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National Training Sessions - 2011
Useful Resources on social and emotional health and resilience
Building Strong Systems of Support for Young Children's Mental Health
The National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) has published a new report that describes key strategies for creating a comprehensive system of supports for young children's mental health...
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New Resources from the Center for Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation
1) Tutorial: Recognizing and Supporting the Social and Emotional Health of Young Children Birth to Age 5
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2) Infant Toddler Temperament Tool
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"Brain Hero" - A New 3-Minute Video from the Center for the Developing Child at Harvard University
...a new 3-minute video entitled Brain Hero (2011) that adapts the visual sensibility of interactive game models...
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Special Journal Section on Social-Emotional Issues in Early Childhood Settings
The Spring 2011 issue of Early Childhood Research & Practice (ECRP) is now available online...
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Literature Review on Relationship-Based Learning
The link below offers many articles, research studies, and resources on relationship-based learning.
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CASEL Offers "SEL in Your State" Web-link
Click on a state and an age group to see relevant social emotional learning standards.
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Updated Teaching Tools for Children with Challenging Behavior
The Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention for Young Children (TACSEI) has updated its Teaching Tools for Young Children (TTYC) to include strategies for toddlers...
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Early Childhood Tool and State Policy Profiles from National Center for Children in Poverty
1) The Young Child Risk Calculator
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2) Early Childhood State Policy Profiles
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Early Childhood Education Professional Development: Training and Technical Assistance Glossary
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) announce the release of this new resource.
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Children's Right to Play
This paper from Bernard Van Leer Foundation provides an examination of the importance of play...
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"Play is the highest form of research." ~ Albert Einstein
2011 DCRC Professional Development Opportunities
Contact: Debi Mahler Dmahler@devereux.org
or call (610)574-6141.
Spotlight on Professional Development - Technical Assistance High
quality professional development on resources developed by the Devereux Center for Resilient Children helps to
build the skills needed to support the overall healthy social and emotional
development and reduce challenging behaviors in young children. Technical assistance provides additional opportunities to further hone these critical skills over time through coaching,
troubleshooting, problem solving, and reflection...
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For a listing of, and to register for any of the 2011 DCRC National Professional Development Events, click here.
To
schedule professional development for your local program/community on these or
other topics related to promoting resilience in children and/or adults, please
contact Debi Mahler, Professional Development Coordinator, at dmahler@devereux.org or (610) 574-6141.
Share Your Ideas
Share your great ideas with others around the nation and get free goodies as a Thank You! Send your articles, questions and resources to Karen Cairone at kcairone@devereux.org.
Our Publishing Partner
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Quarterly Newsletter:
Summer 2011
International Mud Day - Not Just for Children!
As many of you likely know, (and perhaps participated in), June 29th was International Mud Day. Hearing about this, I couldn't help but think about nature-based, open-ended, messy play — and what a gift it is for children, especially for those children living in a technology-driven, hyper-structured world. Protective factors come in all forms, and one protective factor that is discussed over and over in the research and literature on resilience is that of offering opportunities for safe, open-ended exploration for children.
Full Story »
Just for Fun: Any Poets Out There?
Looking for a fun distraction this summer? Write a short poem about the DECI resources or your experience with them, and be entered to win the DECI resource of your choice! (Ranging from a DECA Kit, to the Facing the Challenge DVDs, to a Protective Factor Kit!)
Please limit submissions to a maximum of 150 words and email to Karen Cairone at kcairone@devereux.org by August 30th, 2011. Select submissions and our winner will be published in the Fall 2011 newsletter.
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What’s New at the Devereux Center for Resilient Children (DCRC)?
Follow us on Twitter
The Devereux Center for Resilient Children has launched a twitter handle: @BuildUrBounce. Please follow us as we use this forum to highlight resilience-promoting strategies and techniques. The tweets will show families and teachers how to help children "build their bounce" to cope successfully with risk and adversity and recover from life’s setbacks. We will spotlight resources and provide a forum in which to share research and ideas to promote a resilient new generation.
Research Opportunity for Programs in the South
Are you an early childhood program in the South? If so, please consider participating in an important DCRC research project this summer! We are looking for preschool programs in the South to get involved in studies related to the DECA revision. Parents and teachers who participate will receive a gift card to Target. To find out more information please contact Katherine Ross at 610-542-3117 or kross@devereux.org
Socially Strong, Emotionally Secure *A New Resource for Parents and Teachers*
The Devereux team is thrilled to announce the availability of a brand new resource for both teachers and parents to promote young children’s resilience. Socially Strong, Emotionally Secure provides 50 activities that help the adults in a child’s life promote resilience and social and emotional development through fun, engaging activities. Organized into five chapters, the activities support and build resilience in children ages 3 to 8. To learn more about this new resource, please visit: www.gryphonhouse.com. Watch a video clip of one of the activities in action at www.devereuxearlychildhood.org
Spanish Infant/Toddler Parent guides NOW AVAILABLE
Programs serving Spanish speaking families will be delighted to learn that the DECA for Infants and Toddlers For Now and Forever parent guide is now available in Spanish. The resource is available through our publisher, Kaplan Early Learning Co. To learn more, visit www.kaplanco.com and type the item #20338 into the search field.
e-DECA2.0 Purchasing Calculator
The web-based assessment platform, e-DECA2.0, is a wonderful tool, allowing programs to screen and assess children in a more effective, efficient manner. In efforts to make the e-DECA2.0 cost effective, two different purchasing options are available. Kaplan has created a purchasing calculator to support customers in understanding which option is the most cost effective based on their intended use of the system. If you are interested in accessing the purchasing calculator, please visit Kaplan’s website at www.kaplanco.com and type "purchasing calculator" into the search field.
Excerpts from "The Importance of Letting Children Struggle"
By: Sara E. Cotner
"What do children learn when they are given the freedom to struggle with challenges? Well, first of all, they develop themselves at a pace that is more in line with their potential. Secondly, children who are allowed to struggle with challenges learn that they can work hard and overcome those challenges."
"I think the two biggest hurdles to letting children struggle are awareness and time/patience. First, we have to observe our children and know what is within an appropriate range of struggle. We have to seek out opportunities for them to do work that is within this range. Secondly, we have to slow down and be patient as they struggle."
Read more »
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Wicomico County Public School System (WCPS) is a diverse public school system located on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. WCPS serves approximately 1,774 Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students from rural, suburban and urban areas in twelve different sites. In addition, the Wicomico Early Learning Center houses a full-day program which serves 38 three year olds.
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I Faced the Challenge
By Carrie Naijar, M. Ed., Early Childhood Education Specialist, STG International, Inc., Alexandria VA.
I became a Center Supervisor at a Head Start program and focused on the academic outcomes of the children, supporting families with wrap-around services and assisting the teaching staff with occasional behavior issues. It seemed like there was not anything I could not handle. Two years later, I met my challenge, learning more about children’s behavioral language in nine months than I had learned in years of college.
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You have to see these videos! "Early Learning Matters" and "Change the First Five Years and You Change Everything" and other advocacy videos are available on the First Five Years Fund website at www.ffyf.org.
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"Are We Talking About the Same Child?"
By Julie P. Culhane, Ph.D., Certified DECI Trainer
Michael - a center-based educator Justine - mother of a 2 1/2 year-old named Kadarro
After welcomes, we pick up a few minutes into the conference...
Michael: "Oh, I meant to remind you to bring your For Now and Forever book!"
Justine: "I remembered! I almost didn't bring it because to tell the truth, I haven't looked at it since that meeting when you gave it to me and the other parents. Is that OK?"
Michael: "Of course, that’s fine. I know it's difficult with 2 little children. We can look at it together today. And, before I forget, here's that music CD I mentioned to you that has some of the songs Kadarro listens to by himself..."
Read More of the Conversation »
Building Your Bounce
The following website offers suggestions to help teachers refresh, rejuvenate, and essentially, build their bounce this summer. Enjoy!
Go To Edutopia.org »
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The Devereux Regional Center at Children Inc. Creates a New Toddler CD: 'Becoming My Own Me'
By Tom Lottman, Research Director, Growing Sound
The Devereux Regional Center at Children, Inc.'s Growing Sound project is excited to announce the release of a new album by David Kisor entitled, Becoming My Own Me. The music is designed to help children move from self-awareness to self assertion, and finally to self-control.
Read More »
DECA in Washington's Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP)
By Nicole Rose, ECEAP/Comprehensive Pre-K Specialist, and DECI Certified Trainer
Washington State's Department of Early Learning (DEL) provides funding and oversight to the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP), which currently serves more than 8,000 low-income three- and four-year-olds each school year. ECEAP offers preschool education, family support, parent involvement, and health and nutrition services that involve the whole family and helps prepare children for success in school and life.
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Parent-Teacher Agreement and Reliability on the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA) in English and Spanish for Ethnically Diverse Children Living in Poverty
By: Jennifer Fleming, DCRC Research Assistant
The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability of the English and Spanish forms of the DECA with an ethnically diverse sample of preschoolers living in poverty. Social-emotional competence is especially important for these children due to the numerous risk factors they face. Therefore, it's essential to ensure the DECA can be effectively used with this population.
Read More »
Local Program Mentor (LPM) News
Congratulations New Devereux Recognized LPMs!
Brandon Schuerer, Eau Claire, WI
Exclusive LPM Resources are available in the LPM section of the DECI website:
New this month: Celebrate the strengths in all of us with an inspirational power-point for use in trainings. Add music to the file (with permission of course!) for an exciting and sentimental experience for training participants.
This edition and past newsletters available for download from http://www.devereux.org.
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