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PRE-K UPDATE
JULY 17, 2019
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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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Please don't take away recess: here are some suggestions for alternatives to think about before September
New York City Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza has declared his opposition to "recess punishment"--the practice of taking away recess for disciplinary reasons unrelated to playground safety. But a Daily News reporter talked to parents and teachers who say the practice is still common, even though it's considered to be "racially discriminatory and counterproductive." (Click here for the opinion piece, "Let
kids play no matter what: recess punishment is wrong.")
And we recently talked to a Kindergarten teacher who was embarrassed to admit she still employs this practice, even though she knows it's not the best. Apparently she's not alone; the school leaders section of
weareteachers.com has collected 10 ideas for alternatives from educators across the U.S. Some may be harder to adapt for use in Pre-K or Kindergarten classrooms than others, but the suggestions are worth a look.
For example: Think about your classroom management strategies before the new school year starts. "If the same behavior keeps surfacing, then it might be time for a new approach."
Or, it may seem basic but "have students practice good behavior again, and again, and again." Yes, it's especially important to practice good behavior at the beginning of the school year, with things like morning meetings, circles, etc. But sometimes you need a reset, when things start to feel chaotic.
Click here for all 10 suggestions.
Earlier this year, we shared the following related articles you may want to revisit now:
21 classroom-tested tips for including social-emotional learning throughout the day. This article is also from We Are Teachers and offers a special plus: each tip includes an illustration from a real classroom or a photo of materials such as a poster.
Read more.
Changing activities to keep kids engaged? Too many transitions may undermine learning. When children are constantly asked to change gears, says occupational therapist Angela Hanscom, they become unregulated, agitated and disorganized."
Why young children may actually be paying LESS attention if you ask them to sit still. In a video titled "Alternatives to Crisscross Applesauce," Rae Pica runs down
ways to keep children engaged without demanding they don't move.
What to do first when a child says "I won't." Teacher/author Kristi Mraz has the years of classroom experience to back up her five-step process to deal with work refusal. (Note: this is offered in part 3 of a series co-authored with Christine Hertz, "Life after clip charts.")
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And here's a school that improved behavior by giving kids MORE recess
How about recess four times a day for Kindergarteners and first graders? That's the approach tried by an elementary school in Ft. Worth, TX. National press coverage of this unusual approach included a public media article that touted the benefits of increasing recess from 20 minutes to a total of an hour a day.
According to reporter Christopher Connelly, teachers have seen a "huge transformation" in students. "They say kids are less distracted, they make more eye contact, and they tattle less."
First grade teacher Cathy Wells is even sharpening pencils less often. "...they were grinding them, they were breaking them, they were chewing on them. They're not doing that now. They are actually using their pencils for the way that they were designed--to write things!"
(Note: this school got a lot of press in 2016. A quick check of the its website shows the elementary school is still participating in a program to increase the amount of physical activity and recess for students.)
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A lunch invitation for early educators on the North Fork
We know it's hard for you to attend some of our Long Island Pre-K Initiative events, even when they're in Eastern Suffolk BOCES locations. So we're coming to you.
Please join us for lunch (our treat) on Monday, August 5. The location will be in the Mattituck area; exactly where we gather will be determined by the size of our group.(You'll be alerted by email as soon as we have settled on a restaurant.)
We want to understand your needs for support, professional development--and more. And we'd like to explore ideas for convenient locations to bring trainings and meetings to you. The invitation is open to educators from community-based organizations, public school teachers and administrators, and private school directors and teachers.
RSVP to
prek@nasboces.org with the subject line "Lunch." We look forward to seeing you!
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Have an idea you'd love to try? Apply for one of these Kindergarten transition mini-grants
Six mini-grants of $500 each will be awarded in conjunction with the Kindergarten Transition Summits being held this fall on Long Island. Mini-grants will be awarded for
projects that enhance the transition from Pre-K to Kindergarten. School district staff, community-based or private Pre-K programs, museums, libraries and other agencies serving Pre-K populations are eligible to apply.
Click here to fill out the online application. Deadline: Tuesday, October 15, 2019. Applicants are expected to participate in one of the free Kindergarten Transition Summits:
Date: Monday, October 7, 2019
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (contintental breakfast included)
Place: Eastern Suffolk BOCES, Instructional Support Center at Sequoya, Holtsville
Date: Friday, October 11, 2019
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (continental breakfast included)
Place: Western Suffolk BOCES, Conference Center, Wyandanch
Registration is free, but advance registration is required.
Click here for more information about the Summits and to register.
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This week's job listings for early ed on Long Island
Part-Time UPK Teacher
Sunshine Academy of Westhampton, Westhampton Beach
Full-Time Infant Toddler Position in Group Family Day Care
Little Me Busy Bee, Speonk
For the Long Island Head Start positions listed below
Full-Time Teacher Assistant
Full-Time Teacher II (Infant/Toddler)
Full-Time Teacher Aide
Full-Time Teacher
Full-Time Family Educator/Home Visitor--Bilingual
Full-Time Cook Assistant
Long Island Head Start, various locations
Part-Time Family Advocate--Bilingual
Long Island Head Start, North Fork
Full-Time Teacher I (Infant/Toddler)
Long Island Early Head Start, Central Brookhaven, Patchogue
Full-Time EHS-CCP Secretary
Full-Time Program Services Secretary
Long Island Head Start, Central Administration, Patchogue
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Here's how to add your school's staffing needs to this list:
In the body of the e-mail, include the following information:
For our records:
- Your name
- Your position
- Your e-mail and phone number
For the listing in our e-newsletter
- The name of your school and the town it's located in. You can include your web address, if you have one.
- A very brief description of the position or positions you want to fill. (For example: "Part-time Teacher Assistant" or "Full-time Pre-K Teacher."
- Information about how potential applicants should contact your for details or to apply. (For example: "Call Jane Smith at 631-xxx-xxxx" or "Send e-mail to jane.smith@schoolname.org")
It's important to understand that:
We will not include information about salary. We will not include any descriptions of your school or program, although we can include a link to your school's web site.
We will publish your information a single time. If you still have openings, you can e-mail us again with the details and we will run the information again.
Our e-newsletter is typically sent out on Wednesday mornings. However, it may be mailed on a different day, depending on content or technical considerations.
The Long Island Pre-K Initiative reserves the right to edit information; space in the e-newsletter is very limited.
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About Us
The Long Island Pre-K Initiative is a grant-funded project that seeks to strengthen partnerships between school districts and community-based organizations and to share information about research, policy and best practices for early learning. Administered by Nassau BOCES, it is supported with expertise from The Early Years Institute and funds from the Rauch and Hagedorn Foundations. Our partners: Eastern Suffolk BOCES, Western Suffolk BOCES, and the Child Care Councils of Nassau and Suffolk.
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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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