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6 Ways to Re-Energize Yourself & Your Classroom for the New Year |
Personal and professional renewal so often go hand in hand. What are some ways you can feel renewed in the classroom as we begin 2021? |
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Reveal your inner leader! Take a cue from November's Building Blocks issue. Leadership is empowering and brings you closer in community with your classroom family.
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Laugh out loud every day! There's a reason they say "laughter is the best medicine." Studies show even smiling can improve your mood :)
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Be an advocate! Speaking out to improve your situation or others' can make a difference for your community.
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Engage families! Find ideas here to share with parents and fellow educators.
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Renew your commitment to anti-bias education! Reflect on the principles of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by teaching preschoolers about his life.
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Practice mindfulness for yourself and with your children! Check out the article from SecurePath below for some phrases to encourage further conversation.
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For the home - content provided by our partner: |
Mindfulness & the Act of Identifying Emotions |
Navigating the ever-changing landscape of 2020, adults and children alike have struggled for balance and stability. Finding the moments to guide children through their emotions and be mindful of them is an important and lifelong tool you can help your child develop.
Through a mindful activity, a parent, caretaker, or guardian can assist with the experiences many young children are having during this year. Below is an emotions wheel you can print from the therapistaid.com website. Place the wheel somewhere that feels safe for your child and is easily accessible.
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Your child and you can decide when to go to the emotion wheel and select the emotion that is being felt in that moment. (You may want to use a magnet on the refrigerator, a sticker, or make a check with a marker.) After your child identifies their possible emotion, here are some mindful words you can follow up with:
"I hear you are feeling upset. Would you like to do a breathing exercise with me?"
"I am excited that today is a happy day. Would you tell me why you are feeling happy?"
"I can see you are so excited about today! Let's go for a walk and you can tell me about it."
Mindfulness - or the act of paying attention to a moment, a feeling, or a sensation - allows us to be present. For young minds, navigating feelings can be difficult especially when the usual pathways to self-regulation, co-regulation, or community support and play have changed dramatically. By teaching young children how to identify emotions, we can then validate and provide an opportunity for co-regulation or connection.
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Wake Connections is a one-stop coordinated intake system for families in Wake County. One click gets you connected to SecurePath and other Wake Connections programs. |
Change the Future for Your Child - Online! |
Wake Pre-K: the way to grow, learn, and play!
The Wake Pre-K Application Center is your link to free, safe, and fun Pre-K options for your child... and now you can apply online!
If your child turned 4 by August 31, 2020, you can apply for Pre-K now! One online application will connect you to Wake County's public Pre-K programs. Plus, we enroll all year round!
Pre-K: what your child learns here lasts a lifetime!
P.S. The 2021-22 application is now available to be printed! Online version coming soon...
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Featured Book: Here and Now
Written by: Julia Denos
Illustrated by: E.B Goodale
Highlights: This lush picture book is a fantastic tool for engaging children 3-7 who are schooling from home and who are eager to feel connected to their world while managing new anxieties.
Best for: Toddlers and preschoolers
Wake County Public Library Programming: Take storytime home with a Storytime on the Go experience the next time you check out a book from a WCPL Regional Library! Pick up a bag including themed books, songs, rhymes, and activities. Everything you need for a DIY storytime at home!
Literacy Tip: Explore the five senses during a nature walk! Embark on an outdoor walk and encourage children to engage all their five senses - sight, sound, smell, taste, touch - in observation.
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Want FREE books for your child under 5? Join the Imagination Library today! |
Due to the pandemic, no child care facilities were reviewed license renewal this past month.
Families seeking guidance on child care are encouraged to consult with Child Care Referral Central at (855) 327-5933.
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Minestrone with Kale Soup |
Soup is a classic winter meal. It can make you feel at home wherever you eat it.
Take your time making this minestrone with kale soup, savoring the tastes and smells as it cooks. Share it with your family, enjoying your time together.
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Meditation for young children? Yes, this can be beneficial for both children and adults!
Check out our new Pinterest board Yoga & Wellness for Early Childhood! It has all sorts of activities for you to try with your little learner.
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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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