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Weekly Update November 18th, 2011
Weekly Update November 18, 2011
Great Progress on a Great Start
The following link is An Update on Michigan’s Progress in Meeting the Needs of Young Children Great Progress on a Great Start from Michigan’s Children. I strongly encourage you to take the time to read this valuable report.
Curriculum Review Advisory Committee
The mission of this committee is to support the Great Start to Quality system. I serve on
this committee at the state level at ECIC. Work streams are forming relating to publications (including the CONNECTions Newsletter and the brochure A Parent’s Guide to Early Learning and Care in Michigan both of which are distributed statewide); workforce development opportunities; trainer’s qualifications and standards; and Great Start to Quality alignment with the Early Learning Standards, Core Knowledge and Core Competencies and the Head Start standards.
Meeting with Denise Smith, Assistant Director for Great Start to Quality
We had a site visit this week from Denise Smith, Assistant Director for Great Start to Quality. This was an opportunity for us to discuss our work plan and the implementation of the Tiered Quality Rating System. We discussed the rating standards and how best to support providers as they work to improve quality and participate in the rating system.
Our first task is to provided training and assistance related to the completion of the Self Assessment System. This is the first step in participating in the Tiered Quality Rating System. Our work will be targeted to the programs serving high needs children with the goal of ensuring that high needs children are in high quality early childhood settings. We are in the process of developing a training agenda linked to the rating standards.
TQRIS Self Assessment Survey Training for Family and Group Home Child Care Providers
Child Care Connections is offering a series of hands on trainings for Family and Group Home Child Care providers to introduce the Self Assessment Survey (SAS). Class sizes will be limited and each provider enrolled in the training will be working on a computer so that they can begin the process of completing the online SAS. Child Care Connections staff will be on hand to introduce the SAS, answer questions and provide technical support. Trainings for Center Directors will be offered at a later date.
Classes will be offered throughout the region. Visit www.greatstartconnect.org for a complete schedule.
Infant Mental Health Training Consortium
The Infant Mental Health Training Consortium met this week. Our Training Coordinator, Mary Sue Wilkinson, chairs this group. The consortium is working on plans for the 2012-2013 series and is actively seeking input on training topics. Please email suggestions for topics and/or presenters to Mary Sue at marysuew@childcarenwmi.com.
Training Update
Make Me a Star groups met in Manistee, Benzie, and Kingsley this week. In addition two groups met in Cadillac and two more groups met in Traverse City. Some of the training
topics this week included: Special Needs with Infants and Toddlers, The Art of Open Ended Questions and Recall, Creative Curriculum for Family Child Care Providers, Working with Children with Biting Issues, and Introduction to the TQRIS and the SAS.
The 2nd session of the 4 part Lead Caregiver for Infants and Toddlers class met this week.
Over 20 providers participated in a new training offered this week: Family and Friends: Diversity in Early Childhood Settings. This class will be repeated in Cadillac on November 29th.
The first in the three part POINT series began this week. This is a series designed for
unlicensed child care providers that receive DHS subsidy payments.
Lending Library Extended Hours
The Lending Library at our Traverse City office will be open Saturday, November 19th from 10:00 am – noon. Please encourage your staff members to take advantage of these additional hours. Providers must have a signed contract on file in order to utilize the library. As the license holder you may provide us with a list of staff member’s names that you authorize to check items out of the library.
Normal library hours are Monday through Friday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
Looking Ahead…
Lending Library Workshop: Family and Friends: Diversity in Early Childhood Settings
November 29, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Location: Marty Paul HS Center, Cadillac
Instructor: Judy Porter
Fee: No charge but registration is required.
Registration at www.greatstartconnect.org
See registration site for course description
Beyond Basic Concepts: Developing Young Children’s Thinking Skills
December 2, 8:30 am – 11:45 am
Location: NMC – James Beckett Bldg. Rooms 146/147, Traverse City
Instructor: Angela Norvell, TBAISD Early Childhood Specialist
Audience: Early Childhood Educators
Fee: No charge but registration is required
Registration Deadline: November 23
Register online at www.tbaisd.k12.mi.us
From the Professional Development Tab, select Online Registration. Scroll down and select course name and follow instructions.
Working with Children with Special Needs
December 7, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Location: Char-Em ISD, Boyne City
Instructor: Hillary Lang
Fee: $10 for class, Additional $10 paid to NMC for CEU’s
Register online at www.greatstartconnect.org
Train the Trainer for CARES
Cares Kits and Parent Education Program Training is going to be provided on December 16 from 8:30-11:30 am in Cadillac.
Classroom teachers and family support workers (Family Coaches, Family Service Workers, Home visitors, etc.) are encouraged to attend. We will discuss how to use the CARES Kits, the parent education series and provide you with the links and a CD Rom with resources needed to plan and implement your own parent workshops. We will share resources for organizing your kits and checking the materials out to families. Please register on the WMISD Website. www.wmisd.org Select Professional Development, find the Dec 16 date and sign up!