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Here's the latest news from The Long Island Pre-K Initiative, your source for
expert training and useful resources:
www.nassauboces.org/pre-k
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Children's Book Week is still being celebrated from Monday, May 4 through Sunday, May 10---but as an online event
It marked a 100th anniversary last year, and now Children's Book Week is meeting a new challenge: COVID-19 closures and cancellations. "Children's Book Week is not
only a celebration of books, but of connection," according to sponsoring organization Every Child a Reader. "It is a vehicle to unite kids and adults with books, authors and illustrators in order to foster a love of reading. We invite everyone to celebrate with us online and on social media, using the hashtag #BookWeek2020atHome."
Resources include
downloadables and
videos
featuring favorite authors like Kate DiCamillo, Jon Scieska and Jason Reynolds.
What's more, the new practice of having a second book week in the fall will continue this year, with another celebration from November 9-15, 2020.
In a week celebrating children's literature, we'd be remiss to go without mentioning "The Big List of Children's Authors Doing Online Read Alouds & Activities." Since the beginning of the pandemic, WeAreTeachers has been rounding up the best virtual author videos. Now there are 50 for you to choose from, organized by grade level.
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NAVIGATING COVID-19
We're launching a series of conversations with experts; watch for an announcement later this week
Coping with the uncertainties of our new work environment...planning for the "next normal"...staying connected with families during this pandemic. These are some of the topics you can explore in a new series of Zoom events being brought to you by The Long Island Pre-K Initiative. They're all free, and we'll be announcing the full line-up in a special Pre-K Alert later this week. Watch your inbox for details!
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BOOKSHELF
Here are three specialized book lists, just in time for Children's Book Week
Unicorn Yoga and
For Unicorn Lovers Only are just two of the titles compiled by
School Library Journal for its
2020 Unicorn Report.
For a week including May Fourth, it's no surprise that Read Brightly has just published "Read On, Young Padawan," a list of
Star Wars titles, organized by age group (and there are plenty in the 3-5 category).
Have you ever had a chicken problem? Peg and Cat did--and had to use their math skills to help figure out their "poultry predicament." This book is one of 12 collected by
PBS parents to help excite children's mathematical imaginations.
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
These resources have been a hit with our e-news readers. Here's another chance to access them
In the last few weeks, we've worked to bring you some of the most timely and useful resources out there for early educators adapting to teaching during a pandemic. We thought we'd provide links to a few of the "most wanted" in case you didn't have a chance to click.
At home activities for early learners. The New York City Department of Education had created resources for learning at home even before COVID-19; they added suggestions for talking to children about the virus. Click here for a list of activities like sensory explorations and dramatic play--no screens needed. (March 18 e-news)
Not your typical outdoor ideas. As early as late March, it was getting tiring to be
inside. Here's an article titled "10 Nature Activities to Help Get Your Family Through the Coronavirus Pandemic." The author is Richard Louv, who wrote Last Child in the Woods. His imaginative ideas include picking a "sit spot" in your yard to visit at different times of the day and--sure to be a hit with young children--playing in the mud. (March 25 e-news)
Tips for teachers on distance learning. The National P-3 Center at the University of Colorado has provided guidance on how to approach teaching during the unexpected shift to online learning. For example, they encourage educators to lean on what they know about child development, including suggestions for sustaining relationships with children. (April 2 e-news)
Hey families! Learning isn't just worksheets. Do your students' parents think water play or constructing something out of Amazon boxes isn't learning? Here's a "play packet" from teacher and author Kristi Mraz that's an illustrated guide to learning through light play, dramatic play, maker play and more. (We've heard the teachers in St. Joseph College's UPK programs love this one!) And visit Mraz's web site for new resources she's added. (April 2 e-news)
Something else you want to go back and read? Every edition of our e-news is archived on
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Want to talk about your program's safety practices--or about your own health? These conversation groups are for you
The Child Care Council of Nassau, Inc. is holding a series of professional conversations via Zoom. These are designed to encourage dialogue and discussion, along with expert advice from Council specialists.
Click here to register for an English-language conversation group.
Click here to register for a Spanish-language conversation group.
Caring for Yourself
Let's take some time to look at our daily patterns and the effect they have when the flow is disrupted. Offered
Thursday, May 7 from
10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and
Monday, May 11 from
1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m..
Health & Safety
Together we can build a network for ideas and resources, as well as identify new challenges for continued discussions. Offered
Thursday, May 7, 2020 from
1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Salud y Seguridad (Health & Security)
Wednesday, May 13, 2020 from
1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Physical Activity & Nutrition
Join Council's registered dietitians for an informal discussion on topics such as remaining active during social distancing and feeding children at your program with extra precautions. Offered
Monday, May 11, 2020
from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Un Poco de Todo (A Bit of Everything)
Wednesday, May 13 from
10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
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About Us
The Long Island Pre-K Initiative is a collaborating partner in the state-funded Regional Technical Assistance Center, which supports Pre-K and early childhood education on Long Island. The other collaborating partners are the three Long Island BOCES, the Child Care Council of Nassau, Inc., the Child Care Council of Suffolk, Inc. and the Family Leadership Network.
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NASSAU BOCES
71 Clinton Road, Garden City, NY 11530-9195
Phone: (516) 396-2220 Fax: (516)-396-2355
www.nassauboces.org
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