Do you remember a song your favorite teacher used to sing?

This is the last in our three-part newsletter series about community. Part 1. Part 2.

Special Alert! Teachers who work full-time with infants, ones, or twos, the Infant-Toddler Educator AWARD$ program link is live! Click here to see if you qualify for a salary supplement. This program is designed to better compensate and retain well-educated teachers like you who work with our youngest children.

Funded by DCDEE and administered by our friends at Child Care Services Association.

For the classroom:

Building a Sense of Place

A young child's community begins at home, is nurtured in the classroom, and extends out globally! How can you as a teacher help the children in your class feel part of their big world?

Having a sense of place is important to a child's feeling of belonging, their social and emotional development, and their overall school readiness. But what is it? NAEYC describes it as the difference between your house address (a location) and a place you feel at home (and all your memories that make it special).

Do you remember a song your favorite teacher used to sing? The breeze in your face from the swings on the playground? What the books smelled like in the library? These sensory experiences helped build your sense of place at school, forming "a deep connection and sense of commitment to the people and places who were part of your memories."

Teachers, you can help make sure all children have the ability to build memories and a sense of place in your class.

  • Design an accessible classroom for children of all abilities so they are not dependent on a teacher to participate.
  • Build community with your whole school by visiting other classes or planning schoolwide activities like a field day or family dinner.
  • Explore your neighborhood by taking a field trip to a store or park. Try a listening walk or smelling walk for a new environmental experience!
  • Encourage respect for diversity by welcoming English-language learners. Pronounce each child's name correctly, create play experiences that don't require English, and give every child a chance to be a helper.

For the home - content provided by our partner:

Global Awareness Begins at Home

The world where we live is rapidly changing. Our community is as well. Isn't it amazing that we are part of one of the most diverse communities in the world? Your children can learn different traditions, customs, and celebrations from so many different parts of the world right here in their own backyard.

Seek opportunities to teach your child a mindset for global awareness. The more a child understands at a young age the value of our local and global community, the more they will empathize with others, value diverse perspectives and cultures, and solve problems that transcend borders.

Tips:

  • Read books that tell stories about children in other parts of the world.
  • Create a map and mark the different countries your child is learning about.
  • Visit festivals and activities that celebrate multiple cultures and share about your own culture.
  • Encourage interaction with ALL children at the park or at school, especially those who may have different backgrounds than your child.

Wake Connections is a one-stop coordinated intake and referral system for families in Wake County. One click gets you connected to Centro para Familias Hispanas and other Wake Connections programs.

Recruiting for High School Class of 2032!

Did 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.

Featured Book: Someone New

Written & Illustrated by: Anne Sibley O'Brien

Highlights: When three children are introduced to new classmates from different ethnic backgrounds, they strive to overcome their initial reactions and to understand, accept, and welcome Maria, Jin, and Fatima.

Best for: Pre-K, ages 3-5

Wake County Public Library Programming: It's never too early to explore new languages! Check out some of these great bilingual books for young children.

Literacy Tip: Language is all around! When out and about, listen to people talk. Do they speak like you?

November's book selected by the Preschool Librarians of Wake County Public Libraries.

Want FREE books for your child under 5? Join the Imagination Library today!

Each month we celebrate the child care facilities that have recently obtained or retained a five star rating!

Congratulations to:

Slow Cooker Applesauce

Fall is apple season in NC! Apples are a great fruit to introduce to children since they are sweet and full of nutrition.

Try making this slow cooker applesauce in your classroom or home and get everyone involved!

Visit CCSA's training calendar for all upcoming events.

Language Development & Communication with Infants & Toddlers

November 6, 6:30 - 8:30pm

Bambino's Play School

Click here to register.

Sanitation & Disease Prevention & Handwashing

November 13, 6:30 - 9pm

Wake County Smart Start, Room 204

Click here to register.

ITS SIDS

November 15, 6:30 - 8:30pm

Heather Park CDC - School Age Building

Click here to register.

Turn Ordinary Infant Toddler Moments into Extraordinary

November 27, 6:30 - 8:30pm

Heather Park CDC

Click here to register.

Activity Plans & Overview of NC Foundations

November 27, 6:30 - 9pm

Wake County Smart Start, Room 204

Click here to register.

Playground Safety

December 1, 9am - 1pm

TBA - Wake County

Click here to register.

Ready, Set, Go Transportation Safety

December 4, 6:30 - 7:30pm

Telephone Seminar - Call-In Number

Click here to register.

ITS SIDS

December 11, 6:30 - 8:30pm

First Presbyterian Church

Click here to register.

Perimeter Pass

Want to help your children work together with others and get their giggles out too? Grab a ball, lay on your backs with your feet against a wall, and try Perimeter Pass!

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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Questions? Contact us today 919-851-9550