PRE-K UPDATE: Diversity still an issue in kids' books; Do you qualify as a certified schoolyard habitat for wildlife?

APRIL 29, 2021

Teacher And Pupils Using Wooden Shapes In Montessori School

PRE-K UPDATE

The Long Island Pre-K Initiative is proud to be a collaborating partner in the state-funded Long Island Regional Technical Assistance Center for Pre-K and Early Childhood Education. Visit its web page for links to all partner organizations. Many have important resources to offer: www.nassauboces.org/rtac

Even award-winning children's books still fall short when it comes to diversity

As we anticipate celebrating spring Children's Book Week starting next Monday, May 3, a just-released study suggests we still need to be very mindful when it comes to making sure the books we celebrate include characters of different races and genders. Researchers from the University of Chicago and Teachers College Columbia University used artificial intelligence tools to classify the race, gender and age of images in 1,133 award-winning children's books. The titles included mainstream awards and prizes from diversity collections, such as the Ezra Jack Keats award and the South Asia book awards. And their conclusion: "...despite growing awareness in recent decades about race and gender issues in curricula, children's books generally skew toward lighter skin and male representation."

A few of their findings:

Over the last 20 years, mainstream books depict more characters with lighter skin tones.
Children are more likely to be shown with lighter skin tones than adults.
Females are more likely to be "seen" in images than "heard" in the text.

As the authors of the study say; "Educators and caregivers are generally thoughtful about choosing books to read to their young children, or when selecting books for children to read themselves.They may look for books that entertain, educate and otherwise incorporate values that they hold dear. However, if those values include race and gender diversity, they will have to search a little harder." Read the study.

School Library Journal recently discussed this study. Read more.

Your schoolyard can be a certified wildlife habitat--here's how

An elementary school in Brooklyn has done it--and so have close to 10,000 other schools nationwide since the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) began the Schoolyard Habitats program in 1996. When you create one, it says, you help your community build climate resilience and provide valuable learning opportunities for children.

A downloadable planning guide explains how to get started, whether your goal is a pollinator garden or a more extensive project. And it includes how to incorporate STEAM and language arts activities into your objectives. Games and activities described include K-2 recommendations, as well as ideas for engaging older children.

NWF also offers a program specifically tailored to the youngest students--the Early Childhood Health Outdoors initiative, or ECHO. A recent article from Colorado's public news service summarized how this particular undertaking works and noted its particular emphasis on reaching communities of color and low-income neighborhoods where children may not have had access to outdoor green spaces. It quoted ECHO Partnerships Manager Liz Houston: "All kids should be able to dig in the dirt, build forts, follow butterflies and watch plants grow." Click here to learn more about ECHO.

Six ways gardening is good for kids

The article may be from the state of Washington, but the insights are universal: getting kids gardening is good for them. Washington State Professor--and master gardener--Sue Malm runs down six ways that growing plants helps children grow, too. For example:

Gardening helps youngsters use all their senses--touch, smell, taste and even hearing (buzzing bees and chirping birds).
Planting seeds and nurturing sprouts teaches patience and responsibility. If children don't water, for example, a seedling may die. "This is a pretty easy way to learn the cause and effect of consequences."
It's an opportunity for problem-solving. Once Malm visited a schoolyard garden only to find the cabbages absolutely covered with aphids. Kids were not only fascinated by the little insects they could see in their magnifying glasses, they also were enthusiastic about considering ways to get rid of them."

Read more to learn about other ways gardening is a boost for kids' learning.

Summer Institute--you can register now

Our popular Summer Institute is returning this year with a line-up of webinars offering practical strategies you can use right away in summer programs or when school starts up in the fall.

Starting today, you can register for the keynote or for any of the Wednesday webinars. Don't wait!

Group of diverse kindergarten students learning science class

Beyond Butterflies and Books: Supporting Young Children's Science Inquiry and STEM Thinking

Date: June 30, 2021

Time: 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Presenter: Cindy Hoisington is a nationally known speaker who designs and facilitates professional learning for teachers from the Education Development Center in Waltham, MA

Visit our website for details and to register for these Wednesday morning webinars

Simple STEAM Experiments for Pre--K

Date: Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Developmentally Appropriate Use of Technology

Date: Wednesday, July 14, 2021

Engaging Multilingual Learners in Literacy and Language Learning

Date: Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Introduction to the Revised New York State Early Learning Guidelines

Date: Wednesday, August 11, 2021

Using the Revised New York State Early Learning Guidelines to Support Social and Emotional Development

Date: Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Using the Revised New York State Early Learning Guidelines to Support Culturally Responsive Practice

Date: Wednesday, August 25, 2021

This week's help wanted for L.I. early ed

Full-Time Preschool Teacher

Stony Brook Child Care, Stony Brook University

Apply online

Part-Time Teacher Aides for Infant, Toddler and Preschool Classrooms

Stony Brook Child Care, Stony Brook University

Email karla.chichester@stonybrook.edu or call 631-632-6930

Full-Time Teacher Assistants

Full-Time School Social Worker or Psychologist--Bilingual preferred

Part-Time and Full--Time Teacher Aides

Kramer Learning Center, Bay Shore

Email resume to azicv@acld.org or apply online at www.acld.org

For the Long Island Head Start positions listed below

Email resumes to humanresources@liheadstart.org or fax 631-758-2953

Full-Time Teacher

Long Island Head Start, Bridgehampton, North Fork, Southampton

Full-Time Certified Teacher

Full-Time Family Advocate

Long Island Head Start, Southampton

Full-Time Teacher Assistant

Full-Time Teacher Aide

Long Island Head Start, various

Full-Time Cook

Long Island Head Start, Central Islip

Full-Time Cook Assistant

Long Island Head Start, Bellport, Southampton, Wyandanch

EHS-CCP Disabiliites Services Consultant

Long Island Head Start, Central Administration, Patchogue

The Long Island Pre-K Initiative is a collaborating partner in the state-funded Long Island Regional Technical Assistance Center for Pre-K and Early Childhood Education.

Visit our website

Nassau BOCES

71 Clinton Rd. Garden City, NY 11530-9195

Phone: 516-396-2220