Child Care Project The Child Care Project is a resource and referral agency serving the child care needs of families and early childhood & school age professionals in Orange and northern Windsor Counties in Vermont, as well as northern Sullivan and southwestern Grafton Counties in New Hampshire. Child Care Support Services Child Care Resource & Referral Jeff Robbins, Director Chris Pressey-Murray, Coordinator Cindy Binzen, Assistant Coordinator Anita Dole, Administrative Assistant Child Care Project 17 1/2 Lebanon Street, Suite 2 Hanover, NH 03755 (603) 646-3233 or (800) 323-5446 [email protected] www.dartmouth.edu/~ccp Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Child Care Support Services Child Care Financial Assistance - Vermont The Family Place 319 US Route 5 South Norwich, VT 05055 (802) 649-3268 or (800) 639-0039 www.familyplacevt.org/child-care Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Child Care Scholarship - New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services Claremont District Office 17 Water Street Claremont, NH 03743 (603) 542-9544 or (800) 982-1001 This newsletter, sponsored in part by the VT Child Development Division, is produced bimonthly and distributed to child care centers, family child care homes, human service agencies, parentchild centers and other child care professionals in the Child Care Project coverage area. Any VT parent or provider with concerns about services received from their local training, referral or subsidy agency should call the VT Child Development Division at (800) 649-2642. November & December 2012 Newsletter Greetings from the Child Care Project, It’s definitely fall now. We’ve moved beyond marveling at the leaves changing color and have begun to enjoy scuffing in them and piling them up. Children are already wearing their new winter coats. Mittens have made their annual appearance and, just as predictably, have begun to go missing. Fall is a great time to ponder the year ahead. You may already have planned your favorite fall field trip and you are probably looking forward to repeating some of the favorite activities that appear in your program year after year. Amidst the planning of activities, try slowing down for just a bit and ask yourself some thoughtful questions about the coming year. Take a moment to read this month’s article, “Four Questions to Guide Teachers’ Thinking About Their Practice” by Carol Keyes. The four questions appear in the very first paragraph so you don’t have to read far to get the idea and the rest is a quick read. Your answers to the four questions will reflect your values and assumptions about children and about teaching. They may help you shape the direction of your professional development goals this year. Take a moment to ask if you are the teacher you want to be or, as Carol Keyes asks in her article, “Would I want to be a child in my classroom?” If your answer is “yes,” you are a treasure to children and their families. If your answer is “yes... but,” you are an even greater treasure because you are engaged in the thoughtful process of continuous improvement. If your answer is “no,” call us for help in thinking about positive changes you can make. Check our training calendar for workshops that will help you find ways to make change. Don’t forget our lending library of resources for providers. And, my last recommendation: After all that thinking, it’s time to go outside and scuff up some leaves! Happy fall, Check us out any time at www.dartmouth.edu/~ccp CCP Training Opportunities November 2012 3 Basic Specialized Child Care SAT Services (Level I) Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical CenterBorwell 658W, Lebanon, NH • 9:00 am - 3:00 pm This six-hour Fundamentals class is required for all providers/programs wishing to attain Basic Specialized Child Care Provider status, and offers valuable information for anyone supporting children and families when abuse, neglect or special needs are involved. Topics covered will include: typical child development, the impact of stress and abuse on development, red flags, working with families and the system, as well as mandated reporting responsibilities. Supporting children with special needs will also be touched upon. All VT and NH providers are welcome. We will work through lunch, so bring your own or plan to buy food at DHMC during a break. Presenter: Margot Holmes, Specialized Child Care Coordinator, The Family Place VT Core Knowledge Areas: 1, 2, 5 NH Core Knowledge Areas: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 CDA Subject Areas: 3, 5, 6 Basic Specialized Child Care Services: 6 hours 5 M Communication: Building Relationships (Level I) Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical CenterAuditorium F, Lebanon, NH • 6:00 - 9:00 pm This Fundamentals class addresses the skills all professionals need to effectively communicate with other adults. Strategies for creating an environment that promotes and encourages respectful communication with colleagues and families will be discussed. Participants will also learn how to approach families and talk about difficult topics. Presenter: Lori Harris, M.S., Director, DartmouthHitchcock Medical Center Child Care Center VT Core Knowledge Areas: 2, 5 NH Core Knowledge Areas: 1, 2 CDA Subject Areas: 4, 6 page 2 7 Vermont Child Care Licensing W Regulations (Level I) Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical CenterAuditorium G, Lebanon, NH • 6:00 - 9:00 pm This Fundamentals class will feature an interactive presentation by Kelly Lyford, Licensing Supervisor from the Child Development Division Licensing Unit, on Vermont child care regulations and a discussion of how they are linked to developmentally appropriate practice. This engaging workshop will use case scenarios to help participants develop strategies to apply child care licensing regulations. Vermont home- and center-based providers are welcome. Presenter: Kelly Lyford, Licensing Supervisor, VT Child Development Division Licensing Unit VT Core Knowledge Areas: 1, 3, 4, 5 NH Core Knowledge Areas: 1, 2, 3, 4 CDA Subject Areas: 1, 3, 5 8 Parent-Teacher Conferences TH Made Meaningful Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical CenterBorwell 758W, Lebanon, NH • 6:30 - 8:30 pm Keeping the lines of communication open between providers and parents is critical, albeit not always easy. In this workshop, we will together explore the purposes of meeting with families and different ways of gathering information on each child in our care. We’ll discuss different styles of conferencing, draft several templates for conference notes and brainstorm ways to increase parent participation. Research has shown that parental involvement is one of the most important factors in a student’s eventual success in school. For many parents, however, this involvement is limited to attendance at parent-teacher conferences. Come learn how to make the most of the opportunity now in the early years! Presenter: Brenda Metzler, MA, veteran child care classroom teacher VT Core Knowledge Areas: 2, 3 NH Core Knowledge Areas: 2, 3, 5 CDA Subject Areas: 4, 7 Child Care Project Newsletter 13 The More We Sing Together, TU Part 1 Dartmouth College Child Care CenterMultipurpose, Hanover, NH • 6:30 - 8:30 pm In this two-part series, music educator and preschool teacher Brooke Wilkinson will lead an interactive study on the benefits of music in the development of young children. Come learn tips and songs to teach basic knowledge, ease tasks and smooth transitions. We’ll explore many ideas for using music to enhance and encourage positive growth in preschoolers. From “hello” to “good-bye,” we’ll find ways to incorporate music into your every day activities to benefit both children and providers. Bring your questions, stumbling blocks and own favorite songs. Attendance at both parts, November 13 and November 15 is required. Presenter: Brooke Wilkinson, Preschool Music Instructor & Teacher, Strafford Creative Preschool VT Core Knowledge Area: 3 NH Core Knowledge Area: 3 CDA Subject Area: 2 15 The More We Sing Together, TH Part 2 Dartmouth College Child Care CenterMultipurpose, Hanover, NH • 6:30 - 8:30 pm See full description under November 13. Attendance at both parts, November 13 and November 15 is required. Presenter: Brooke Wilkinson, Preschool Music Instructor & Teacher, Strafford Creative Preschool 19 Emotional Development, M Part 1: Introduction to Observation and Recording Behavior (Level I) Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical CenterAuditorium F, Lebanon, NH • 6:00 - 9:00 pm This Fundamentals class will explore milestones in the emotional development of young children. Discussion will include how and when children develop self-control and appropriate responses to typical developmental stages. The role of November & December 2012 observing and recording children’s behavior will also be introduced and different methods shared. Attendance at part 2 on November 26 is recommended. Presenter: Lori Harris, M.S., Director, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Child Care Center VT Core Knowledge Areas: 1, 3 NH Core Knowledge Areas: 3, 4, 5 CDA Subject Areas: 3, 7, 8 26 Emotional Development, M Part 2: The Influence of Culture (Level I) Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical CenterAuditorium F, Lebanon, NH • 6:00 - 9:00 pm This Fundamentals class will continue to explore milestones in the emotional development of young children; discussion from last week will deepen. Activities will focus on how culture and other characteristics influence emotional development. Attendance at part 1 on November 19 is recommended. Presenter: Lori Harris, M.S., Director, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Child Care Center 28 Social Skills Development W and A Sense of Oneself (Level I) Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical CenterAuditorium F, Lebanon, NH • 6:00 - 9:00 pm This Fundamentals class will explore how children form a sense of themselves. The concepts of attachment and resiliency will be addressed, along with positive guidance, coping with transitions and other strategies that support children’s social development and developing sense of self. Presenter: Lori Harris, M.S., Director, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Child Care Center VT Core Knowledge Areas: 1, 2, 3 NH Core Knowledge Areas: 3, 4 CDA Subject Areas: 2, 3, 8 page 3 December 2012 3 Social Skills Development and M Understanding Others (Level I) Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical CenterAuditorium F, Lebanon, NH • 6:00 - 9:00 pm This Fundamentals class will address strategies to support the development of positive social skills in children. Conflict resolution, including supporting children with challenging behaviors, and social development milestones will also be discussed. Presenter: Lori Harris, M.S., Director, DartmouthHitchcock Medical Center Child Care Center VT Core Knowledge Areas: 1, 2, 3 NH Core Knowledge Areas: 3, 4 CDA Subject Areas: 2, 3, 8 6 Get Organized and Earn TH More Money in 2013 and Beyond: Record Keeping and Tax Tips for Family Child Care Providers Child Care Project- Conference Room, Hanover, NH • 6:30 - 8:30 pm This surprisingly lively annual workshop is a must for all new family child care providers, as well as those needing a reminder or encouragement to get organized in the upcoming year. It is also appropriate for any providers who use a tax preparer, accountant, etc. because it covers record keeping in detail. Easy systems of record keeping and tax preparation specific to the business of family child care will be covered. Learn how you can maximize your deductions, thus increase your profit as a small home business. Any recent changes to the tax laws will be discussed and 2013 Calendar Keepers will be available for purchase at a discounted rate. Presenter: Jeffrey Kent, President, Kent Tax & Business Services, LLC VT Core Knowledge Area: 5 NH Core Knowledge Area: 1 CDA Subject Area: 5 page 4 8 Positive Workplace SAT E n v i r o n m e n t s , F a m i l y Centered Practice and Fundamentals for Early Childhood Professionals Course Wrap Up (Level I) Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical CenterAuditorium F, Lebanon, NH • 9:00 am - 3:00 pm This final session of Fundamentals, restricted to those enrolled in the entire series, will focus on understanding the needs of adults and how to work successfully with peers and families. Familycentered practice will be defined; how adults change and develop will be addressed. The afternoon will be spent presenting projects and reviewing selected topics covered in previous modules, with an emphasis on reflection. We will work through lunch, so bring your own or plan to buy food at DHMC during a break. Presenter: Lori Harris, M.S., Director, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Child Care Center VT Core Knowledge Areas: 2, 5 NH Core Knowledge Areas: 1, 2 CDA Subject Areas: 4, 5 11 Exploring Diversity Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical CenterTU Auditorium E, Lebanon, NH • 6:30 - 8:30 pm The winter holiday season is a perfect time to think about identity, culture and difference. Through a variety of interactive exercises we’ll explore what diversity is, why it matters and how we might create inclusive work and learning environments for our staff and families. The goal of this session is to increase your understanding of all aspects of diversity and begin the process for dialogue and working together productively and respectfully. Presenter: Gabrielle Lucke, Director, Diversity Training & Educational Programs, Dartmouth College VT Core Knowledge Areas: 1, 2, 3, 5 NH Core Knowledge Areas: 1, 2, 3, 4 CDA Subject Areas: 4, 6, 8 Advanced Specialized Child Care Services: 2 hours Child Care Project Newsletter PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR ALL CHILD CARE PROJECT TRAINING (603) 646-3233 • (800) 323-5446 [email protected] Registration is accepted beginning the first of the month prior to each class. If plans change and you cannot attend a workshop for which you have registered, please let us know. Contact us now to sign up for November and December Child Care Project training listed in this newsletter. Coming up in January 2013... 10 Social-Emotional Development TH of Infants, Toddlers and their Families 24 Never Too Early, Part 2 TH (Level II) 15 Stop! TU Out! 29 C a n P r e s c h o o l e r s B e TU Depressed? Symptoms and Supports, Part 1 Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical CenterAuditorium E, Lebanon, NH • 6:30 - 8:30 pm Presenter: Margot Holmes, Specialized Child Care Coordinator, The Family Place Don’t Throw That Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical CenterAuditorium E, Lebanon, NH • 6:30 - 8:30 pm Presenter: Sharon Adams, M.S., Early Childhood Education Consultant & Master Instructor 17 Never Too Early, Part 1 TH (Level II) Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center- Fuller Board Room, Lebanon, NH • 6:30 - 8:30 pm Presenter: Judy Witters, M.Ed. & M.F.A., Three Apple Storyteller & Vermont Arts Council Touring Artist November & December 2012 Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center- Fuller Board Room, Lebanon, NH • 6:30 - 8:30 pm Presenter: Judy Witters, M.Ed. & M.F.A., Three Apple Storyteller & Vermont Arts Council Touring Artist Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical CenterAuditorium E, Lebanon, NH • 6:30 - 8:30 pm Presenter: Steve Atkins, Psy.D., Adjunct Professor, Dartmouth Medical School Faculty; Psychologist & School Consultant, SCA Psychological Services 31 C a n P r e s c h o o l e r s B e TH Depressed? Symptoms and Supports, Part 2 Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical CenterAuditorium E, Lebanon, NH • 6:30 - 8:30 pm Presenter: Steve Atkins, Psy.D., Adjunct Professor, Dartmouth Medical School Faculty; Psychologist & School Consultant, SCA Psychological Services page 5 Other Training Opportunities CPR & First Aid Trainings Most classes require pre-registration and prepayment; many are space limited and could be canceled in the event of low enrollment. Call the individual site for more information or to register. American Red Cross Local classes currently under reorganization; none scheduled for November or December. Private classes may be arranged at your center or home for groups of 6 or more by calling (802) 660-9130. New London Hospital Heartsaver Adult, Child & Infant CPR Recertification: November 13, 9:00 am or December 11, 9:00 am. $20. Weber Room, 273 County Road in New London, NH. American Heart Association classes. www.newlondonhospital.org/ events/courses_classes_schedule or (603) 526-5501. Valley Regional Hospital Heartsaver Adult, Child & Infant CPR- New & Recertification: November 15, 5:00-8:00 pm. $36 Adult/Child CPR, $12 Infant CPR, $13.95 text. Heartsaver First Aid: November 29, 5:00-8:00 pm. $18. 243 Elm Street in Claremont, NH. American Heart Association classes. Private courses for groups of six or more scheduled on request. (603) 542-1839; [email protected]. Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical CenterWomen’s Health Resource Center Heartsaver First Aid: December 12, 6:00-9:00 pm. $55. Heartsaver Adult, Child & Infant CPR Certification: December 13, 6:00-9:00 pm. $55. On the Mall (9 Hanover Street) in Lebanon, NH. American Heart Association classes. Scholarships available. http://patients.dartmouth-hitchcock.org/ womens_resource_ctr/all_whrc_classes.html or (603) 650-2600. page 6 Upper Valley Ambulance, Inc. in Fairlee, VT is an American Heart Association Training Center; for CPR and first aid training information, contact Kevin Cole at kevinc@uppervalleyambulance. com or (802) 333-4043 x108. White River Valley Ambulance in Bethel, VT offers CPR training; contact Pat Edwards at [email protected] or (802) 234-6800 for details. You may also find a class by phoning your local fire station - many times they have trained staff willing to teach CPR and/or first aid - or your community recreation department. VT Basic Specialized Child Care Services Training Specialized Child Care Services (SCCS) encompasses VT subsidized child care for children eligible under one of the following service needs: 1) Protective Services - for a child who has been a victim of abuse or neglect and child care is part of a plan to support the child, thus reducing the risk of future abuse/neglect; 2) Family Support - for a child in a family experiencing significant stress where child care is part of a larger family plan to address specific issues; 3) Special Need - for a child in child care with a special physical or developmental need. Providers must attend a 6-hour Basic SCCS Training prior to signing the "Provider Agreement, Part 3" and being granted SCCS status enabling them to care for children with a SCCS need. Basic SCCS training is offered annually in the fall through the Child Care Project (see page 2 for details). Other upcoming options include: November 1 & 8, 6:00-9:00 pm in Middlebury, VT. Call Amethyst Peaslee at (802) 388-4304 to register. November 3, 10:00 am-4:00 pm in St. Johnsbury, VT. Call Kim Buxton at (802) 748-1992 to register. ($5 fee) Child Care Project Newsletter November 3, 9:00 am-3:00 pm in Morrisville, VT. Call Lorraine Patterson at (802) 888-5229 to register. ($5 fee) November 5 & 12, 6:00-9:00 pm in St. Albans, VT. Call April Wright at (802) 393-6564 to register. VT Essential Maintenance Practices for the Stabilization of Lead Paint Owners of child care facilities (including family child care homes) built before 1978 are required to attend this training once and perform lead paint stabilization procedures annually. To reserve a seat at the following upcoming VT Department of Health approved FREE Essential Maintenance Practices training, call �� (800) 290-0527. Registration is on a first come, first serve basis. For more information, visit LeadSafeVermont at www.leadsafevermont.org/html/landlords.html. November 28, 5:00 pm at City Hall in Burlington, VT Family School Connections Resource & Referral Training Funded in part by the NH Department of Health & Human Services, Division for Children, Youth & Families, and the NH Child Development Bureau, the following workshops are open to all providers. For more information or to register, contact Cathy Paradis at [email protected] or (603) 543-4295. November 13: Emergency Preparedness: Do You Have a Plan? with Cathy Paradis and Gregg Champlin, 6:00-8:00 pm at Claremont Savings Bank in Claremont, NH December 11: Doing Time While My Mom's in Jail with Cathy Paradis, 6:30-8:30 pm at Children's Center of the Upper Valley in Lebanon, NH November & December 2012 Living in the New Normal: Helping Children Thrive in Good and Challenging Times The Military Child Education Coalition, a nonprofit organization addressing the educational needs of children in military families, is offering this training designed for parents, child care providers, educators, military family readiness groups and other concerned adults to gain strategies and practical applications to increase resilience in military-connected children. Presented by Sharon Adams, this practicum is planned for November 15 from 8:00 am-4:00 pm at Our Lady of the Angels Church in Randolph, VT. Funded by Office of the Secretary of Defense, Department of the Army, there is no cost to participants; breakfast and lunch are provided. For more information, call Sharon Adams locally at (802) 763-2797, or contact Joe Clever at (254) 953-1923 or joe.clever@ militarychild.org. Visit www.MilitaryChild.org and select the Training tab to register. Chemistry in the Kitchen, Geometry in the Art Room Experimenting and investigating are cornerstones of creativity. Have fun exploring art and science using shaving cream, glue, baking soda, vinegar, cornstarch, glue, paint, glitter, gelatin and more. Discover open-ended ways to incorporate math concepts into art projects as well. Offered by The Arts Bus, an incorporated non-profit organization whose goal is to provide meaningful exposure of the arts to the children of our community, and presented by Jennie Harriman, this workshop is scheduled for November 28 from 6:00-8:00 pm at the White River Craft Center in Randolph, VT. Contact Cynthia Sandusky, The Arts Bus Project Director, at [email protected] or (802) 276-2192 for more information. page 7 NLCDC Approved Sponsors of Online Training Vermont's Northern Lights Career Development Center (NLCDC) continues to review and approve sponsors of online training that is not for college credit. Newly approved sponsors include: Quality Assist, Child Care Aware (formerly NACCRRA), Smart Horizons, Care Courses and Building Blocks for Literacy. Approved online training may count as VT child care licensing annual hours, training hours for Step Ahead Recognition System (STARS)-staff qualifications/professional development arena, initial Child Development Associate (CDA) credential required training, Department of Education training to renew educator licensure and more. Be sure to follow the specific training requirements of the program or credential. Visit http://northernlightscdc.org/training/onlinetraining-and-coursework/ to learn more about online training in Vermont and approved sponsors. Local Colleges with Early Childhood Education Classes Community College of Vermont Upper Valley campus 145 Billings Farm Road, Wilder, VT (802) 295-8822 • www.ccv.edu Fall term underway; ends December 17. Registration for spring term begins November 5; spring term runs January 22-May 6. Granite State College Lebanon Academic Campus 24 Airport Road, West Lebanon, NH Claremont Regional Campus 27 Pleasant Street, Claremont, NH (603) 542-3841 • www.granite.edu Fall term underway; ends December 7. Registration for winter term underway; winter term runs January 5-March 29. • HUMN 550 American Sign Language I, 4 credits, Wednesdays, 5:30-9:00 pm in Claremont with C. Rosinski • EDU 551 Learning and Early Childhood Environments, 4 credits, online with B. Mulrey • EDU 555 Language and Literacy Development, 4 credits, online with B. Krol-Sinclair • EDU 601 Observation and Assessment in Early Childhood Education, 4 credits, online with P. Howson • EDU 603 Family and Community Relations in Early Childhood, 4 credits, online with B. Mulrey • EDU 605 Early Childhood Program Administration, 4 credits, online with J. Carson • EDU 624 Assessment of Young Children in EC/ ECSPED, 4 credits, online with P. Howson • PSY 508 Child Development, 4 credits, online with B. McKenna • SOC 607 Child Abuse and Neglect, 4 credits, online with P. Neville-Carey Lebanon College River Valley Community College 15 Hanover Street, Lebanon, NH (603) 448-2445 • www.lebanoncollege.edu Fall term underway; ends December 17. Spring term runs January 22-May 9. Fall term underway; ends December 21. Registration for winter/spring term begins November 20; winter/spring term runs January 14-April 27. 1 College Drive, Claremont, NH (603) 542-7744 x411 • www.rivervalley.edu The Bright Futures Information System (BFIS) is a data management system designed and operated by the VT Child Development Division of the Department for Children and Families. Hundreds of statewide professional development opportunities (such as workshops, classes and conferences) are listed and updated regularly in the BFIS Course Calendar. Visit www.brightfutures.dcf.state.vt.us to access the calendar. page 8 Child Care Project Newsletter Local ECE Professional Support Networks Upper Valley Child Care Association For: All Upper Valley child care center directors, administrators, family child care providers and early childhood professionals from both NH and VT Meets: 2nd Tuesday of each month, 1:00-3:00 pm at Franklin Pierce University in West Lebanon, NH Upcoming guest: • Denise Corvino, Chief of NH Child Care Licensing, will share tentative plans for NH rule revisions, answer questions about professional development, join our discussion of QRIS and exit surveys, and answer questions at the November 13 meeting. For more information, contact: Jeff Robbins at Dartmouth College Child Care Center, (603) 6466610 or [email protected] Central Vermont Early Care & Education Network For: All child care providers around Braintree, Brookfield, Randolph, Bethel, Royalton, Chelsea, Corinth and Tunbridge, VT Meets: 3rd Monday of each month, 6:30-8:30 pm at Green Mountain Gospel Church in Randolph, VT For more information, contact: Pam White at (802) 728-9587 or [email protected] Connections For: All Orange County, VT early educators and child care providers, home- and center-based Meets: 1st Tuesday of each month, 6:30-8:30 pm at Bradford Elementary School in Bradford, VT Upcoming training: • On November 6, Carolyn, of Rising Spirit Yoga, will share how to introduce children’s yoga to preschoolers. She will teach breathing techniques, basic poses, partner poses, creative games and songs, and end with a visualization/relaxation routine that children love. A regular yoga class for the adults will follow in the second half of the evening. Come dressed to have fun, dance and stretch! Bring a yoga mat if you have one. For more information, contact: Meri Saladino at (802) 222-4236 or Nicole White at [email protected] VT Center for Afterschool Excellence Regional Group For: All people working in Orange/Northern Windsor afterschool programs: community-based organizations, school-based programs and family child care homes Meeting: Next meeting date(s) to be determined. Visit http://vtafterschool.wordpress.com for details. For more information, contact: Dana Anderson at (802) 767-4632 x3140 or [email protected] Free Resources for NH Child Care Providers Are you a NH child care provider… frustrated by children who bite; annoyed by children who hit, push or bully other children; upset by children who swear or use offensive behaviors; confused by children who don’t fit in; discouraged by strategies that just aren’t working? Help is just a phone call away... call the Preschool Technical Assistance Network (PTAN) toll-free at (888) 584-8200. PTAN’s Child Care Inclusion Program is committed to helping child care programs throughout NH, family- and center-based, work successfully with young children with challenging behaviors and other special needs. PTAN's free services, available to all NH child care providers, include phone consultation in the privacy of your program, email updates, on-site training and consultation from experts in your region. Funded by Child Development Bureau, Division for Children, Youth and Families, NH DHHS. For more information, visit http://ptan.seresc.net. November & December 2012 page 9 Notes of Interest Congratulations Kelly Ward, a registered family child care provider in Vershire, VT has joined VT’s Step Ahead Recognition System (STARS) for child care, preschool and afterschool programs with two stars of recognition. Way to go, Kelly! Kristy Kimball of South Royalton, VT has been awarded a VT Northern Lights Career Development Center Level IIIA certificate. Congrats, Kristy! Elizabeth Britch of South Royalton, VT has been awarded a VT Northern Lights Career Development Center Level IIIB certificate. Yahoo, Elizabeth! Vicki Covell of Babble-On Day Care in White River Junction, VT has earned a VT Northern Lights Career Development Center Program Director Credential, Step 2. Kudos, Vicki! VT STARS Incentive Blitz VT Birth to Three has announced a special promotion for VT family child care providers who - by December 31, 2012 - have their STARS application received by the STARS office. These providers will receive the choice of a $50 gift card to Barnes and Noble, Amazon or Shell Gas. Applications must be received by the STARS office by December 31, 2012 to be eligible. If you are interested in this promotion, contact Brenda Schramm at (802) 447-0906 or baschramm@ comcast.net or visit www.vermontbirthtothree.org. Orange County STARS Application Support Group These evening meetings, to be held on the fourth Thursday of every month beginning in January 2013 at the Orange County Parent Child Center page 10 in Chelsea, VT from 6:30-8:00 pm, are designed to bring together VT home providers and center staff who are actively working on their STARS applications or are interested in starting that process – with help! Bring all your materials and we’ll sit down and go through your specific application, page by page. Come when you can, one time or every time, on time or throughout the evening. Hearty brain snacks provided! Contact Emily Marshia, OCPCC’s STARS Support Project Coordinator, for more information at (888) 6852264 or [email protected], or visit www. orangecountypcc.org/events/stars-support-project. VT Birth to Three New Network Meetings in Hartford In collaboration with the Child Care Project, VT Birth to Three is offering community based network meetings for Hartford, VT area child care providers. Network meetings give an opportunity to those who care for others to take time for themselves. They are an opportunity to bond with others in the same field experiencing the same struggles and triumphs. As a child care provider you spend countless hours nurturing VT’s youngest children – the best nurturing happens when those offering the care have time to be nurtured themselves. To date, local meetings have been held at the Tip Top Pottery Studio in White River Junction, VT and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH featuring a potluck dinner, rich conversation and relationship building. The goal of VT Birth to Three is to continue building momentum, identifying program needs and offering support systems to VT providers. Meetings are held monthly – for more information on date, time and location of the next meeting contact the Child Care Project at (603) 646-3233 or Rachel Hunter, VB3 mentor at (802) 886-1070. Child Care Project Newsletter VT Birth to Three Mentor Opportunity VT Birth to Three is offering support throughout the state on many levels to increase quality child care and to support providers and the work they do directly with children. A key component is peer mentoring. Rachel Hunter, a 5-star registered family child care provider and VT Birth to Three mentor, is available to mentor VT registered family child care and legally exempt child care (LEC) providers in Orange and Northern Windsor Counties. Rachel offers a wide range of support, such as helping providers progress up the career ladder, increase professional development trainings hours, become an active member in local network groups, participate in the food program, complete the STARS application and enroll in college courses. She also provides assistance with general program support and activities with children. For more information, contact Rachel Hunter at (802) 886-1070 or [email protected]. VAEYC Launches Child Care Quality Improvement Project This project strives to improve access to quality (developmentally beneficial) child care programs and increase supports for all VT providers. With blended funds from the Henderson Foundation and VT Birth to Three, the Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children (VAEYC) is implementing two strategies to meet the project’s goals: 1) Mentoring. The Project will be supporting experienced child care providers to build mentoring relationships with interested child care providers. 2) Workgroups. The project will support existing and/or support the development of regional/local workgroups focused on topics related to the project’s evaluation measures. The project’s focus is VT-wide for licensed programs and in Washington County and Northern Orange County for registered home providers. November & December 2012 Programs and individuals interested in participating in the project should be committed to the concept of continuous quality improvement for their program. While the evaluation methods are based in VT quality systems (supporting programs to get into and move up through the STARS system, as well as supporting individuals in achieving IPDP goals and moving along the Early Childhood Career Ladder) the project is also interested in supporting programs in their self-chosen quality improvement efforts. For more information or if you are interested in being a mentor or seeking out a mentor, contact Melissa Riegel-Garrett at (802) 244-6282 or [email protected]. VT Child Care Licensing Regulation Revision Project The VT child care licensing regulation revision process continues. If you haven’t heard, 201213 is the year to review and revise the VT child care licensing regulations. This summer and fall included consideration of staff qualifications and professional development. Check in regularly at www.dcf.vermont.gov/cdd and click on “Child Care Licensing Regulation Revision Project” to get the latest information about the process and to add your comments. Tracey Soboleski, a registered family child care provider in Wilder, VT, has volunteered to serve as our local provider representative on the project. Contact Tracey at traceystoddlers@gmail. com or (802) 296-0007 for more information or to share your topic-specific thoughts. VCLF Announces CRIBS Loan In response to new and improved crib safety standards instituted last year by the U.S. Consumer Protection Safety Commission, the VT Community Loan Fund (VCLF) has announced a new loan program to help child care programs pay for purchases of new, safety compliant cribs. All cribs purchased before June 28, 2011, must be replaced with new cribs which meet the new safety regulations by December 28, 2012. page 11 The new loan program, known as CRIBS, for Capital Resources for Infant Bed Safety, will provide loans for crib purchases to qualified VT child care programs. VCLF has been working with VT child care providers for over a decade, providing access to loan capital, grant support and business-related technical assistance. For more information, visit www.investinvermont.org/ news/102-vclf-announces-cribs-loan-in-responseto-new-federal-safety-standards or call Maria at VCLF at (802) 224-9141. Tenth Annual Gingerbread Festival Mark your calendar and pass the word to your families: The Family Place’s annual Gingerbread Festival is coming up on December 8 from 10:00 am-3:00 pm at Tracy Hall in Norwich, VT. Enjoy an exquisite display of gingerbread houses, cookie decorating and other fun activities for children, cafe food, live music, store with crafts and JewelryOs, and a silent auction with great prizes. $10 for families or $5 for individuals; all proceeds benefit The Family Place Parent Child Center which offers comprehensive resource and information for parents of children ages birth to 6. For more information, call (802) 649-3268 or visit www.familyplacevt.org. 2013 Calendar-Keepers Now Available 2013 Calendar-Keepers are available for $10 each through the Child Care Project (a considerable savings over buying directly from Red Leaf Press). A comprehensive family child care record-keeping system, the Calendar-Keeper gives you monthly expense charts for all purchases; monthly attendance and payment log for parent fees; Food Program tallies for meals, expenses, and claims; weekly/ quarterly income record; important record-keeping advice; worksheets that make tax time a breeze; convenient mileage record; ready-to-use waiting list; fire and emergency drill records; easy-to-find page 12 emergency numbers; recipes and menus; nutrition information and fun activities. Calendar-Keepers will be available at upcoming trainings or can be mailed to you for an additional $2.50. Contact the Child Care Project for more information. Free VINS Pass Offer Interested in taking a field trip or even a weekend outing with your own family? Thanks to funding provided by VT Starting Points, the Child Care Project has a free pass to the Vermont Institute of Natural Science’s (VINS) Nature Center located a quarter of a mile west of the Quechee Gorge at 6565 Woodstock Road (Route 4) in Quechee, VT. The pass allows entrance to one adult and up to five children over age 2 (children under age 2 are welcome, but are always free and not included in the count) for a day. Contact us at (603) 646-3233 or child. [email protected] with a specific date request and we will email you a pass for that day. VINS is a nonprofit organization, whose mission is to motivate individuals and communities to care for the environment through education, research and avian wildlife rehabilitation. For more information about the Nature Center, including driving directions, visit www.vinsweb.org or call (802) 359-5000. VINS is open year round, seven days a week; seasonal hours November 1 through April 15 are 10:00 am-4:00 pm. Child Care Project Lending Library Remember... the Child Care Project maintains a lending library of books and media to assist providers with specific concerns, curriculum development or professional development. Visit www.dartmouth. edu/~ccp/providers/ccpbook-library.pdf to view the material available. Contact us at child.care. [email protected] or (603) 646-3233 to arrange to borrow an item. Child Care Project Newsletter Fact Sheet #46: Daycare Centers & Preschools Under the Fair Labor Standards Act The United States Department of Labor fact sheet #46 provides general information on how the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) applies to daycare centers and preschools. It can be found in its entirety at www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs46.htm. Requirements The FLSA requires covered employers to: • Establish the workweek for pay purposes (7 consecutive 24-hour periods), which may begin on any day of the week in the employer’s discretion (but remains fixed once established). • Maintain complete and accurate records of each employee’s daily and weekly hours worked each week. • Pay at least the federal minimum wage to all nonexempt employees of not less than $7.25 per hour effective July 24, 2009, for all hours actually worked. • Pay at least one-and-one-half times each employee’s regular rate of pay as overtime compensation to each nonexempt employee for all hours worked over 40 in each workweek. • Comply with all youth employment standards, such as restrictions on working hours, operating certain equipment, or performing work in certain occupations for minors under age 16 and, if under age 18, restrictions against performing certain hazardous occupations (which include driving a school bus, among others). Rest and Meal Periods: Employers that authorize short breaks or rest periods must count them as hours worked. Rest periods of short duration, usually 20 minutes or less, are common in industry (and promote employee efficiency) and are customarily paid for as working time. Bona fide meal periods (typically 30 minutes or more) generally need not be compensated as work time as long as the employee is completely relieved from duty for the entire meal period for the purpose of eating a regular meal. The employee is not relieved from duty if required to perform any duties, whether active or inactive, while eating. Thus, an employee is not considered “relieved” if required to continue to watch over children while they and the employee eat their meal. Lectures, Meetings and Training Programs: Attendance at lectures, meetings, training programs, and similar activities must be counted as working time unless all four of the following criteria are met: (1) it occurs outside normal scheduled hours of work; (2) it is completely voluntary; (3) it is not job-related (unless the employee attends an independent school or college on his/her own initiative outside work hours); and, (4) no other work is performed during the period. The time spent attending training that is required by the state for daycare center licensing is working time for which employees must be compensated. For additional information, visit the US Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division website at www.wagehour.dol.gov or call their toll-free information and help line, available 8:00 am-5:00 pm, (866) 487-9243. November & December 2012 page 13 Four Questions to Guide Teachers’ Thinking About Their Practice by Carol R. Keyes Over the years, I have organized a series of activities for professional development that, rather than focusing on a particular topic, revolves around four questions related to teachers’ values and beliefs: 1. What characteristics do I want to help the child develop? 2. What can I be teaching in this situation? 3. Why do I do what I do in the classroom? 4. Would I want to be a child in this classroom? These questions are designed to help teachers become more reflective about their values and beliefs, more intentional in their teaching, and to improve the match between their beliefs and practices. The questions and discussion help teachers ‘unpack’ their own ideas and help facilitate self-awareness. Question 1: What kind of person do I want to develop? This first question involves teachers in thinking about the characteristics they are trying to nurture in young children. Here’s an outline of the steps for this activity: a)Share the question. b)Distribute a list of characteristics to describe children. Post them on a board or project them using an overhead projector: adventurous, affectionate, a good guesser, altruistic, always asking questions, athletic, attempts difficult jobs, self-starter, becomes preoccupied with tasks, careful, cautious, competitive, completes work on time, conforming, considerate of others, cooperative, courageous, courteous, creative, critical of others, curious, desires to excel, determined, domineering, emotional, energetic, faultpage 14 finding, fearful, friendly, gets good grades, healthy, independent in judgment, industrious, intelligent, intuitive, likes to work alone, likes school, never bored, negativistic, obedient, persistent, physically attractive, physically strong, proud, quiet, rebellious, receptive to ideas of others, refined, regresses occasionally (playful, childish), remembers well c)Ask the teachers to chose the three characteristics they believe are the most important for children’s development. • Give them time to consider their choices. • Ask each teacher to share one choice at a time. • When a teacher names a characteristic, ask all of those who have chosen that characteristic to raise their hands too. • Count the number of respondents and post the number next to that characteristic. • Continue to go around until all choices have been reported. d)Discuss why each characteristic chosen is important. e)Ask for examples of how to help children develop those characteristics and abilities in the classroom. f) Close the session with a quote from Marian Wright Edelman. Take a few final minutes to compare what the teachers chose with what Edelman wrote: “[Children need] adults to teach them how to struggle with complexity, to think through the short- and long-term consequences of their actions, to bounce back from life’s inevitable failures, to learn how not to be lonely when alone, to think, ask the right questions, solve problems, sort out and synthesize reams of information, make informed judgments, and take effective action, to sacrifice to build a fairer and safe world.” (Edelman, 2008, p. xv) Child Care Project Newsletter Question 2: What can I be teaching in this situation? Question 3: Why am I doing what I am doing in the classroom? This second question asks teachers to consider their role in responding to children’s behavior as a way of facilitating their learning. The third question asks teachers to reflect on their role in extending children’s learning through their responses to different categories of child behavior. a)Post the following incident on an overhead or poster board or distribute copies to the teachers: Imagine a teacher of 20 four-year-olds whose outdoor equipment only includes two tricycles! Squabbles will inevitably arise over whose turn it is to use them. A child name Robin goes to the teacher and protests, “Leslie won’t let me have a turn.” a)Post the category system that helps teachers monitor their own responses to children on an overhead, pad or chalkboard or distribute copies to the teachers. b)Ask teachers to think about what they would do. c)Have the teachers share their recommendations for how to respond to the incident. d)Discuss the pros and cons of each recommendation. Consider not only Robin and Leslie, but also the other children who, while otherwise engaged, are paying attention to what is happening. e)Describe what children might learn from their solutions: social skills, verbal skills (assertive phrases, conversational phrases), social knowledge, social perspective, dispositional learning (empathy, altruism, disposition to experiment), elaborating on each category. f) Describe the unprofessional responses (distraction, exhortations, removal, empty threats, bribery, time-out, preaching, sympathy, guilt) that some teachers use. g)Discuss all of the appropriate responses as well as the unprofessional ones. Note that being conscious of these will help the teachers use the appropriate responses and reduce the times they might fall into the trap of using one of the unprofessional ones. November & December 2012 b)Introduce the category system for describing adult responses to children’s behavior: • Stop: The adult halts or limits a child’s actions verbally or nonverbally. • Change: The adult redirects the child through verbal means, directions or materials to a new activity or behavior. • Sustain: The adult makes a neutral comment or a brief response or participates without influence. • Extend: The adult extends or expands a child’s activities through such actions as giving information, challenging or adding new materials. c)Discuss the different categories and share examples, noting that in most cases sustaining and extending children’s behavior is preferable to stopping or changing their behavior. d)Have the teachers take turns sharing examples of when they have stopped, changed, sustained or extended children’s behavior as well as what they might do in the future and why. Question 4: Would I want to be a child in my classroom? The fourth question asks teachers to reflect on all of the children in their classroom, with particular attention to those who present special challenges to them in their teaching role. This activity is divided into two parts. page 15 Part One Part Two a)Read an excerpt from Except for Michael (Buckley, 1996, p. 89): “Except for Michael, I thought, stirring the yellow paint in preparation for the day ahead, this group of fives would be such a joy. Somehow, I don’t feel strong enough for Michael today. Maybe he won’t come!” a)Ask each teacher to write a short profile about one of the children in his or her classroom. b)Ask the teachers if they have any Michaels in their classrooms. c)Have each teacher make a list of the children in his or her classroom. d)After a few minutes ask if they are missing anyone. e)If they now remember them, have them add them on the bottom with an asterisk (*). f) Share with teachers that the children they forget, almost forget, or that are at the bottom of their list, are what Elizabeth Jones calls “invisible children.” They are the ones the teachers pay less attention to than others in the class. g)Ask the teachers if they would want to be in their class if they were at the bottom of the list or like Michael. h)Read a second excerpt from Except for Michael (Buckley, 1996, p. 91): The teacher is reflecting. “Then I began to ask myself, ‘Does Michael feel worthwhile: Does he feel respected? Do I make him feel accepted as an individual?” i) Talk about strategies teachers could use to make sure they acknowledge and pay attention to all of the children in their classrooms. j) Suggest to the other teachers that they occasionally make the list when they are away from the classroom. Following this activity they can acknowledge or spend some time with the children who appear at the bottom of their lists. If teachers do this regularly then there will be no ‘invisible children.’ page 16 b)Have them examine their profiles, looking for positive and negative value judgments. c)Tell them to mark all the positive judgments with a plus (+) and the negative ones with a minus (-). d)Ask them to read what they wrote again to identify words that are labels (L), words that are generalizations (G), words that are extreme (E) and words that are qualifying (Q). e)Ask the teachers to consider if they are being fair to those children or if their perceptions are being influenced by their own biases. Ask the teachers who described the children with too many negatives or extreme language if they would want to be children in their classrooms and what they need to do to correct this. Concluding Thoughts While teachers may follow different curriculum models or accreditation standards in their classrooms, values underlie all of the choices they make with regard to children. Their behaviors and attitudes, as well as the ideas they have about how children should behave, what experiences they should have and what goals they have for their future, are based on those values. Rarely do they realize how much those beliefs influence their actions. Using the questions as starting points at staff meetings or professional development sessions will help teachers uncover their values, beliefs and biases, and discuss the underlying purposes of the activities they choose and the interactions they engage in with children and families. When teachers think about what kind of adults they want to help develop, what they can be teaching in particular situations, why they’re doing what they are doing, and whether this is a classroom that the child wants to be in, they become more reflective and intentional and more effective in accomplishing their charge. Source: Exchange, September/October 2012, p. 14-17 Child Care Project Newsletter Homemade Graham Crackers... and treats Basic Graham Crackers 1 cup whole wheat flour 1 ½ cups all purpose flour ½ cup dark brown sugar, packed ½ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon baking soda ½ cup butter, chilled & cubed ¼ cup honey ¼ cup water Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a food processor or mixer, combine first six ingredients. Add cubed and chilled butter to the mix and pulse/mix until it resembles coarse meal. Add honey and water and continue to mix until it all combines. Remove and shape dough into a flat disk and place between two pieces of parchment paper. Roll dough out until ¼ inch thick. Cut into crackers or shapes with knife or cookie cutters. Place crackers on parchment- lined baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Cool and serve.1 Graham Dippers: Dip crackers in cinnamon sprin- kled low-fat ricotta cheese, applesauce or pumpkin puree. Fruit S’mores: Place sliced up strawberries and bananas between two crackers spread with vanilla yogurt. Snacks: Mix 3 ounces light cream cheese, softened for 10 seconds in the microwave, with 3 Tablespoons of all-fruit jam and spread on crackers. Jammy-Cheese Grapes and Grahams: Spread crackers with a thin layer of light cream cheese then sprinkle halved grapes over the top of each. Frozen Yogurt Sandwich: Smear 1-2 Tablespoons of frozen yogurt between two graham crackers. Smudgies: Mash together until creamy 1 banana and 1 Tablespoon natural crunchy peanut butter (use soy nut or sunflower butter if you’re nut-free). Spread between two crackers. Wrap in foil and freeze for six hours. Vanilla Cashew Frosting: Soak 1 ½ cups raw ca- shews for 2-3 hours, drain and place in blender with ¼ cup maple syrup, ¼ cup unsweetened almond milk, ¼ teaspoon stevia, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, pinch of salt and 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon. Blend on medium-low speed for 5 minutes or until creamy. Spread on crackers. Yummy Honey Grahams (Grain-Free, Refined Sugar-Free) 1 cup blanched almond flour 3 Tablespoons coconut flour ½ teaspoon unflavored gelatin powder 1 teaspoon ground chia seeds ½ teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon salt 3 Tablespoons coconut oil 1 Tablespoon blackstrap molasses 1 ½ Tablespoon coconut milk, warmed enough to be soft ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 1 Tablespoon honey Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a food processor, combine first eight ingredients. Turn on for a second or two to combine. Add coconut oil and pulse 5-8 times to incorporate. Add remaining four ingredients and process again until dough comes together. Scrape dough onto parchment paper and pat into a 5-inch square. Loosely wrap the parchment paper around dough and place refrigerate for 30 minutes. Remove dough from refrigerator and unwrap. Sprinkle a little coconut flour on dough and rolling pin and roll out dough to about 1/8 inch thickness. Cut small cookies out of dough and place on parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned underneath. Cool on pan for a minute, then transfer to cooling rack to cool completely. 2 Sources: 1. http://weelicious.com/2010/09/01/grahamcrackers/ 2. http://andloveittoo.com/healthy-lunchbox2012-alta-from-tasty-eats-at-home/ November & December 2012 page 17 Child Care Project NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID DARTMOUTH COLLEGE Dartmouth College 17 1/2 Lebanon Street, Suite 2 Hanover, NH 03755 Child Care Project Newsletter November & December 2012 What Is Inside... Welcome Letter CCP Training Opportunities Other Training Opportunities Local ECE Professional Support Networks Notes of Interest Fact Sheet #46: Daycare Centers & Preschools Under the FLSA 4 Questions to Guide Teachers’Thinking About Their Practice Homemade Graham Crackers... and treats p. 1 p. 2 p. 6 p. 9 p. 10 p. 13 p. 14 p. 17 The Child Care Project is a Granite United Way partner agency.