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This is the first in a three-part newsletter series about community.
First Time in a Classroom?
Going from spending all day with your family to being in child care is a big transition for young children. How do they learn to be part of their new world? How do we help them build their community?
As a teacher, preparing for your first impressions with children and their families can make a big difference. Is your classroom clean and welcoming for play? Will you smile and greet each family by name when they arrive?
Why is creating a welcoming classroom community so important? According to the experts at NAEYC, "Young children are ripe for responsibility and for the chance to have some control over their own worlds. And as they experience their first peer relationships and a new world away from their families, the classroom can become a community in which each child is an active member."
Engaging families in classroom activities can build a bridge between family and classroom communities. How can teachers do this?
- Create a family wall and invite children to bring pictures of their family members to share and display
- Regularly share updates with families about their child to support their learning at home
- Host a family night so parents can see their children at play and learn more about how they can support their child's development
 You may have children in your classroom who have experienced hospitalization or are medically fragile. Like any child in your class, your first concern is safety and well-being. There are ways you can help reduce fear and stress for the whole classroom, leading to successful inclusion of ALL your students!
Teachers have the great opportunity to help their classroom feel like a second home for their new students. A child who feels safe, heard, and appreciated will love going to school and learning!
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From Home to Classroom
Whether your little one is preparing for Kindergarten in Pre-K or starting their first day in child care outside the home, it can be challenging for both of you - and that's okay! Your strong family bonds will continue to grow while allowing your child to thrive as they explore their independence. There are, however, things you can do to make the transition smoother.
Here are some great tips for starting preschool, or any outside care routine:
- Visit local libraries during storytime to get your child used to hearing other people read to them, and read books together about going to school and saying goodbye
- If there is a home visit or classrooom visit before the first day of school, make sure you both participate or schedule another time to visit
- Tell stories about when you were in school and share pictures of yourself as a child
Early in a child's educational career is the best time to find and address any developmental concerns or delays. Often, your child's teacher or caregiver can help initiate this early intervention process. Wake Connections, a coordinated intake and referral system managed by WCSS, also has partner programs that can help families address developmental concerns as part of their home-based service offerings.
This is often the time that families first encounter an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting. IEPs document the child's learning needs, what the school will provide to help, and how progress will be measured. It can be an unfamiliar path for families. Here are some tips for navigating the IEP process and empowering your support of your child.
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Recruiting for High School Class of 2032!
Will your child turn 4 by August 31, 2018?
Apply for Pre-K now! WCSS hosts events at our office every Thursday from 2 - 4pm to walk you through the application process. One application allows your child to be considered for NC Pre-K and Head Start, which are both FREE and prepare children for Kindergarten in a high quality classroom setting.
Click here to print the application and for more information.
NCAEYC's 65th Anniversary Conference: Connecting Our Foundation to Our Future will be held September 13-15 in Raleigh!
Join early childhood professionals from across NC to share advances in our field and hear words of wisdom from special keynote speaker Dr. Becky Bailey of Conscious Discipline! View flyer and registration link here.
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Featured Book: Llama Llama Misses Mama
Written & Illustrated by: Anna Dewdney
Highlights: Llama Llama experiences separation anxiety on his first day of nursery school.
Best for: Pre-K, ages 3-5
Wake County Public Library Programming: Try using the online catalog, BRiAN, to find more books like Llama Llama. Follow this link to the catalog, then click on "More Like This" toward the bottom of the page.
Literacy Tip: Instill a lifelong love of reading and learning by creating a family culture of reading. Fill your home with books and make time to read together as a family every day.
August's book selected by the Preschool Librarians of Wake County Public Libraries.
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Wake County Smart Start
(919) 851-9550
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Want FREE books for your child under 5? Sign up for the Imagination Library today!
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Each month we celebrate the child care facilities that have recently obtained or retained a five star rating!
Congratulations to:
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Fruit Salad Popsicles
Fruit salad - in a popsicle?! Pack your child's daily servings of fruit in a chilly, sweet treat perfect for these hot summer days! Find the (easy) recipe here.
Check out recipes & more on our Pinterest Boards.
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Visit CCSA's training calendar for all upcoming events.
ITS SIDS
August 14, 6:30 - 8:30pm
First Presbyterian Church
To register, click here.
Supervision of Young Children
August 20, 6:30 - 7:30pm
Telephone Seminar - Call-In Number
To register, click here.
Good Nutrition Does Matter
August 21, 6:30 - 7:30pm
Telephone Seminar - Call-In Number
To register, click here.
Business Side of Child Care for Homes and Centers
Begins September 4, 6:30 - 9pm (5 week course)
CCSA Durham
To register, click here.
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Exciting Infant-Toddler News
DCDEE has announced five new projects for this fall that all focus on improving the quality of care for infants and toddlers!
These projects include an RFP from NCPC prioritizing the Phase II Shape NC centers to provide training and technical assistance for environments infants and toddlers spend time in. Topics include adding shade trees and gardens to outdoor learning environments, promoting breastfeeding, and addressing food insecurity.
For more information, visit the DCDEE website.
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Bean Bag
Stomp & Catch
Want to help your child work on their hand-eye coordination, but worried about throwing a ball inside? Try this bean bag stomp & catch game!
No drill? No problem! Substitute materials you already have in your house instead, or fill a ziploc with rice instead of sewing a bag with beans.
Your child's foot propels the bag upwards, not around the room. Just clear a space and let them stomp away! (Fun to play outside, too!)
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Did you know WCSS is a nonprofit and relies on support from members of our community like you? Visit our website today to see how you can make a difference for each child, in every community in Wake County.
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