral, Chelyan, WV

Module Date Session Time

Module 1—The Caregiver Tuesday, July 17 1 9:00am‐3:00pm

Wednesday, July 18 2 9:00am‐2:00pm

Module 2—The Family Tuesday, July 24 3 9:00am‐3:00pm

Wednesday, July 25 4 9:00am‐2:00pm

TACIT Visits

Module 3—The Child Tuesday, August 14 5 9:00am‐2:00pm

Wednesday, August 15 6 9:00am‐3:00pm

Tuesday, August 21 7 9:00am‐2:00pm


Tuesday, August 28 9 9:00am‐2:00pm


TACIT Visits

Module 4—Quality Programs


If you are an owner, director, or administrator of a child care center, this professional development opportunity is for you! Strategies for Early Childhood Administrators is a 5‐part series that discusses the challenges of owning and operating a child care center. Topics range from leadership to supervision to everything in between. The series begins on Wednesday, May 9, 2012 and runs through Wednesday, June 6, 2012. Registration opens Monday, April 2, 2012. In order to attend, participants MUST:

Be an owner, director, or administrator of a child care center.

Be registered on the WV STARS Career Pathway.

Pre‐register by calling Olivia Gregorich, Supervisor of Training Services with Connect CCR&R. She can be reached at (888)595‐8290 ext. 332.

Participants who successfully complete the entire 5‐part series will be eligible to receive several early childhood publications for their child care programs.

Leadership in Action (Tier III; 2 hours PM/7.2; WV ELSF—Not Possible): This two‐hour workshop explores the concept of leadership in the context of early childhood education. It looks at the multifaceted role of the director and the skills and competencies needed to nurture leadership at all levels of an organization. The Right Fit: Recruiting, Selecting and Orienting Staff (Tier III; 2 hours PM/7.1, 7.2, 7.5; WV ELSF—Not Possible): Successful staff recruitment and selection is a crucial component of administering high quality early care and education programs. Having the right teacher in the right position requires that directors have a repertoire of effective recruitment, screening, selection, and orientation strategies at their fingertips. This workshop provides a framework for learning about strategies for improving the likelihood that early childhood directors will be successful in finding the right person for the job opportunities they have to offer. Making the Most of Meetings (Tier III; 2 hours PM/7.1, 7.2, 7.3; WV ELSF—Not Possible): This training provides a framework for planning and conducting more engaging and productive meetings. Participants will learn how to increase a group’s commitment to shared goals, arrive at decisions supported by everyone, and have more fun in the process. Using Reflective Supervision Techniques to Monitor Your Classrooms (Tier III; 1/2 hour PIR/3.4 and 1‐1/2 hours P/8.3; WV ELSF—Not Possible): Administrators will learn about the importance of monitoring staff to maintain quality standards in their programs. Different approaches to monitoring will be discussed. Administrators will be given information on the reflective supervision process and learn ways to incorporate these skills into their current monitoring system. Implementing Strategies for Early Childhood Administrators (Tier III; 2 hours PM/7.2, 7.3; WV ELSF—Not Possible): This training is designed to assist administrators in developing goals and setting timeframes for implementing those goals in their programs.

Date Time Location Session Title

Wed., May 9, 2012 9:00am—11:00am Leadership in Action

Wed., May 16, 2012 The Right Fit: Recruiting, Selecting and Orienting Staff

Wed., May 23, 2012 Making the Most of Meetings

Wed., May 30, 2012 Using Reflective Supervision Techniques to Monitor Your Classrooms

Wed., June 6, 2012 Implementing Strategies for Early Childhood Administrators

Connect CCR&R Room 117


Child care providers in need of First Aid and CPR training are encouraged to contact one of the agencies below.

County Organization Contact Info

Kanawha American Red Cross (304)340‐3650

Charleston Area Medical Center

(304)539‐6969

Kanawha Ambulance Authority

(304)345‐2312

Clay Clay Ambulance Service (304)587‐2554

Jackson General Hospital (304)372‐1569

River Valley Health & Wellness Center

(304)273‐1033

Roane Roane County Emergency (304)927‐3725

Jackson

The following session will be held at Connect.

Saturday, April 21, 2012

The session is from 9:00am—1:30pm. A lunch break is not included.

You MUST be registered on the

WV STARS Career Pathway in order to attend.

Please call Connect at (888)595‐8290 to register.

Glenna Bailey, RN, MSN Nurse Health Consultant (888)983‐2827 ext. 402 (304)972‐6300 CELL [email protected]


Date Professional Development Title Core Comp

Location Time Audi‐ence

KANAWHA COUNTY

April 2012

Thursday, April 12

Gardening with Children HSN 1 hour C 1 hour

Bream Center West Side‐Charleston

6:30pm‐8:30pm M

Saturday, April 21

Best Practices in Health and Sanitation HSN 2 hours Connect Chelyan

9:00am‐11:00am A

WV Early Learning Standards Framework for Infants and Toddlers

CGD 2 hours P 2 hours

12:00pm‐4:00pm

Monday, April 23

Homework Time Help for After‐School Programs

PIR 1 hour FC 1 hour

Gateway St. Albans

6:30pm‐8:30pm SA

Thursday, April 26

Why Can’t We Be Friends? Communicating with Co‐Workers

PIR 1 hour PM 1 hour

Lighthouse CDC Kanawha City

6:30pm‐8:30pm A

May 2012

Thursday, May 10



Good Shepherd Kanawha City

6:30pm‐8:30pm A

Thursday, May 17

Messy Fun in the Preschool Classroom CGD 1 hour C 1 hour

King’s Way Nitro

6:30pm‐8:30pm M

SUPER SATURDAY, May 19

How to be a S.T.A.R. P 2 hours Connect Chelyan

8:00am‐5:30pm A

Communicable Diseases HSN 2 hours A

The Importance of Literacy in Early Childhood C 2 hours M

Being a PROFESSIONAL in Today’s World P 2 hours A

Thursday, May 24

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome HSN 1 hour Connect Chelyan

6:30pm‐7:30pm A

Shaken Baby Syndrome HSN 1 hour 7:30pm‐8:30pm

June 2012

Saturday, June 9

Making a Difference: Mandate to Report, Responsibility to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect

HSN 2 hours Connect Chelyan

9:00am‐11:00am A

Helping Children Learn Self‐Discipline PIR 2 hours 12:00pm‐2:00pm M

What Do You Do with the Mad That You Feel? PIR 2 hours 2:00pm‐4:00pm

Tuesday, June 19


PJ’s Preschool Cross Lanes

6:30pm‐8:30pm M

Thursday, June 21


Bible Center Charleston

6:30pm‐8:30pm M

Tuesday, June 26

Homework Time Help for After‐School Programs

PIR 1 hour FC 1 hour

Connect Chelyan

6:30pm‐8:30pm SA

Professional Development Opportunities—

April, M

ay, &

June 2012


Important Professional Development Information

You must call Connect Child Care Resource and Referral at (888)595‐8290 to register for all professional development sessions.

All professional development sessions are WV STARS registered and begin and end on time. Should you arrive late to a session for any reason you will not receive a certificate or WV STARS credit.

You MAY NOT, under any circumstances, bring children to any of the professional development sessions.

Not only does the professional development calendar list the date, title, location and time of the session, but it also includes the Core Knowledge area the session address, and the appropriate audience for the session. By using the codes for both the Core Knowledge and the audience, it will be easier for you to choose a professional development opportunity that meets your specific needs.

Core Knowledge Area Codes CGD: Child Growth and Development HSN: Health, Safety and Nutrition PIR: Positive Interactions and Relationships C: Curriculum COA: Child Observation and Assessment FC: Family and Community PM: Program Management P: Professionalism

Audience Codes IT: Infant Toddler P: Preschool SA: School‐Age M: Mixed‐Age Groups SN: Special Needs A: Adult

Be sure to look for the TRAILS Van at sessions with the van icon.

Not sure if a session is right for you? Please see page 10 for professional development session summaries.

Professio

nal D

evelopment O

pportu

nitie

s— April, M

ay, & Ju

ne 2012

Date Professional Development Title Core Comp

Location Time Audi‐ence

CLAY COUNTY

May 2012

Thursday, May 3


PATCH Preschool Valley Fork

6:30pm‐8:30pm M

JACKSON COUNTY

April 2012

Saturday, April 14

Making a Difference: Mandate to Report, Responsibility to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect

HSN 2 hours Good Shepherd Ravenswood

10:00am‐12:00pm A

Capture a Moment in Child Care CGD 1 hour PIR 1 hour

12:00pm‐2:00pm M

May 2012

Thursday, May 31

Helping Children Learn Self‐Discipline PIR 2 hours Kiddy Korner Ripley

6:30pm‐8:30pm M

June 2012

Thursday, June 28



Precious Memories Ripley

6:30pm‐8:30pm A

ROANE COUNTY

May 2012

Tuesday, May 29


Building Blocks Spencer

6:15pm‐8:15pm M

Child Care Connections Spring 2012 Professional Development Session Summaries—

April, M

ay, &

June 2012

Best Practices in Health and Sanitation (Tier I; 2 hours HSN/2.2, 2.3, 2.5; WV ITELS—Not Possible): This course will review standards for best practices in regards to health and sanitation in child care environments. Children and adults in group care facilities must maintain a high level of cleanliness to ensure that the spread of germs and disease is minimized. This course will be hands‐on and lab based. Caregivers will practice skills and create job aids. This training is applicable to caregivers of all ages as well as facility and family child care homes. Capture a Moment in Child Care: Using Digital Cameras in the Early Childhood Classroom (Tier II; 1 hour CGD/1.3 and 1 hour PIR/3.2; WV ELSF—Not Possible): A digital camera is a useful tool in every child care setting. This training will focus on different methods of using pictures in the classroom and how to use a digital camera, upload the pictures, and manipulate them in a word document. When finished with the training, participants are offered the opportunity to receive technical assistance and checkout a digital camera! Gardening with Children (Tier II; 1 hour HSN/2.5 and 1 hour C/4.8; WV ELSF—Science): This training will provide participants with an introduction to providing active learning opportunities related to multiple learning standards through gardening. Participants will learn how to teach children the basics of good nutrition and practicing healthy eating habits. Also, participants will learn the benefits of gardening, setting up a garden, and what to grow. Helping Children Learn Self‐Discipline (Tier I; 2 hours PIR/3.3; WV ELSF—Social and Emotional Development): This training is designed to help children build self‐discipline. It will provide activities that will give children experiences to strengthen positive social skills. Homework Time Help for After‐School Programs (Tier II; 1 hour PIR/3.2, 3.4 and 1 hour FC/6.2; WV ELSF—Not Possible): Having difficulties during homework time? You are not alone. This training will focus on ideas about how to connect with families, teachers, and other members of the community to make homework time easier. Making a Difference: Mandate to Report, Responsibility to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect (Tier I; 2 hours HSN/2.4; WV ELSF—Not Possible): This training will assist providers in recognizing the signs of child abuse and neglect and in developing a better understanding of the reporting process. Prevention of child abuse and why child care professionals are mandated reporters will also be discussed. Messy Fun in the Preschool Classroom (Tier I; 1 hour CGD/1.3 and 1 hour C/4.4; WV ELSF—The Arts): It’s fun to get messy! Many teachers are apprehensive to letting their children get a little messy. This training will focus on fun and messy ways to enrich your early childhood curriculum. Shaken Baby Syndrome (Tier I; 1 hour HSN/2.4; WV ELSF—Not Possible): This session is designed to increase awareness of the injuries that result from shaking a baby. Documented information about Shaken Baby Syndrome, activities, and discussions will help to educate child care providers about this devastating, but preventable injury. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (Tier I; 1 hour HSN/2.4; WV ELSF—Not Possible): The purpose of this session is to help child care providers protect the children they care for, by creating a safer sleep environment to prevent sudden infant death syndrome. West Virginia Early Learning Standards Framework for Infants and Toddlers (Tier II; 2 hours CGD/1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and 2 hours P/8.2, 8.3; WV ITELSF—Not Possible): This training will introduce caregivers to the WV early learning standards for infants and toddlers. Caregivers will have an opportunity to explore the standards, its purpose, application and benefits to children, caregivers, families and programs. Please note this is a 4 hour training, caregivers must attend the entire training to receive credit. What Do You Do with the Mad That You Feel? (Tier II; 2 hours PIR/3.3; WV ELSF—Social and Emotional Development): This training is designed to help participants understand that in order for children to find healthy outlets for anger, they must first develop self‐control. Participants will learn about activities that can support development of self‐control and find helpful ways to intervene when anger and frustration overwhelms children. Why Can’t We Be Friends? Communicating with Co‐Workers (Tier II; 1 hour PIR/3.4 and 1 hour PM/7.1); WV ELSF—Not Possible): This training will provide caregivers valuable information on how to appropriately manage conflict in the workplace. Also, participants will learn about different personality types and how to communicate more effectively with one another through small group activities and real life scenarios.


Notice the Little Things by Courtney Casto, TRAILS Early Childhood Specialist Spring! I love it! It is my favorite season. There is something refreshing and renewing about spring...the blooming flowers and budding trees make me very happy! Honestly, I feel more inclined to tackle big projects and knock stuff off that “to do” list when spring rolls around. And, boy, do I have a big “to do” list this year! In December, the week before Christmas to be exact, my husband and I moved into our newly purchased home. After a year of saving and searching we were very thankful to be in a home of our own! Since we moved in during the winter it has been difficult to tackle those outside projects, and even some indoor jobs as well, that we really want to take care of! We have a long list of “to dos” including sanding and staining our back deck, preparing our garden for planting, and some little landscaping projects. Inside, we want to touch up some paint, update our countertops and refinish some bedroom furniture. Looks like we have a lot to keep us busy! When we first looked at the house, we were drawn to many features like the size, updated bathrooms and appliances, a large fenced yard and an outside storage building. But, we did notice a few things that needed to be fixed or updated, for instance the kitchen countertops. At the closing, while talking with our agent, we mentioned our desire to switch out the countertops because of a large chip on one side. The seller, who was at the closing as well, said, “There’s a large chip on the countertop?” He had no idea. He’d been living in the house and going about his business without noticing, but our fresh set of eyes noticed it right away! Often times, child care providers are just like that seller. You have been in the classroom for so long, going about your daily routine that you don’t take notice of the little details that, often times, make a huge difference in the quality of the classroom. So, I challenge you to spring clean in your classroom. Take notice of the little things. Make some overdue changes! To get you started, here are some suggestions:

Check your shelf life—Are your classroom shelves nicely labeled or have the labels peeled off leaving a nasty looking residue? Goo Gone and a little elbow grease will perk up those shelves!

Dusting is a must—Dust build up on high shelves, air vents, window sills and curtains can interfere with breathing, especially for children with asthma. Use a long handled feather duster to clean off solid surfaces and high to reach places, like air vents. For curtains, a good wash and dry will work miracles!

Get a fresh set of eyes—It is always a great idea to have someone who is not in your classroom regularly to look at the space. Ask them to be honest and constructively critical. Ask them to make a list of things that they like and things that they would change. You will be surprised at how much they notice that you miss!

Don’t be afraid of change—Many times we hesitate to make simple changes to our classrooms because we are in our comfort zone… “This is the way we’ve always done it.” “This is the way the classroom has always looked.” Break away from those lines of thought and take ownership of your space! Don’t be afraid to mix it up a little and try something new!

Look high and low—Often times we ignore the areas out of our normal line of vision. Check the corners where walls meet the ceiling, as well as door and window frames. Are there cobwebs, old tape, remnants of party decorations, peeling paint, etc.? On the floor we often overlook frayed rugs and carpets. A quick snip with the scissors will clean up those frays and help bring a look of freshness to the floor coverings. You can also purchase carpet tapes which help secure frayed areas. Additionally, if you have flooring that is mopped daily, check the baseboards for “mop slop”...the dried drips from a mop.

Think like a prospective parent—One of the most effective strategies for identifying areas of improvement is to gain a parent’s perspective. With that in mind, look at your classroom as if you were a parent interested in enrolling. Would you want your child to be in that classroom? Does it look appealing and inviting? Is the space clean and tidy? What smells can you identify...dirty diapers...a trash can full of milk, peas and chicken nuggets from lunch? Or, do you smell cinnamon from where the children made their own scented play dough?

Remember, the TRAILS program is here to help. We have a huge inventory for checkout and would love to help you bring new life to your classroom. If you need some new items for your dramatic play center, or block center, or maybe a few new books for your library then CALL US! I’m glad to help you will room arrangement as well. Tidying your space and arranging it in a developmentally appropriate fashion will make a huge difference to the quality of your classroom! Give it a try this spring!

For more information on this article or any other early childhood topic, contact Courtney at (888)595‐8290 ext. 333 or at [email protected].


April 22—28, 2012

May 11, 2012

T.E.A.C.H. WV in the New Year by Michele Sigler, T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood WV Specialist

With the New Year come New Year’s resolutions. Statistics show that the majority of resolutions are broken by the end of January. 2012 looks to be a great year for T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® WEST VIRGINIA scholarship program. There has been an increase in scholarship applications which means that we at T.E.A.C.H. WV have an awesome responsibility of helping those in early childhood meet their dream of receiving a college degree. If your resolution is to finally go back for that degree that you have always wanted, T.E.A.C.H. WV would love to be a part of seeing that resolution come true. If you: Are a WV resident Are working at least 30 hours in a licensed child care facility, Head Start program, or registered family child care

home Are enrolled in one of the participating colleges/universities in West Virginia Have a financial need Are willing to commit to your sponsoring program for one year after scholarship contract completion then you may be eligible to receive a T.E.A.C.H. scholarship. Making the decision to earn a degree is one thing; finding the money to pay for it is much more difficult. T.E.A.C.H. WV assists with tuition, book reimbursement, travel stipend (even for on‐line courses), paid release time, and a monetary bonus at the completion of the contract. Applicants must be seeking an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. If you need to obtain your Pre‐K endorsement, we help with that too. Details can be found at www.wvearlychildhood.org/TEACH_WV.html. There you will find eligibility requirements, a listing of the participating colleges/universities, applications, and much more. This is the year to make your dream of furthering your education a reality. Contact your T.E.A.C.H. WV counselor, Michele Sigler at (304)529‐7603 ext. 118 or at [email protected] with any questions or for help in completing the application. Michele will even schedule to come meet with you and your program director. Michele also offers the WV STARS registered trainings, “T.E.A.C.H. Applying for Your Future” and “Degree for Me?!,” each are two hours and attendees receive two hours in the professional development Core Knowledge area. For more information contact T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® WEST VIRGINIA at (304)529‐7603 or at www.earlychildhood.org/TEACH_WV.html or [email protected].


WVU Kanawha County Extension Service Announces 2012 4‐H Summer Camping Program

Kanawha County 4‐H Positive Youth Development offers two residential camps for youth ages 9 to 21 with the theme “The 2012 Olympic 4‐H Camp.” Additionally, two day camps—Cloverbud and Science—will also be offered for ages 5 to 8 and 9 to 14, respectively, on June 25th to June 29th. Older residential camp for youth ages 14 and older is scheduled for Monday June 4 to Friday June 8 at Camp Virgil Tate. The following week, youth ages 9 to 13 have their “Olympic” 4‐H Camp Monday June 11 to Friday June 15 also at Camp Virgil Tate. Each day youth with have the opportunity to meet new friends, experience 4‐H hands‐on learning, learn leadership skills, enjoy fun afternoon activities and a nightly campfire. Types of classes offered consist of fishing, archery, science, art, outdoor cooking, newspaper, video, air rifle, sports, and much more. Each afternoon is filled with activities such as, “Track and Field,” “4‐H Olympic Voices,” “Winter Olympics,” and others. For the younger camp, youth choosing to attend afternoon art will have the opportunity to participate in the FestivALL Children’s Art Fair in Charleston later in June. Cloverbud and Science day camps are offered at the Riverside Pavilion in Coonskin Park. Cloverbud camp targets youth completing Kindergarten through second grade and has a theme of “Cloverbuds in Water.” Science camp will feature some of the yearly favorites like rocketry, but will add water science to the mix of hands‐on learning. Camp allows youth to develop important life skills such as responsibility and goal attainment. Studies show that 4‐H members do better in school, are more motivated to help others, feel safe to try new things, achieve a sense of self‐esteem, and develop lasting friendships. 4‐H camping is open to any youth. This year the cost is $180 for the residential camp, while the day camps are $75. Partial scholarships are available for those in need. A 4‐H camp registration brochure and scholarship request form are available at http://kanawha.ext.wvu.edu or at the Kanawha County Extension Office located in Kanawha City at 4700 MacCorkle Avenue SE, Suite 101. For more information contact Sherry Swint, 4‐H Youth Development Extension Agent at (304)720‐9889 or at [email protected].

Date: Saturday, May 5,2012 Time: 9:00am—1:00pm

Location: Bible Center School

It’s that time of year again! Central Child Care will be holding their annual conference in May. All family child care providers who use the food program are required to attend. All sessions will be WV STARS registered. For more

information, contact Central Child Care at (304)382‐0797.

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Recent Changes to the WV STARS Professional Development Record by Natalie Snider, WV STARS State Coordinator

WV STARS has made some changes to the Professional Development Record to improve the service to participants. Career Pathway participants now have three different options to view the Professional Development sessions tracked by WV STARS. Depending on your needs, you may want to access any one of the three record options available to you. The Professional Development Record titled “Complete Record” provides a complete list of WV STARS Registered Trainings tracked for an individual. The record shows the training title, the training date, and the number of hours of the training. If you would like a print out of all of the training WV STARS has tracked for you in date order, access this record. The “Core Knowledge Area Record” is the Professional Development Record that provides a complete list of WV STARS Registered Trainings tracked for an individual organized by the WV Core Knowledge Content Areas. The record shows the training title, the training tier level, the training date, and the number of training hours in each Core Knowledge Content Area. If you would like a print out of all of the trainings WV STARS has tracked for you including information on the level of training and general content, access this record. For those applying to become a Tier II center, facility or home, the Core Knowledge Area Record must be submitted with the application to verify professional development requirements. Other types of records will not be accepted and will result in a request for submission of the correct record for documentation, which may delay the approval process. The “Current Certificate Period Record” option provides a list of WV STARS Registered Trainings tracked for an individual that were completed during the current Career Pathway Certificate Period. The record shows the individual’s Career Pathway Certificate active and renewal date as well as a list of the training title, training date and the number of hours of the training. These trainings can be used for the next Career Pathway Certificate renewal. If you would like a print out of only training WV STARS has tracked for you towards your Career Pathway Certificate renewal, access this record. You can access your Professional Development Record online at www.wvearlychildhood.org; just click on the WV STARS tab at the top and the tab for the Professional Development Record on the left. Please note that all of the Professional Development Records show only WV STARS Registered Trainings attended while an individual possessed an active Career Pathway Certificate. The records do not show trainings attended that are not registered with WV STARS or trainings taken while the individual did not possess an active Career Pathway Certificate. The records also do not show trainings an individual has presented. If you believe that you have completed WV STARS Registered Training sessions that are not listed on the Professional Development Records, you are welcome to submit copies of the WV STARS Certificate of Training Attendance to be reviewed. Our address is 611 7th Avenue, Suite 322 Huntington, WV 25701. For more information, contact WV STARS at (855)822‐7827 or at [email protected].


BIG News from TRAILS by David Lebsack, TRAILS Associate

But seriously, the TRAILS program has all sorts of items that don’t make it on the van on a daily basis because they are simply too big to carry around on the van with us all the time. To view items in our catalog go to, www.connectchildcare.org, click on the Information tab on the top, scroll down to and click on TRAILS van. You can request any of these items by either phone at (888)595‐8290 ext. 333 or email at [email protected] or [email protected], and if they are available, you can check them out. The best part, like my attempt of a poem says, we deliver!

All these we are happy to deliver, Art easels, cots, and climbers for infant toddler,

Cribs, trikes, and tables for sand and water, White boards, moon blocks, kitchen sets and even a diner,

I’d keep rhyming but I’m not that clever.

NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION

US POSTAGE

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Huntington, W

V

Connect Child

Care Resource and Referral

Child

Care Provider’s New

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t Inform

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Connect Child

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of River Valley Child

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WV Dep

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Resources, B

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ivision of Early Care and Education.

Visit us on the web

: www.connectchildcare.org

Connect Child

Care Resource and Referral

c/o River Valley Child

Development Services

611 7th Avenue, Suite 300

Huntington, W

V 25701

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